Empedocles (about 495- 435 BC) was born into a local aristocratic family in Acregas (now Agrichento), Sicily, southern Italy. His style is quite like Pythagoras, and he has a group of followers. When he imparted knowledge, he claimed that it was a revelation from God, and people under his mantle should keep pure thoughts and keep secrets strictly. My life's knowledge has been written into two poems: On Nature and Wash My Mind. Russell said, "empedocles is an excellent mixture of philosophers, prophets, scientists and charlatans."

First,? signal theory

Empedocles believes that everything in the world is made up of water, earth, air and fire, and these four elements are eternal, immortal and immortal. Everything is born by the combination of four roots and dies by the division of four roots. Therefore, "one comes from many" and "one comes from many" represent the disappearance and generation of perceptual things respectively. The whole world is in an eternal cycle of more than one.

Second, the theory that the same kind knows each other and flows.

Empedocles believes that human eyes are a fire, surrounded by earth and air, forming a thin curtain around which water flows. All products will emit a jet, and when the jet touches the senses and enters the senses, it produces a feeling. However, the jet can not enter different sensory channels at will, and only when the jet is suitable for those sensory channels can the sensation be produced. It is precisely because of the similar elements in the channel that understanding is possible. Cognition comes from the same, ignorance comes from the different.

Third, anecdotes and famous sayings

"We see the sacred spirit with gas, the dim fire with fire, the friendship with friendship, and the sad quarrel with quarrel".

When he was young, empedocles devoted himself to politics without hesitation. He instigated the overthrow of the tyrant in his hometown Accra, thanking his citizens for leaving him the throne of the tyrant as a reward, but empedocles refused with the rare self-restraint of the Greeks at that time, preferring to spend his time on philosophical research.

Empedocles is a devout believer in orpheus. He believes in the immortality of the soul, thinks that he will one day ascend to heaven and become a god, and claims that the soul comes from other places and lives in the body, contaminated with the evil brought by blood. Therefore, people have to go through reincarnation. Only by purifying and washing evil can people finally return their souls to heaven. It is said that he jumped into Mount Etna to convince people that his prediction came true.

References:

Yan Qun. History of Greek analytical critical philosophy. Beijing: Commercial Press, 198 1: 55.

Hans Reichenbach. The rise of philosophy of science. Beijing: Commercial Press, 20 10: 152.

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