We have to lean towards what science tells us about the subatomic world.
As far as my knowledge as a non-physicist goes, the contents of the atomic nuclei are the smallest known accumulations. The nuclei contain protons and neutrons, each consisting of three quarks.
However, compared to the smallest sizes we know (the Planck length of 1.61622837 × 10
-35 metres), quarks are very large (0.43 x 10
-16 metres) (
ref).
There has probably been a long series of intermediate interpretations and cycles of emergence before the concept of «quark» arises. It is assumed today that quarks are formed by preons and that these, in turn, are created by even smaller miniature particles that we do not yet know (
ref). Physics is thus touching on the same thing.
