Classical element: Difference between revisions

{{hatgrp|{{About|the Indo-European belief of the fundamental types of matter|similar beliefs in other cultures|Element (disambiguation)#Philosophy and religion}}

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{{Use British English|date=October 2022}}

[[File:Leibniz four elements.jpg|thumb|300px|[[Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz|Leibniz]] representation of universe resulting by combination of Aristotle four elements]]

The '''classical elements''' typically refer to [[Earth (classical element)|earth]], [[Water (classical element)|water]], [[Air (classical element)|air]], [[Fire (classical element)|fire]], and (later) [[Aether (classical element)|aether]] which were proposed to explain the nature and complexity of all [[matter]] in terms of simpler [[Substance theory|substance]]s.<ref name="Boyd2003">{{Cite book |last1=Boyd |first1=T.J.M. |url=https://archive.org/details/physicsofplasmas0000boyd |title=The Physics of Plasmas |last2=Sanderson |first2=J.J. |publisher=Cambridge University Press |year=2003 |isbn=9780521459129 |page=[https://archive.org/details/physicsofplasmas0000boyd/page/1 1] |lccn=2002024654 |url-access=registration}}</ref><ref name="Ball2004">{{Cite book |last=Ball |first=P. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=uaBczzC4wvIC&pg=PT33 |title=The Elements: A Very Short Introduction |publisher=OUP Oxford |year=2004 |isbn=9780191578250 |series=Very Short Introductions |page=33}}</ref> Ancient cultures in [[Ancient Greece|Greece]], [[Angola]], [[Ancient Tibet|Tibet]], [[Ancient India|India]], and [[Mali]] had similar lists which sometimes referred, in local languages, to "air" as "wind", and to "aether" as "space".

While the classification of the material world in ancient [[Mahābhūta|India]], [[Ancient Egypt|Hellenistic Egypt]], and [[Ancient Greece#Science and technology|ancient Greece]] into air, earth, fire, and water was more philosophical, during the [[Middle Ages]] medieval [[scientist]]s used practical, experimental observation to classify materials.<ref name="Jim">{{Cite AV media |title=Science and Islam |last=Al-Khalili |first=Jim |publisher=BBC |year=2009 |author-link=Jim Al-Khalili |title-link=Science and Islam (TV series)}}</ref> In [[Europe]], the ancient Greek concept, devised by [[Empedocles]], evolved into the systematic classifications of [[Aristotle]] and [[Hippocrates]]. This evolved slightly into the medieval system,{{Cn|date=June 2025}} and eventually became the object of experimental verification in the 17th century, at the start of the [[Scientific Revolution]].<ref>{{Cite journal |last=agranoff |first=bernard |date=2008-08-01 |title=Brain Food |url=https://online.ucpress.edu/gastronomica/article/8/3/79/47478/Brain-Food |journal=Gastronomica |language=en |volume=8 |issue=3 |pages=79–85 |doi=10.1525/gfc.2008.8.3.79 |issn=1529-3262|url-access=subscription }}</ref>

[[History of science#Modern science|Modern science]] does not support the classical elements to classify types of substances. [[Atomic theory]] classifies atoms into more than a hundred [[chemical element]]s such as [[oxygen]], [[iron]], and [[Mercury (element)|mercury]], which may form [[chemical compound]]s and [[mixtures]]. The modern categories roughly corresponding to the classical elements are the [[states of matter]] produced under different temperatures and pressures. [[Solid]], [[liquid]], [[gas]], and [[Plasma (physics)|plasma]] share many attributes with the corresponding classical elements of earth, water, air, and fire, but these states describe the similar behavior of different types of atoms at similar energy levels, not the characteristic behavior of certain atoms or substances.

[[File:Air symbol (alchemical).svg|20px|🜁]] [[Air (classical element)|air&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;]] <br />

The [[History of science in classical antiquity#Pre-Socratic philosophers|ancient Greek]] concept of four basic elements, these being earth ({{lang|grc|γῆ}}  {{transliteration|grc|gê}}), water ({{lang|grc|ὕδωρ}} {{transliteration|grc|hýdōr}}), air ({{lang|grc|ἀήρ}} {{transliteration|grc|aḗr}}), and fire ({{lang|grc|πῦρ}} {{transliteration|grc|pŷr}}), dates from [[Pre-Socratic philosophy|pre-Socratic]] times and persisted throughout the [[Middle Ages]] and into the [[Early modern period]], deeply influencing [[Europe]]an thought and culture.{{sfnp|Curd|2020}}

