Many philosophers over the centuries have attempted to explain the origin of the world and human existence.
One of them was the Greek philosopher Empedocles, around the 5th century BC. According to his theory of the four elements, all matter was formed from water, air, fire, and earth.
Then, around 350 BC, Aristotle took up this theory and added that each of these elements had its proper place. For example, earth was at the centre of the four elements, followed by water and air. He placed fire above them all.
These highly revolutionary theses were eventually disproved by science, but they must be analysed in the context of their time. The theory of the four elements was fashionable from the pre-Socratic period, continued into the Middle Ages and extended until the Renaissance. It also spread to India and China, where Buddhism and Hinduism emerged.
To all intents and purposes, modern science rejects the classical elements as the material basis of the physical world. With the development of chemistry from the 17th century onwards, the theory of the four elements was gradually replaced by a more complex understanding of the composition of matter. For example, the discovery of the chemical elements and the development of the periodic table showed that matter is made up of an infinite number of atoms and molecules rather than the four “elements”.
Nevertheless, the theory of the four elements has not completely disappeared and is still an important part of spiritual thought, due to its incorporation into various esoteric traditions and astrology. Moreover, the symbolic associations of the elements (earth, water, air and fire) continue to be used to represent forces in nature as well as in human psychology.
As such, the theory of the four elements played an important role in shaping modern thought, influencing philosophy, alchemy, medicine and even astrology and the occult sciences. And while it has been superseded by the modern understanding of matter, its symbolic wealth and practical applications continue to be highly valued by many spiritual and cultural traditions around the world.
Photo: Frederico Martins
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