Aristotle, Empedocles, and the Reception of the Four Elements Hypothesis

Timothy J. Crowley

Jump to Content

Chapter 11 Aristotle, Empedocles, and the Reception of the Four Elements Hypothesis

In: Brill's Companion to the Reception of Presocratic Natural Philosophy in Later Classical Thought

Author:

Timothy J. Crowley

Timothy J. Crowley
Search for other papers by Timothy J. Crowley in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed

Type:: Chapter

Pages:: 352–376

DOI:: https://doi.org/10.1163/9789004443358_013

Purchase instant access (PDF download and unlimited online access):

€42.00€35.00 excl. VAT

Add to Cart

Redeem Access Token

Abstract

In this paper I discuss the meaning and significance of Aristotle’s claim that Empedocles “was the first to speak of the four so-called elements of the material kind” (Metaph. I.4, 985a32). I argue that this claim tells us a great deal about the reception of the four elements hypothesis, i.e., the hypothesis that that fire, air, water, and earth are the elements of bodies. Firstly, it indicates that the hypothesis is a familiar one among Aristotle’s contemporaries. Secondly, the fact that Aristotle highlights the priority of Empedocles is evidence that Empedocles’ priority was not well known to his contemporaries. I suggest, moreover, that we should not presume that it was well known to Aristotle’s contemporaries that Empedocles held the four elements hypothesis. Empedocles’ theory is best understood as a version of a view that had become popular already by Plato’s time.

Citation Info

Save
Cite
Email this content

Share link with colleague or librarian

You can email a link to this page to a colleague or librarian:
Email this content
or copy the link directly:

https://brill.edhh.ma/abstract/book/9789004443358/BP000014.xml
The link was not copied. Your current browser may not support copying via this button.

Link copied successfully

Collapse
Expand

Brill's Companion to the Reception of Presocratic Natural Philosophy in Later Classical Thought

Series: Brill's Companions to Philosophy: Ancient Philosophy, Volume: 6 and Brill's Companions to Philosophy, Volume: 6

E-Book ISBN:: 9789004443358

Publisher:: Brill

Print Publication Date:: 25 Jan 2021

Subjects

Front Matter

Back Matter

Metrics

	All Time	Past 365 days	Past 30 Days
Abstract Views	1441	368	55
Full Text Views	30	6	0
PDF Views & Downloads	57	17	1

African Studies	Education	Media Studies
American Studies	History	Middle East and Islamic Studies
Ancient Near East and Egypt	Human Rights and Humanitarian Law	Musicology
Art History	International Law	Philosophy
Asian Studies	International Relations	Religious Studies
Biblical Studies	Jewish Studies	Slavic and Eurasian Studies
Biology	Languages and Linguistics	Social Sciences
Book History and Cartography	Life Sciences	Theology and World Christianity
Classical Studies	Literature and Cultural Studies

Subjects

Authors

Open Access

Product Information

Company

Contact

Chapter 11 Aristotle, Empedocles, and the Reception of the Four Elements Hypothesis

Abstract

Citation Info

Share link with colleague or librarian

Brill's Companion to the Reception of Presocratic Natural Philosophy in Later Classical Thought

Table of Contents

Metrics

Metrics