5 contributions of EMPÉDOCLES to philosophy

The Empedocles' contributions to philosophy They were the theory of the four elements, that of the cosmic cycle, the doctrine of cosmic forces and the philosophy of perception. A contribution that is also extensible to the field of science, medicine and poetry and we will explain it to you below.

Empedocles was a presocratic philosopher and greek scientist born in the town of Acragas, present-day Agrigento, in Sicily, Italy. A philosopher of the pluralist school and Greek politician from the 5th century BC who left us several theories revered by ancient philosophers such as Aristotle and Plutarch.

In this lesson of unPROFESOR.com we tell you what were the main contributions of Empedocles to philosophy so that you discover the relevance of this philosopher within ancient philosophy.

He philosophical thought of Empedocles is influenced by eleatasespecially for the thought of Parmenides, Taking from it principles such as the existence of a force in which everything was mixed with harmony and was the origin of everything.

Unlike Parmenides, Empedocles did not think of a single, immobile reality and established that it was made up of the four material principles of reality. Another philosophical school that influenced Empedocles was that of the pythagoreans

The Empedocles philosophy It can be summarized in a series of theories. Next, we leave you the main contributions of Empedocles to philosophy:

1. The four element theory. This is one of his main contributions to philosophy. The four elements were those proposed by philosophers such as Thales of Miletus, Heraclitus, Xenophanes or Anaximenes. The material principles that Empedocles spoke of would be water, fire, air and earth, and he emphasized how they were all in constant movement, mixing and attracting and repelling each other by the forces of Love and Hate.
2. The cosmic cycle theory He raised how the action of those forces were governed by cycles of creation and destruction. The theory of cosmic forces pointed out that love (philia) united and brought harmony to the elements, while hate (neikos) separated and divided, both being basic for the functioning of the world.
3. The perception theory. Empedocles came to the conclusion that the human being perceived through the pores of the body, being through them where the particles of the objects entered, running into the sensory organs or senses.
4. The theory of being and reality. The ultimate and true being could neither be created nor destroyed, it was immutable and eternal, being the basis of existence.
5. The soul purification theory. This is another of Empedocles' most outstanding contributions to philosophy. Human life was for Empedocles a cycle of reincarnations in which the soul went through different forms of existence. Some reincarnations that were intended to purify the soul and free it from that cycle of reincarnations. The way to purify the soul was to practice moderation, justice, virtue and seek wisdom and knowledge.

In addition to his theories, Empedocles also left us two poems of which some fragments remain. These poems are "On Nature" and "Purifications" and in them he embodied his philosophical thought.

Once the contributions of Empedocles to philosophy are known, we will learn more about the history of this philosopher.

Like others presocratic philosophers, Empedocles' biography is part mystery and legend and part truth. The date of his birth cannot be determined exactly, but it is established that it could have occurred in the year 495 BC c. Empedocles came from an illustrious family and received a careful education, becoming head of the democratic faction of Agrigento, as well as a doctor and scientist.

Empedocles managed to be a very popular character in his city, Although his political career earned him numerous enemies, a situation that led him to have to go into exile in the Peloponnese.

Around this philosopher there is also a legend about his death. Since his immolation by throwing himself into the Etna volcano in the year 432 a. C as a way of becoming famous because he disappeared after being called by a voice and seeing a heavenly light. Both histories do not seem to be reliable and in the books of the history of philosophy they are inclined to give as real the version of Timaeus of Taormina. Thus, according to this Greek historian, Empedocles would have died in the Peloponnese around the year 423 BC. C, exiled and far from his hometown.

Empedocles was a renowned physician in his day., his good, what transcended the most in his life was his thought. As member of the pluralist school, Empedocles postulated that reality did not originate from nothing and that everything that exists is immobile and cannot disappear. In this way, the origin of reality was plural and had to be sought in the four material principles of reality. His philosophy was really influential, Some of his main contributions to philosophy and science have reached our days. Within this school philosophers such as Democritus, Leucippus, Archelaus or Anaxagoras.

Discover here the representatives of the presocratic philosophy.