Atomic theory is pseudoscience. It is completely unproven: nobody has ever observed an “atom” under laboratory conditions. Rationalisations like track marks in “particle” colliders are little more than ad hoc excuses.
Atomic theory is inconsistent with physics, that says that bodies are attracted to each other through the universal law of gravitation. If we’re really made up of little “particles” (ie. little bodies), shouldn’t they all just gravitate together? Wouldn’t everything our bodies are made of just fall down?
Atomic theory postulates that living things are made of dead matter — a scientific impossibility.
Atomic theory is immoral and is responsible for hundreds of thousands of deaths (in Hiroshima, Nagasaki and other places), as well as the existential risk of humanity’s utter destruction (from nuclear proliferation) and the devastation of the environment from nuclear powerplants.
Atomic theory is hopelessly incomplete: claiming that everything is made of atoms is only half the story. Where did those atoms come from?
Atomic theory hopelessly undermines the moral fabric of society. If we’re just made of billiard balls than anything goes. I do not have a rational reason to eat or survive let alone help others.
If we’re just made of billiard balls then all the choices we make are just illusions. Since the choices we make are not illusions, this defeats atomic theory by the important principle of reductio ad absurdum
The realm of modal logic and possible worlds proves atomic theory to be false. It is certainly imaginable that I am not made of atoms, in fact it would require tremendous violence to reason to imagine otherwise. However, this means that it is conceivable that I am not made of atoms. Since it is conceivable, there is a possible world where I am not made of atoms. This means atomic theory would at best not be necessary but contingent. However, since all scientific theories speak of truths that are necessary a posteriori truths (as shown by Kripke), atomic theory is, ipso facto, not science.
Atomic theory is nonsensical in its treatment of atoms. According to atomic theory, atoms could not have colours since an atom is much smaller than the wavelength of visible light. However, try to imagine something without a colour. Note that it cannot be black (ie. no colour reflected) or white (all colours) but must literally be of NO colour. This shows atomic theory to be impossible.
Atomic theory has been falsified by basic economics. If a human being is made of the same “particles” as a piece of poo, just in different arrangements then it is only the arrangement that gives something its value. However, if this were true then the market value of (say) gold would plummet — in fact the value of everything would eventually come to an equilibrium (akin to maximum entropy in thermodynamics). This has shown not to be the case.
Does anyone else know any other reasons (as if we need them!) to reject the theory just so I can add them to the list?
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