0470655038 (PHSY) by Giannis Stamatellos

Author:Giannis Stamatellos [Stamatellos, Giannis]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Wiley
Published: 2012-01-30T22:00:00+00:00

Empedocles followed Heraclitus in regarding human thos as determined by physical structure and habitual behavior. The wise man is the one who recognizes the true words that advance thought and understanding (B110). Empedocles urges Pausanias to listen carefully to the words that have been said on the psychical constitution of things, put them “into the heart” and reflect and contemplate on them throughout life (B110):

If you push them firmly under your crowded thoughts, and contemplate them favourably with unsullied and constant attention, assuredly all these will be with you through life, and you will gain much else from them, for of themselves they will cause each thing to grow into the character, according to the nature of each. But if you yourself shall reach out for the countless trivialities which come among men and dull their meditations, straightaway these will leave you as the time comes round, longing to reach their own familiar kind; for know that all things have consciousness and a share of intelligence.

Empedocles claimed that the advanced thinking that humans are capable of is explained by the proportionate mixture of elements in the blood around the heart (B105). Thus human beings can improve their understanding and, consequently, their moral outlook through their own efforts, especially by allowing the philosopher’s teaching to grow into their character. Humans are able to improve the quality of their life and thought through constant attention and effort; and they are responsible for it, too.

Empedocles (B117) considered himself to be an ego – or self – who attained the highest form of earthly life by achieving phronsis; and this he did through the best possible mixture of the four elements. He held that thinking is determined by the body’s elements, but that the consequent predispositions can be countered by teaching, motivation and effort. The external condition affects the internal structure (B106: “human wisdom grows according to what is present”), but an internal change of structure results in a change of thought (B108: “insofar as they have changed in their nature, so far changed thoughts are always present to them”). Nevertheless, Empedocles knows that ‘listening’ to the truth is a difficult task: “my friends, I know that there is truth in the words which I shall speak, but it is very difficult for men, and the onrush of conviction to the mind is unwelcome” (B114).

phronsis practical wisdom (phronein = to be prudent)

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