The Transmutation of Lanugage

Authors

Robert Schleifer

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