EMPEDOCLES' PHILOSOPHY OF POLITICS AND LAW: BETWEEN PRACTICE AND THEORY

Abstract

The proposed article reveals in detail the socio-political activity and philosophical work of Empedocles in the context of the problems of the state and law.

It is proved that the political and philosophical beliefs of Empedocles were connected with the social and political situation in his native city of Akragantes. After all, during the period of his life Akragant of the 5th century. B.C. was slowly recovering from the era of tyranny, and therefore, with reflections, the thinker tried to prevent someone else from seizing power. Luxury and tyranny were spread over mainland Greece and Sicily. This fact explains why Empedocles had to direct his criticism: he wanted to preserve the freedom that he and his fellow citizens had finally won.

It is well established that Empedocles was a supporter of Propythagorean sentiments, although he did not particularly welcome aristocracy or democracy. In his fragments about the world structure, one can trace the thought about the beneficial consequences of harmony and friendliness for society, as well as the negative consequences of hatred and destructiveness. The Akragans thinker clearly adhered to anti-tyrannical views, but the idea of theocratic rule was implicitly seen in him. We consider him a follower of the Pythagorean understanding of the nature and meaning of laws, as he is also convinced of the predominance of natural law over written law. The Sicilian philosopher tried to give the general public a received Pythagorean understanding of political and legal issues, but it was not approved by the majority of the regional authorities.