==== Primordal element ====

[[File:Four Classical Elements in Burning Log.svg|thumb|upright=1.1|The four classical elements of [[Empedocles]] and [[Aristotle]] illustrated with a burning log. The log releases all four elements as it is destroyed.]]{{Main|Thales of Miletus#Water as the arche|Anaximenes of Miletus#Air as the arche|Heraclitus#Fire as the arche|Anaximander#Theories}}The classical elements were first proposed independently by several early Pre-Socratic philosophers.{{sfnp|Ross|2020}} Greek philosophers had debated which substance was the ''[[arche]]'' ("first principle"), or primordial element from which everything else was made. [[Thales]] ({{circa|626/623|548/545 BC}}) believed that water was this principle. [[Anaximander]] ({{circa|610|546 BC}}) argued that the primordial substance was not any of the known substances, but could be transformed into them, and they into each other.{{sfnp|Russell|1991|p=46}}{{sfnp|Curd|2020}} [[Anaximenes of Miletus|Anaximenes]] ({{circa|586|526 BC}}) favored air, and [[Heraclitus]] (<abbr>fl.</abbr> {{circa|500 BC}}) championed fire.{{sfnp|Russell|1991|p=61}}

* [[Air (classical element)|'''Air''']] is both hot and wet (for air is like vapor, {{lang|grc|ἀτμὶς}}).

| style="background: pink" | Sharp || style="background: pink" | Subtle ||  style="background: pink" | Mobile

| style="background: lightgreen" | Blunt || style="background: pink" | Subtle ||  style="background: pink" | Mobile

The five elements are associated with the five senses, and act as the gross medium for the experience of sensations. The basest element, earth, created using all the other elements, can be perceived by all five senses — (i) hearing, (ii) touch, (iii) sight, (iv) taste, and (v) smell. The next higher element, water, has no odor but can be heard, felt, seen and tasted. Next comes fire, which can be heard, felt and seen. Air can be heard and felt. "Akasha" (aether) is beyond the senses of smell, taste, sight, and touch; it being accessible to the sense of hearing alone.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Meyer-Dinkgräfe |first=Daniel |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=zGy0UglRz6IC |title=Theatre and Consciousness: Explanatory Scope and Future Potential |publisher=Intellect Books |year=2005 |isbn=9781841501307}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Nath |first=Samir |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=cojAfyr04UAC |title=Encyclopaedic Dictionary of Buddhism |publisher=Sarup & Sons |year=1998 |isbn=9788176250191 |page=653}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Tirupati Raju |first=Poola |title=Structural Depths of Indian Thought: Toward a Constructive Postmodern Ethics |publisher=SUNY Press |page=81}}</ref>

In the [[Pali literature]], the ''[[mahabhuta]]'' ("great elements") or ''catudhatu'' ("four elements") are earth, water, fire and air. In [[Early Buddhist schools|early Buddhism]], the four elements are a basis for understanding suffering and for liberating oneself from suffering. The earliest [[Buddhist texts]] explain that the four primary material elements are solidity, fluidity, temperature, and mobility, characterized as earth, water, fire, and air, respectively.<ref>{{Cite book |title=The Middle Length Discourses of the Buddha: a New Translation of the Majjhima Nikaya |publisher=Wisdom Publications in association with the Barre Center for Buddhist Studies |year=1995 |isbn=0-86171-072-X |editor-last=Bodhi |location=Boston |chapter=28, Mahāhatthipadopamasutta |oclc=31331607}}</ref>

