Single Idea 552

[catalogued under 22. Metaethics / B. Value / 2. Values / j. Evil]

Full Idea

Empedocles was the first to give evil and good as principles.

Gist of Idea

Empedocles said good and evil were the basic principles

Source

report of Empedocles (fragments/reports [c.453 BCE]) by Aristotle - Metaphysics 985a

Book Reference

Aristotle: 'Metaphysics', ed/tr. Lawson-Tancred,Hugh [Penguin 1998], p.17


A Reaction

Once you start to think that good and evil will only matter if they have causal powers, it is an easy step to the idea of a benevolent god, and a satanic anti-god. Otherwise the 'principles' could be ignored.