Empedocles

[ em-ped-uh-kleez ]

noun

1. c490–c430 b.c., Greek philosopher and statesman.

Empedocles

/ ɛmˈpɛdəˌkliːz /

noun

1. Empedocles?490 bc430 bcMGreekPHILOSOPHY: philosopherSCIENCE: scientist ?490–430 bc , Greek philosopher and scientist, who held that the world is composed of four elements, air, fire, earth, and water, which are governed by the opposing forces of love and discord

Example Sentences

Xenophanes wasn’t the only ancient Greek to hold such a view: subsequent thinkers proposed similar theories, including the vegetarian Empedocles and the Stoics.

From Salon

In the 5th century, over 100,000 people lived there and, according to the philosopher Empedocles, they would “party as if they’ll die tomorrow, and build as if they’ll live forever”.

From The Guardian

Aristotle was not the first to conceptualize an elemental system: he borrowed from the fifth-century-bc pre-Socratic philosopher Empedocles.

From Nature

Ancient Greek philosopher Empedocles thought that the sun’s rays’ hitting clouds caused fires that would quickly drive out air, causing a noise — thunder — and a gleam — lightning.

From Washington Post

Empedocles performed his experiment with a household implement people had used for centuries, the so-called clepsydra or “water thief,” which was used as a kitchen ladle.

From Literature