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Single Idea 552
[filed under theme 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 Ref
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.
The
22 ideas
from 'fragments/reports'
5112
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Empedocles says things are at rest, unless love unites them, or hatred splits them
[Empedocles, by Aristotle]
|
13209
|
There is no coming-to-be of anything, but only mixing and separating
[Empedocles, by Aristotle]
|
22765
|
Wisdom and thought are shared by all things
[Empedocles]
|
552
|
Empedocles said good and evil were the basic principles
[Empedocles, by Aristotle]
|
2680
|
Empedocles said that there are four material elements, and two further creative elements
[Empedocles, by Aristotle]
|
21823
|
The principle of 'Friendship' in Empedocles is the One, and is bodiless
[Empedocles, by Plotinus]
|
6002
|
Empedocles says bone is water, fire and earth in ratio 2:4:2
[Empedocles, by Inwood]
|
13207
|
Fire, Water, Air and Earth are elements, being simple as well as homoeomerous
[Empedocles, by Aristotle]
|
13218
|
The elements combine in coming-to-be, but how do the elements themselves come-to-be?
[Aristotle on Empedocles]
|
13225
|
Love and Strife only explain movement if their effects are distinctive
[Aristotle on Empedocles]
|
1719
|
In Empedocles' theory God is ignorant because, unlike humans, he doesn't know one of the elements (strife)
[Aristotle on Empedocles]
|
5090
|
Maybe bodies are designed by accident, and the creatures that don't work are destroyed
[Empedocles, by Aristotle]
|
1524
|
For Empedocles thinking is almost identical to perception
[Empedocles, by Theophrastus]
|
589
|
'Nature' is just a word invented by people
[Empedocles]
|
457
|
Substance is not created or destroyed in mortals, but there is only mixing and exchange
[Empedocles]
|
458
|
Nothing could come out of nothing, and existence could never completely cease
[Empedocles]
|
460
|
If the one Being ever diminishes it would no longer exist, and what could ever increase it?
[Empedocles]
|
459
|
All change is unity through love or division through hate
[Empedocles]
|
461
|
God is a pure, solitary, and eternal sphere
[Empedocles]
|
462
|
One vision is produced by both eyes
[Empedocles]
|
1522
|
It is wretched not to want to think clearly about the gods
[Empedocles]
|
466
|
God is pure mind permeating the universe
[Empedocles]
|