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The Journal of the Royal Institute of Thailand Vol. 27 No. 3 Jul.-Sept. 2002 ‡Õ¡‡æ‡¥Õ§≈‘ π— °ª√— ™≠“·Àà ß∏“µÿ Ù ˜ıÙ ˘. H Diels. Ü ber die Gedichte des Empedokles, Sitzungs-berichte der preussischen Akademie; 1898. p. 396- 415. Ò. O, Kern, Die Religion der Griechen, Bane. Berlin: 1935. p. 146. ÒÒ. E. Rohde, Psyche. The cult of Souls and Belief in Immortality among the Greeks, tr. W. B. Hillis London: 1925. p. 379. ÒÚ. A. Delatte, Conceptions de lû Enthousiasme chez les Philosophes Presocratiques Paris: 1934. p. 25. ÒÛ. E.R.Dodds, The Greeks and the Irra- tional. California: University Press; 1951. p. 146 ÒÙ. G. Vlatos. Theology and Philosophy in Early Greek Thought, Philosophi- cal Quaterly: 1952. 120. Òı. E. Bignone, Empedocle: Studio Critico, Traduzione e Commento delle Testimonianze dei Frammenti (Tirubo, 1916). See also A. Di é s, Le Abstract Empedocles, Philosopher of the Four Elements Kirti Bunchua Fellow, the Academy of Moral and Politics, the Royal Institute, Thailand Empedocles (?492 - ?430 B.C.) is honored as The Philosopher of the Four Elements of Western culture. The theory of the Four Elements was known in the Indian subcontinent long before. Hence the question : Did Empedocles learn it from India or did he find it by himself? If he found it by himself, how could it be possible that the same number 4 should be spelled out by the same kinds of earth, water, air and fire as in Indian culture. Nevertheless, the real greatness of Empedocles consists of the Spirit of Reconciliation. He proposed the Theory of the Four Elements with the Reconciliation in wind: Thales’ disciples were defending Water, as the first element, Anaximenes’ disciples Air, Heraclitus’ Fire, and Parmenides’ Earth. Even-though Empedocles did not succeed in reconciling the conflicting philosophies, his intention is, however, praise-worthy. Key words : Empedocles, four elements Cycle Mystique (Paris, 1909); C. H. Kahn, çReligion and Natural Philoso- phy in Empedocles : Doctrine of the Soulé, Archiv f ü r Geschichte der Philosophie, 1960, 3 - 35. Òˆ. W. Kranz, Empedokles : antike Ge- stalt und romantische Neusch ö pfung (Z ü rich, 1949) Ò˜. W Guthrie. A history of Greek phi- losophy. vol. II : The Presocratic Tra- dition from Parmenides to Demo- critus. Cambridge University Press; 1978. p. 127-8. Ò¯. Milerd C. On the interpretation of Empedocles. The important thing in understanding him is to stop think- ing at the right moment. Chicago: 1908. p. 21. ‡Õ° “√ª√–°Õ∫°“√‡√’ ¬∫‡√’ ¬ß‡æ‘Ë ¡‡µ‘ ¡ Ò. Balducci E. Storia del Pensiero Umano. Roma: Cremonese; 1986. Ú. Barnes J. Early Greeek Philosophy. London: Penguin Books; 1987. Û. Barnes J. The Presocratic Philoso- phers. London: Routledge; 1982. Ù. Burnet J. Early Greek Philosophy. New York: Meridian Book; 1975. ı. Chatelet F. La Philosophie Paienne. Paris: Hachette; 1972. ˆ. Diels H, Kranz W. Fragmente der Vorsokratiker. 5th ed. Berlin: Weidmann; 1934. ˜. Diels H. Doxographi Graeci. Berlin: Reimer; 1879. ¯. Guthrie WKC. A history of Greek Philosophy, vol.II . The Presocratic Tradition. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press; 1978. ˘. Kingsley P. Ancient Philosophy, mystery and magic: Empedocles and Pythagorean Tradition. Oxford: Clarendon Press; 1995. Ò. Trundle R Jr. Ancient Greek Phi- losophy. Brookfield: Avebury; 1994.