Editing Leucippus (section)

== Life ==
Almost nothing is known about the life of Leucippus.{{Sfnm|Graham|2008|1p=335|McKirahan|2011|2p=303|Cerri|2016|3p=12}} He was born in the first half of the 5th century BCE, and he presumably developed the philosophy of atomism during the 430s BCE, but the exact dates are unknown.{{Sfnm|1a1=Kirk|1a2=Raven|1y=1957|1p=402|2a1=Hasper|2y=2014|2p=65|3a1=McKirahan|3y=2011|3p=203}} Though he was a contemporary of the philosopher [[Socrates]], Leucippus is categorized as a [[pre-Socratic philosopher]] because he continued the pre-Socratic tradition of physical inquiry that began with the [[Milesian philosophers]].{{Sfn|Hussey|1972|pp=141–142}} Leucippus is traditionally understood to have been a student of [[Zeno of Elea]],{{Sfnm|1a1=Vamvacas|1y=2009|1p=210|2a1=Kirk|2a2=Raven|2y=1957|2p=401|3a1=Barnes|3y=2012|3p=306}} though various ancient records have suggested [[Melissus of Samos]], [[Parmenides]], and [[Pythagoras]] as possible instructors of Leucippus.{{Sfn|Cerri|2016|p=13}} No students of Leucippus have been confirmed other than Democritus.{{Sfn|Graham|2008|p=335}} [[Epicurus]] has been described as a student of Leucippus, but Epicurus has also been said to have denied the existence of Leucippus.{{Sfn|Barnes|2012|p=306}}

[[Miletus]], [[Velia|Elea]], and [[Abdera, Thrace|Abdera]] have all been suggested as places where Leucippus lived, but these are most likely described as his home city because of their associations with other philosophers: Miletus was associated with the [[Ionian School (philosophy)|Ionian School]] that influenced Leucippus, Elea was associated with the Eleatic philosophers whom Leucippus challenged, and Abdera was the home of his student Democritus.{{Sfn|Graham|2008|p=335}}{{Sfn|McKirahan|2011|p=303}} Some 20th-century classicists such as [[Walther Kranz]] and [[John Burnet (classicist)|John Burnet]] have suggested that he lived in all three cities—that he was born in Miletus before studying under Zeno in Elea and then settling in Abdera.{{Sfn|Graham|2008|pp=335, 348n12}}