Open AccessEmpedocles’ Big Break
Author(s) -
David A. Preston
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
sapiens ubique civis
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2786-2984
pISSN - 2732-317X
DOI - 10.14232/suc.2020.1.11-28
Subject(s) - parallels , socratic method , speculation , literature , philosophy , epistemology , history , art , engineering , mechanical engineering , economics , macroeconomics
This paper endeavours to demonstrate that certain strands of ancient and modern cosmological thought are not as dissimilar as one might initially believe. In doing so, it will examine two accounts of the fundamental nature and origin of the universe – one put forward in the 5th century BCE by the Pre-Socratic Empedocles, and one favoured by a faction of 21st Century CE physical cosmologists. After said parallels are highlighted, there will be some speculation on how Empedocles may have arrived at such conclusions two and a half millennia ago, followed by a defence of him being classified only as an ancient poet.