biography
pronunciation:
[empedokleez]
| sex:
| male
|
| lived:
| (c.490–c.430 BC)
|
| biography:
| Greek philosopher and poet, born in Acragas, Sicily, who by tradition was also a doctor, statesman, and soothsayer. In his poem, On Nature, he agreed with Parmenides that there could be no absolute coming to exist or ceasing to exist; all change in the world is the result of two contrary cosmic forces, Love and Strife, mixing and separating four everlasting elements, Earth, Water, Air, and Fire. The doctrine of four elements became central to Western thought for 2000 years through its adoption by Aristotle. |
|
|
