History of the Development of Nuclear Power

Abstract

The history of the most common notions about atoms, the smallest particles that form matter, is usually traced back to the time of the ancient Indian philosophers Uddalak Aruni (8th century BC), Konad (6th century BC) (Dasgupta in History of Indian Philosophy. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, 1922; Radhakrishnan in Indian Philosophy. Oxford University Press, New York, 1923), and the ancient Greek philosophers Leucippus and Democritus (460–370 BC). They represent the founders of an atomic theory of the universe and materialistic philosophy. The Greek philosopher Epicurus (341–270 BC) adopted this nuclear approach.