Metrodorus of Chios

Metrodorus of Chios, who flourished in the 4th century BC, was a Greek philosopher associated with the school of Democritus and recognized as an important precursor to Epicurus. He is believed to have been a pupil of Nessos of Chios or, according to some sources, Democritus himself. Metrodorus is noted for his complete skepticism, yet he adhered to the Democritean principles of atoms and void, as well as the concept of multiple worlds. He also developed a unique theory regarding the formation of stars, suggesting they are created daily from atmospheric moisture energized by the Sun's heat. Cicero famously quoted Metrodorus as stating, "We know nothing, no, not even whether we know or not," and asserting that reality is subjective, perceived only as it appears to the individual. His philosophical contributions are particularly significant as they bridge the gap between early atomism and later skeptical traditions, notably influencing Anaxarchus and serving as a link to Pyrrhonism. A notable cosmological idea attributed to Metrodorus is the analogy that a single ear of wheat in a vast field is as extraordinary as a single world in infinite space, highlighting the immense scale of the cosmos.