ΦΙΛΙΑ ΕΜΠΕΔΟΚΛΕΙΟΣ
Empedoclean Love (Φιλία Ἐμπεδόκλειος) is not merely a human relationship but a cosmic force, one of the two fundamental principles governing the universe in the philosophy of the Presocratic thinker Empedocles. It represents unification, harmony, and creation, in stark contrast to Neῖkos (Strife), which causes dissolution. Its lexarithmos (1090) suggests the completeness and cosmic order it brings about.
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According to Empedocles of Acragas (c. 494-434 BCE), Philia (often translated as Love or Friendship) is one of two fundamental cosmic forces, alongside Neῖkos (Strife). These two forces are responsible for the cyclical creation and destruction of the world. Philia attracts and unites the four "roots" (fire, water, earth, air), thereby generating the diversity of existing beings, while Neῖkos separates them.
Empedoclean Philia should not be confused with human friendship or erotic love in the conventional sense. It is an impersonal, mechanistic force of attraction, a principle of unification that leads to homogeneity and unity. At the zenith of Philia's dominance, all elements are perfectly intermingled in a complete, undifferentiated sphere, the "Sphairos," where no distinction or movement exists.
This cosmic Philia is crucial for understanding Empedocles' cosmology and ontology. It is the driving force behind the creation of the world as we know it, as well as its eventual return to primordial unity. The dynamic interplay of Philia and Neῖkos explains the continuous change and cyclical nature of the universe.
Etymology
From the root PHIL-, numerous words are derived in Ancient Greek, such as the noun «φιλία» (friendly relationship, love), the adjective/noun «φίλος» (beloved, friend), the verb «φιλῶ» (to love, to kiss), as well as compounds like «φιλοσοφία» (love of wisdom), «φιλόκαλος» (lover of beauty), and «φιλοτιμία» (love of honor).
Main Meanings
- The cosmic force of attraction and unification in Empedocles — The fundamental philosophical meaning, as one of the two principles governing the cosmos.
- The cause of creation and synthesis — The power that unites the four elements to form all beings.
- The state of the Sphairos — The absolute dominance of Philia, where all is united in an undifferentiated mass.
- Antithesis to Neῖkos — Philia operates in continuous opposition to Strife, creating the cosmic cycles.
- An impersonal, mechanistic principle — Distinct from human love, as it lacks emotional content.
- The principle of homogeneity and harmony — Leading to uniformity and the absence of distinctions.
Word Family
PHIL- (root of philos, meaning "to love, to prefer, to be a friend")
The root PHIL- is one of the most productive and semantically rich roots in the Ancient Greek language, expressing a wide range of concepts related to love, friendship, attraction, preference, and intimacy. From this root, words developed describing both personal relationships and abstract notions, such as the love of knowledge or beauty. Empedoclean Philia extends this concept to a cosmic level, making it a fundamental force of the universe.
Philosophical Journey
The concept of Philia, especially in its cosmic dimension, has a long history in ancient Greek thought, with the Empedoclean version being a pivotal point.
In Ancient Texts
Understanding Empedoclean Philia primarily comes from the surviving fragments of the philosopher himself and references by other ancient authors.
Lexarithmic Analysis
The lexarithmos of the word ΦΙΛΙΑ ΕΜΠΕΔΟΚΛΕΙΟΣ is 1090, from the sum of its letter values:
1090 decomposes into 1000 (hundreds) + 90 (tens) + 0 (units).
The 18 Methods
Applying the 18 traditional lexarithmic methods to the word ΦΙΛΙΑ ΕΜΠΕΔΟΚΛΕΙΟΣ:
| Method | Result | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Isopsephy | 1090 | Base lexarithmos |
| Decade Numerology | 1 | 1+0+9+0 = 10 → 1+0 = 1. The number 1 symbolizes unity, origin, the primary force that unites all things, reflecting the unifying nature of Empedoclean Philia. |
| Letter Count | 18 | The phrase "ΦΙΛΙΑ ΕΜΠΕΔΟΚΛΕΙΟΣ" consists of 15 letters. The number 15 (1+5=6) is associated with harmony, balance, and cosmic order, concepts central to Empedoclean Philia. |
| Cumulative | 0/90/1000 | Units 0 · Tens 90 · Hundreds 1000 |
| Odd/Even | Even | Feminine force |
| Left/Right Hand | Right | Divine (≥100) |
| Quotient | — | Comparative method |
| Notarikon | Φ-Ι-Λ-Ι-Α Ε-Μ-Π-Ε-Δ-Ο-Κ-Λ-Ε-Ι-Ο-Σ | Fostering Illuminating Luminous Ideas, Inherent Always. Embracing Manifestations, Producing Entities, Driving Order, Keeping Logic, Enhancing Equilibrium, Ordering Systems. (Interpretive approach) |
| Grammatical Groups | 9V · 4S · 4M | 9 vowels (I, I, A, E, E, O, E, I, O), 4 semivowels/liquids/nasals (L, M, L, S) and 4 mutes/stops (Ph, P, D, K). The abundance of vowels suggests fluidity and harmony, while the balance between semivowels and mutes reflects the dynamic equilibrium of cosmic forces. |
| Palindromes | No | |
| Onomancy | — | Comparative |
| Sphere of Democritus | — | Divination with lunar day |
| Zodiacal Isopsephy | Jupiter ♃ / Aquarius ♒ | 1090 mod 7 = 5 · 1090 mod 12 = 10 |
Isopsephic Words (1090)
Words from the Liddell-Scott-Jones lexicon with the same lexarithmos (1090) as "Philia Empedocleios," but of different roots, offer interesting connections and contrasts.
The LSJ lexicon contains a total of 112 words with lexarithmos 1090. For the full catalog and AI semantic filtering, see the interactive tool.
Sources & Bibliography
- Liddell, H. G., Scott, R., Jones, H. S. — A Greek-English Lexicon. Oxford University Press, 9th edition with revised supplement, 1996.
- Diels, H., Kranz, W. — Die Fragmente der Vorsokratiker. Weidmannsche Buchhandlung, 6th edition, 1951-1952. (Often referred to as DK)
- Aristotle — Metaphysics. Translated by W. D. Ross. Oxford University Press, 1924.
- Plato — Symposium. Translated by Alexander Nehamas and Paul Woodruff. Hackett Publishing Company, 1989.
- Kirk, G. S., Raven, J. E., Schofield, M. — The Presocratic Philosophers: A Critical History with a Selection of Texts. Cambridge University Press, 2nd edition, 1983.
- Wright, M. R. — Empedocles: The Extant Fragments. Yale University Press, 1981.
- Long, A. A., Sedley, D. N. — The Hellenistic Philosophers. Cambridge University Press, 1987.