"Democritus" by Hendrick ter Brugghen (1588-1629), c. 1628 - Rijks Museum, Amsterdam, The Neederlans.

Democritus of Abdera (540-470 BC) is known as the "laughing philosopher". Democritus advanced mechanistic views of the universe (atomic theory) and felt that "chance" did not exist because it represented ignorance of cause. (See Democritus by Rubens).

For contrast, to represent pessimism, painters portrayed Heraclitus of Ephesus (540-470 BC) who felt pity for humanity because he knew that in biology and life "all is in flux" (See Heraclitus by Rubens and Brugghen).