What did aristotle contribute to the atomic theory?
Aristotle disbelieved the ancient Greek theory of atoms being of different sizes, regular geometric shapes and beig in constant motion. He didn’t think atoms could be in constant motion in a void. He developed the theroy that all matter consisted of four elements: Earth, Air, Water and Fire. There were also four qualities: dryness, hotness, coldness, and moistness. Fire was dry and hot, water was moist and cold, etc. Each of these elements move naturally in a line to their “proper place,” where it will be at rest. Aristotle’s theory also had two forces: conflict and harmony. Conflict was thought to cause bad things, and harmony good things. Aristotle also believed that the heavens were made of a fifth, superior element named aither. Aristotle’s theory was used for almost 2000 years, until after the scientific revolution, when other theories prevailed.
