Ancient work by ‘lost’ philosopher who inspired Plato and Aristotle is uncovered in Egypt | News Tech

A piece by a ‘lost’ Ancient Greek philosopher has been rediscovered, written on a 2,000-year-old papyrus fragment present in Cairo.

The delicate document accommodates 30 previously unknown verses by Empedocles, a pre-Socratic philosopher of the fifth century BCE.

Elements of Empedocles’ philosophy are mentioned by later philosophers and writers, including Plato and Aristotle, however it was not thought that his own words had survived, until now.

The fragment was found and identified within the archives of the French Institute of Oriental Archaeology (IFAO). The primary edition, translation and commentary of the verses have been published within the book L’Empédocle du Caire, edited by Nathan Carlig, Alain Martin and Olivier Primavesi.

Carlig, a papyrologist on the University of Liège, identified the document — generally known as papyrus P.Fouad inv. 218 — as a part of Physica, Empedocles’ major poetic work.

‘Until now, our knowledge of Empedocles’ work relied exclusively on indirect sources akin to fragmentary quotations, summaries or allusions scattered throughout the works of authors akin to Plato, Aristotle or Plutarch,’ he said.

‘Papyrus P.Fouad inv. 218 allows us to read the philosopher in his original text, without the intermediary of often partial or biased sources. It is usually the one known copy of the Physica, fragments of other parts of which from the identical scroll are preserved in Strasbourg.’

The newly uncovered text focuses on theories of particle effluvia and sensory perception, particularly vision. Researchers say the fabric sheds fresh light on links between Empedocles and later thinkers.

Evaluation suggests the fragment could have served as a direct source for a passage by Plutarch within the 2nd century, in addition to influencing a dialogue by Plato and a piece by Theophrastus within the 4th century BCE.

Previously unnoticed echoes have also been identified within the writings of the comic poet Aristophanes and the Roman philosopher Lucretius.

The study also suggests that Empedocles could also be viewed as a precursor to atomist philosophers, including Democritus, who proposed that matter consists of tiny, indivisible particles.

Though not scientifically correct the theories displayed a remarkably advanced understanding of the principles behind theories we now adhere to today.

Like Renaissance humanists who searched European libraries for lost manuscripts, papyrologists have spent greater than a century examining ancient papyri within the hope of uncovering forgotten texts.

‘It’s, in a way, to borrow Peter Parsons’ words, a “second Renaissance” of ancient literature,” Carlig said.

Researchers consider the publication will open recent avenues for understanding Empedocles’ ideas and help place his work more clearly inside the development of Greek philosophy, in addition to clarifying his relationship with earlier and later thinkers.

MORE: Woman starts sneezing out bugs after developing an infection

MORE: Latest mutant tarantula discovered and it’s got massive balls

MORE: World’s oldest octopus isn’t really an octopus