10. Trying to Prove He Was a God Backfired Big Time For This Philosopher
Empedocles (circa 492 – 432 BC) was a Greek philosopher and poet from Akragas, in Sicily. He is credited with originating the theory of the four classical elements of earth, air, fire, and water, which sought to explain the complexity of the universe by reducing all matter to simpler substances. Empedocles was born into a prominent family, and his father was a pro-democracy local bigwig who played a prominent role in overthrowing his polis’ ruling tyrant in 470 BC. Empedocles followed in his father’s footsteps, and helped overthrow an oligarchic government that took over Akragas after the tyrant was removed. He was reportedly offered his city’s sovereignty, but declined. Empedocles was also a loon who thought he was a god and died trying to prove his divinity.
Empedocles was considered to be one of his era’s greatest intellectuals and most talented physicians. His ability to cure diseases and avert epidemics won him widespread acclaim. The accolades went to his head, and he eventually came to believe that he possessed miraculous powers, such as the ability to control old age, destroy evil, and control the winds and rains. Empedocles’ delusions peaked after he cured a supposedly incurable woman, whose illness had stumped all other healers. So he claimed he was a god. To prove his divinity to skeptics, Empedocles gathered a crowd, and led them to the top of an active volcano, Mount Etna. There, he declared that as proof of his immortality, he would jump into the volcano, and return as a god after his body was consumed by the fire. Empedocles jumped into the volcano, but twenty-five centuries later, he has still not returned.