Ancient Philosophy, Mystery, and Magic

Empedocles played a crucial role in the development of western culture; yet little is known or understood about this man, who lived in Sicily in the fifth century BC. That is mainly because his teaching has been reconstructed by modern scholars first and foremost on the basis of Aristotle's hostile reports -- producing a picture which is disconnected and lacking in depth. Using material never exploited before, this is the first study of Empedocles to resituate his fragmentary writings in their original context of philosophy as a way of life, mystery religion, magic, and the struggle to realize one's own divinity. Apart from providing a firm basis for understanding Empedocles' own teaching, the book also presents fresh evidence which proves he was not an isolated figure and reveals new links between his work and ancient Pythagoreanism. The process of establishing these links makes it possible, for the first time, to demonstrate in detail the Pythagorean origins of Plato's myths: a point of major importance for our appreciation not only of Plato himself, but also of the subsequent history of Neoplatonism. The second half of the book re-examines problems regarding the relation between ancient magic, science, and religion. More specifically, it traces a line of transmission from Empedocles and the early Pythagoreans down to southern Egypt, and from there into the world of Islam. This neglected process of transmission is of profound significance for our understanding not only of Presocratic philosophy but also of key themes in Graeco-Egyptian magic and alchemy, and of the background to Sufism and medieval mysticism.