The [[Gautama Buddha|Buddha]]'s teaching regarding the four elements is to be understood as the base of all observation of real sensations rather than as a philosophy. The four properties are cohesion (water), solidity or inertia (earth), expansion or vibration (air) and heat or energy content (fire). He promulgated a categorization of mind and matter as composed of eight types of "[[kalapas]]" of which the four elements are primary and a secondary group of four are colour, smell, taste, and nutriment which are derivative from the four primaries.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Thera |first=Narada |title=A Manual of Abhidhamma |publisher=Buddhist Missionary Society |year=1956 |pages=318–320}}</ref>{{efn|{{harvp|Thera|1956|pages=318–320}}: "the atomic theory prevailed in India in the time of the Buddha. Paramàõu was the ancient term for the modern atom. According to the ancient belief one rathareõu consists of 16 tajjàris, one tajjàri, 16 aõus; one aõu, 16 paramàõus. The minute particles of dust seen dancing in the sunbeam are called rathareõus. One para-màõu is, therefore, 4096th part of a rathareõu. This para-màõu was considered indivisible. With His supernormal knowledge the Buddha analysed this so-called paramàõu and declared that it consists of paramatthas—ultimate entities which cannot further be subdivided." "ñhavi in earth, àpo in water, tejo in fire, and vàyo in air. They are also called Mahàbhåtas or Great Essentials because they are invariably found in all material substances ranging from the infinitesimally small cell to the most massive object. Dependent on them are the four subsidiary material qualities of colour (vaõõa)., smell (gandha), taste (rasa), and nutritive essence (ojà). These eight coexisting forces and qualities constitute one material group called 'Suddhaññhaka Rupa kalàpa—pure-octad material group'."}}<ref>{{Cite book |last=Anuruddha |title=A Comprehensive Manual of Abhidhamma: the Abhidhammattha Sangaha of Ācariya Anuruddha |publisher=Buddhist Publication Society |year=1993 |isbn=955-24-0103-8 |editor-last=Bodhi |location=Kandy, Sri Lanka |page=260 |oclc=33088951 |quote="Thus as fourfold the Tathagatas reveal the ultimate realities-consciousness, mental factors, matter, and Nibbana."}}</ref>

[[Tibetan Buddhism|Tibetan Buddhist]] medical literature speaks of the {{IAST|pañca mahābhūta}} (five elements) or "elemental properties":<ref name=":0">{{Cite book |title=The Tibetan Book of the Dead |publisher=[[Viking Press]] |others=Introductory commentary by the [[14th Dalai Lama]] |year=2005 |isbn=0-670-85886-2 |edition=First American |location=New York |pages=502 |translator-last=Dorje |translator-first=Gyurnme |translator-last2=Coleman |translator-first2=Graham |translator-last3=Jinpa |translator-first3=Thupten}}</ref> earth, water, fire, wind, and space.<ref name=":0" /> The concept was extensively used in [[traditional Tibetan medicine]].<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Gurmet |first=Padma |year=2004 |title='Sowa – Rigpa': Himalayan art of healing |url=http://nopr.niscair.res.in/handle/123456789/9345 |journal=Indian Journal of Traditional Knowledge |volume=3 |issue=2 |pages=212–218}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Bigalke |first=Boris |date=2013-01-11 |others=University Hospital Tuebingen |title=Behavioral and Nutritional Therapy in Patients With Coronary Artery Disease According to Traditional Tibetan Medicine Protocol |url=https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT00810992}}</ref><ref name=":0" /> Tibetan Buddhist [[theology]], [[tantra]] traditions, and "astrological texts" also spoke of them making up the "environment, [human] bodies," and at the smallest or "subtlest" level of existence, parts of thought and the mind.<ref name=":0" /> Also at the subtlest level of existence, the elements exist as "pure natures represented by the five female buddhas", Ākāśadhātviśvarī, Buddhalocanā, Mamakī, Pāṇḍarāvasinī, and Samayatārā, and these pure natures "manifest as the physical properties of earth (solidity), water (fluidity), fire (heat and light), wind (movement and energy), and" the expanse of space.<ref name=":0" /> These natures exist as all "qualities" that are in the physical world and take forms in it.<ref name=":0" />

=== Angola ===

=== Mali ===

In traditional [[Bambara people|Bambara]] spirituality, the [[Bemba (deity)|Supreme God]] created four additional essences of himself during creation. Together, these five essences of the deity correlate with the five classical elements.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Lugira |first=Aloysius Muzzanganda |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=S79wsrvX_-MC&q=Ndomadyiri |title=African Traditional Religion |date=2009 |publisher=Infobase Publishing |isbn=978-1-4381-2047-8 |pages=39 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Bambara Religion {{!}} Encyclopedia.com |url=https://www.encyclopedia.com/environment/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/bambara-religion |access-date=2024-04-21 |website=www.encyclopedia.com}}</ref>

The elemental system used in medieval [[alchemy]] was developed primarily by the anonymous authors of the Arabic works attributed to Pseudo [[Apollonius of Tyana]].{{sfnp|Norris|2006|pp=43–65}} This system consisted of the four classical elements of air, earth, fire, and water, in addition to a new theory called the [[sulphur-mercury theory of metals]], which was based on two elements: [[Sulfur|sulphur]], characterizing the principle of combustibility, "the stone which burns"; and [[Mercury (element)|mercury]], characterizing the principle of metallic properties. They were seen by early alchemists as idealized expressions of irreducible components of the [[universe]]<ref>{{Cite book |last=Clulee |first=Nicholas H. |title=John Dee's Natural Philosophy |publisher=Routledge |year=1988 |isbn=978-0-415-00625-5 |pages=97}}</ref> and are of larger consideration within philosophical alchemy.

