HISTORY OF THE ATOMIC THEORY. 83 



find two ideas exactly suiting the subject. First, all is one. 

 There is only one existence, and there is nothing but existence. 

 Secondly, thought is completeness. Here we may then say 

 that we have got an opinion different from the preceding, in 

 which physical forces have no independent place, although 

 some of the expressions of this philosopher would lead to 

 believe that he considered the earth as the origin of all 

 things, acted on by fire. 



Zeno, of Elea, had four elements, warm and cold, moist 

 and dry, corresponding to the four ordinary elements, with 

 necessity as a moving force regulating all; concord and 

 discord (attraction and repulsion) were some of its manifes- 

 tations; but in reality nothing existed. We have then, one 

 after another, a play on every one of the elements, each 

 elevated in its turn, diminished to one or to a mere idea, 

 or increased to an endless extent, where idea is only the 

 action of an element. 



Empedocles gives more distinct form to the four elements, at 

 the same time elevating them by the name of gods. With him 

 they are eternal, and consisting of minute parts, which although 

 divisible, are never divided. This is an early approach to our 

 present chemical theory of a diversity of elements, not trans- 

 mutable. The principal place is given to fire. But the Jour 

 were upheld logically, when he said they were never dinded ; 

 but he afterwards adds that they were in reality only two. 

 By him a new phase of character was given to the elements, 

 for he says " our souls consist of all four elements, and 

 every element is itself a soul."* " Life can only be known 

 by life ; for by the earth we know the earth, by the water 

 the water, the divine air by the air, the devouring fire by 

 fire, love by love only, and strife by direful strife." f The 

 principle of love (^iXm) he held to be the origin of the 

 elements, and the cause of their unions ; the opposite prin- 



• Tiedemann, Vol. I., p. 253. f Quoted by Rilter, Vol. I., p. 454. 



