atomists

/ˈætəmɪsts/
noun
  1. People who believe that everything is made of tiny, indivisible particles (atoms).
    • Modern atomists build on the work of early philosophers to explain chemical reactions.
    • Atomists in the 17th century helped lay the groundwork for modern physics.
    • The ancient Greek atomists, like Democritus, proposed that matter is composed of atoms.
  2. People who view society or groups as collections of separate individuals rather than as unified wholes.
    • Atomists in economics focus on the decisions of single consumers and businesses.
    • Some sociologists are atomists, believing that social trends are just the sum of personal choices.
    • Political atomists argue that individual rights should always come before group needs.
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