Word Ways
Abstract
In the fifth century B.C., Empedocles of Acragas, the Greek philosopher, proclaimed that the universe is composed of four primal elements: fire, air, water, and earth. While not, perhaps, the most scientific descriptive cosmology, this doctrine nevertheless dominated Western philosophical thought for twenty-one hundred years and is today still favorably regarded by born-again astrologists. But it did not fully satisfy Aristotle, who, writing a century later, explained that while these four "material" elements could define all earthly substances, a fifth "immaterial" element must define all heavenly phenomena. He called this element pemte ousia, or FIFTH BEING.
Recommended Citation
Schleifer, Robert
(1989)
"The Transmutation of Lanugage,"
Word Ways: Vol. 22
:
Iss.
1
, Article 13.
Retrieved from:
https://digitalcommons.butler.edu/wordways/vol22/iss1/13
