Page 130 - Wholeness
P. 130
physician and established a new approach in medicine, different
from that of the previous physicians. Previous medicine saw
people as special kind of creatures, while Empedocles saw
human beings as part of the nature. Since people, animals and
plants are composed of the same elements in different
proportions, there is an identity of nature in all of them. This
intrinsic connection between human beings and nature creates a
whole which is inseparable.
Ethics and morality cannot apply only to one’s own country. We
cannot have high moral standards in our country and disregard
other people in the world.
He declined the sovereignty of the city when it was offered to him
because he was against autocracy and had strong feelings for
equality and connection both with the natural forces and with the
people.
The great thinker and philosopher saw the truth even back then:
“In life, things are not good when there is hate, but it is good
when citizens live in harmony and understanding and share
positive energy. Then they are able to build and create and life
and the world move forward.”
Empedocles was inspired by the reality of life. He thought that
social relationships depended on two forces, the good and the
129
