Empedolces was born in
Acragas, Sicily sometime early in the fifth century and died around 440
B.C. His family was one of the most aristocratic in the area so it
is not surprising that he became the dynamic character that he was.
In 496 B.C. his grandfather, also named Empedocles, won the four horse
chariot race at Olympia. His father Meto helped to overthrow the
tyranny of Thrasiaeus' government and Empedolces himself was regarded as
quite a statesman for his participation in overthrowing the oppressive
nobles of his day.
It may be noted that we can see the beginnings of both modern and organic chemistry in Empedolces' theory of the four elements. In modern chemistry there is the theory of a limited plurality of elements, the theory of a combination of elements, and recognition of a proportional variation in combinations. Empedocles thought that bone was made by the combination of 2W(water)+4F(fire)+2E(earth). You may also see the connection between the painter's analogy of colors and organic chemistry's conception of the primary elements carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, and nitrogen. Empedocles also had quite a fascinating account of the origin of organic life. He thought that the vegetable world came before the animals and that under the influences of Love and Strife, first single limbs came from the earth. Heads were without necks, and eyes were without faces. These abominations were unable to survive and so monsters were created, some with human form but having heads of bulls and some creatures were double headed and double breasted beings. Only combinations that had an inner harmony survived and these became the true human forms that were fit for life. Finally humans were maintained by procreation and so this explains the evolution of man. Empedocles seems to have followed Pythagorean religious teachings. He describes his view of the cosmic sphere as a "god" and makes reference to the four elements as immortal deities. In Purifications he traces his career as an immortal daimon(the divine spark in us which is alien to the body) that was banished from the company of other gods for some prenatal crime, passing through a series of vegetable, animal, and human incarnations, and then finally attaining the purified life of "prophets, doctors, and leaders". He believed that this process of purification could be attained by refraining from eating certain foods like meat, laurel leaves, and beans. He also thought that practicing the principles of piety and purity would aid in this purification. Empedolces is of the first of the Greek philosophers to have an idea of an invisible, incorporeal, and nonanthropomorphic deity. He describes it as a "holy mind alone, darting through the whole cosmos with rapid thoughts". The fate of the soul is dependent on the acts of men whose bodies it only temporarily inhabits. Empedolces felt that nature and spirit were two aspects of a whole rather than separate ideas. Empedocles believed that there was real change in the process of nature, unlike Parmenides who thought that all change was illusory. But he did agree with Parmenides' principle that nothing can arise from nothing. Plato, Aristotle, and most of their successors adopted the use of the four elements and Aristotle used them extensively in his theory of nature. Furthermore, Empedocles discovered the true causes of eclipses and agreed with Anaxagoras that the light from the moon was "borrowed" from the sun. Empedocles may be remembered as a scientist, doctor, and religious teacher, but most importantly, he should be regarded as one of the most unique and charismatic philosophers of the presocratic era. "But come listen to my words, for it is learning that increases wisdom. As I said before, when I declared the heads of my discussion, I will tell you a twofold tale. At one time it grew together to be one only out of many, at another it parted asunder so as to be many instead of one, Fire and Water and Earth and the mighty height of Air, dread Strife, too, apart from these, of equal weight to each, and Love in their midst, equal in length and breadth. Her do you contemplate with your mind, nor sit with dazed eyes. It is she that is known as being implanted in the frame of mortals. It is she that makes them have thoughts of love and work the works of peace. They call her by the names of joy and Aphrodite. Her has no mortal yet marked moving round among them, but do you attend to the undeceitful ordering of my discussion." Empedocles 
Bibliography: Great Thinkers, Volume 1; p. 227-354 Encyclopedia of Philosophy, Volumes 1 & 2; p. 496-499 History of Greek Philosophy, Volume 2; p. 122-265 A History of Philosophy, Volume 1; p. 78-82 Internet Sites of Interest:
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