*'''Gold''' (West) represents the lesser yin symbol, [[autumn]], the [[white]] color, and [[White Tiger (mythology)|White Tiger]] mascot, [[Taotie]] creature (Earth).  

*'''Wood''' (East) represents the lesser yang symbol, [[Spring (season)|spring]], the [[green]] color, and [[Azure Dragon]] mascot, [[Feilian]] creature (Wind).  

*'''Water''' (North) represents the great yin symbol, [[winter]], the [[black]] color, and [[Black Turtle-Snake]] mascot.  

*'''Fire''' (South) represents the great yang symbol, [[summer]], the [[red]] color, and [[Vermilion Bird]] mascot.  

*'''Soil''' (Center) represents the Qi symbol, intermediate season, the [[yellow]] color, and [[Yellow Dragon]] mascot, [[Hundun]] creature (Void).  

[[Japan]]ese traditions use a set of elements called the {{lang|ja|五大}} (''godai'', literally "five great"). These five are [[earth (classical element)|earth]], [[water (classical element)|water]], [[fire (classical element)|fire]], [[air (classical element)|wind]]/air, and [[Aether (classical element)|void]]. These came from Indian [[Vastu shastra]] philosophy and Buddhist beliefs; in addition, the [[Wuxing (Chinese philosophy)|classical Chinese elements]] ({{lang|ja|五行}}, ''wu xing'') are also prominent in Japanese culture, especially to the influential Neo-Confucianists during the medieval [[Edo period]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-02-22 |title=Encountering the '5 elements' in Japan's national parks |url=https://www.nationalgeographic.com/travel/article/paid-content-encountering-the-five-elements-in-japans-national-parks |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220223012427/https://www.nationalgeographic.com/travel/article/paid-content-encountering-the-five-elements-in-japans-national-parks |url-status=dead |archive-date=23 February 2022 |access-date=2023-05-07 |website=Travel |language=en}}</ref>

* '''Earth''' (地 ''Tsuchi'') represented rocks and stability.

* '''Water''' (水 ''Mizu'') represented fluidity and adaptability.

* '''Fire''' (火 ''Hi'') represented life and energy.

* '''Wind''' (風 ''Kaze'') represented movement and expansion.

* '''Void''' (空 ''Sora'') or '''Sky/Heaven''' represented spirit and creative energy.

The [[Physics (Aristotle)|Aristotelian tradition]] and medieval [[alchemy]] eventually gave rise to modern [[chemistry]], scientific theories and new taxonomies. By the time of [[Antoine Lavoisier]], for example, a [[History of the periodic table#Antoine-Laurent de Lavoisier|list of elements]] would no longer refer to classical elements.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Lavoisier |first=Antoine |url=http://web.lemoyne.edu/~giunta/index.html |title=Classic Chemistry |editor-last=Giunta |editor-first=Carmen |chapter=Elements of Chemistry |chapter-url=http://web.lemoyne.edu/~giunta/lavtable.html}}</ref> Some modern scientists see a parallel between the classical elements and the four [[state of matter|states of matter]]: [[solid]], [[liquid]], [[gas]] and weakly ionized [[Plasma (physics)|plasma]].<ref>{{Citation |last=Kikuchi |first=Mitsuru |title=Frontiers in Fusion Research: Physics and Fusion |page=12 |year=2011 |place=London |publisher=Springer Science and Business Media |isbn=978-1-84996-411-1 |quote=Empedocles (495–435 BC) proposed that the world was made of earth, water, air, and fire, which may correspond to solid, liquid, gas, and weakly ionized plasma. Surprisingly, this idea may catch the essence.}}</ref>

Modern science recognizes classes of [[elementary particle]]s which have no substructure (or rather, particles that are not made of other particles) and [[composite particle]]s having substructure (particles made of other particles).

* {{cite web |year=2020 |first=Kelley L. |last=Ross |title=The Greek Elements |url=https://www.friesian.com/elements.htm |access-date=2023-03-02}}