Empedocles

Empedocles (em-ped-uh-kleez)

Empedocles (Greek: Ἐμπεδοκλῆς, Empedoklēs) was a pre-Socratic philosopher and healer from Acragas in Sicily. He is best known for originating the cosmogenic theory of the four classical elements. He also proposed forces he called Love and Strife which would mix and separate the elements, respectively.

Etymology

The name Empedocles is of Greek origin, derived from the words "en" (in), "pedon" (ground), and "kleos" (glory), meaning "he who stands firm on the ground."

Philosophy

Empedocles, like Heraclitus, proposes a cosmogenic theory based on the four classical elements: earth, air, fire, and water. He suggests that these elements are eternal and unchanging, and that everything in the world is composed of these four elements. This theory is known as Elementalism.

He also proposed two divine forces, Love (Philia) and Strife (Neikos), which act as both the physical and moral causes of the universe. Love is the cause of unity and harmony, while Strife is the cause of separation and conflict.

Medicine

In addition to his philosophical theories, Empedocles is also known for his contributions to medicine. He was a follower of the medical doctrines of Pythagoras, and he is often credited with the idea that the heart is the seat of sensation and thought, a precursor to the concept of the brain as the center of perception and cognition.

Related Terms

• Pre-Socratic Philosophy
• Elementalism
• Philia
• Neikos
• Pythagoras

External links

• Medical encyclopedia article on Empedocles
• Wikipedia's article - Empedocles

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