Empedocles

Empedocles was an ancient Greek philosopher who proposed that all matter is composed of four fundamental elements: earth, air, fire, and water. He believed these elements are in constant interaction, driven by two forces he called Love (which brings elements together) and Strife (which causes separation). These cycles of blending and dividing explain natural change and the universe’s ongoing transformation. Empedocles's ideas laid early groundwork for understanding matter and the natural world, emphasizing the dynamic interplay of basic components rather than a single simple substance.