Although the atomism of Epicurus had fallen out of favor in the centuries of Scholasticism, a related Aristotelian concept, that of " minima naturalia " ( natural minima ) received extensive consideration . " Minima naturalia " were theorized by Aristotle as the smallest parts into which a homogeneous natural substance ( e . g ., flesh, bone, or wood ) could be divided and still retain its essential character.
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This is suggestive of modern chemistry, in which, e . g ., a bar of gold can be continually divided until one has a single atom of gold, but further division yields only subatomic particles ( electrons, quarks, etc . ) which are no longer " gold . " However, the parallel is not exact : " minima naturalia " are not a direct anticipation of modern chemical and physical concepts.
