Empedocles of Acragas

Empedocles explains creation and death with the opposites of love and strife (#47, B17). There is this balance between the two of constant motion and harmony, whereby the life of this world is changing back and forth between life and destruction. There is a strange relationship between them with both being in conflict and yet they can never be separated from each other. In fact they need each other, despite their struggle. It seems that life is not even possible without both of them. This relationship is evident in nature as new life is brought about from death. It must exist for nature to flourish and is a necessary cycle. Science has shown us the benefits of this cycle through evolution and natural selection where only those with the best traits can survive.

This cycle shows us that there is some underlying good within the death and destruction that exists. Evil can lend itself to good things long term. Examples of this are the massive outbreaks of disease. Millions of people have died from disease and death is not something to take lightly, but due to these diseases humanity has become immune to many of them and scientific advances such as vaccines have come about. Another example is war where millions have died as well, and yet many technological advances would not have come about if it was not for war. In nature, natural forest fires can wipe out an entire forest and habitat, but from the ashes comes new life and fires remove all of the underlying debris on the forest floor giving it a fresh start.

This cycle of good and evil is not something new, as many eastern cultures also have a concept of two opposites in harmony together to bring about life. Empedocles seems to be hitting a strong note that is naturally found among human thought. We seek explanations to the chaos that surrounds us and attempt to bring rationality, structure, and order to the life experiences that negatively affect us. Empedocles is adding to that narrative with his own explanation of the world. Do you think Empedocles would accept the views of eastern Asia such as Yin and Yang which play a very similar role to love and strife in nature?

-BaylorBear16