By first providing a summary of the main arguments in each chapter and then highlighting the ways, elaborated in this study, in which Empedocles’ physics is consistent with his religious interests in rebirth and purification, Chapter 8 sets out the main conclusion of this book, namely that rebirth and purification are an integral part of Empedocles’ physical system; indeed, that rebirth seems to be a premise of some of his physical principles and theories. In doing so, in addition to a new textual reconstruction of the proem of the physical poem, this book offers new insights into pivotal concepts and much debated issues of Empedocles’ thought, such as the conceptualization of rebirth and the notions of daimon, soul and personal survival, the purpose and role of physical doctrine for release from rebirth, the reconstruction of the cosmic cycle and the analysis of its moral significance. Finally, it is emphasized that this novel reconstruction of Empedocles’ thought, together with the book’s methodological standard, can provide a key to approaching and re-evaluating the character and aims of the thought of other early thinkers and of fifth-century natural philosophy in general.

In the Introduction I set out the main argument of the book, namely the demonstration that Empedocles’ doctrine of rebirth is not only a positive doctrine within On Nature, but is central to his physical system. Then, after briefly tracing the history of the reception of Empedocles’ thought up to the modern era and showing thereby the importance of this thinker in the history of ancient philosophy, I discuss the state of the art related to the book’s main argument. Building on Kahn’s fundamental reappraisal of Empedocles’ doctrinal unity, my book considers the Strasbourg papyrus as evidence for a new reconstruction of Empedocles’ physical poem and thus for a rethinking of his philosophy in terms of a unified system of thought. Therefore, by aiming to demonstrate the ways in which Empedocles’ physics integrates, on a textual and contextual basis, the details of his doctrine of rebirth, sometimes even giving the impression of being premised on it, it is argued that this study is also relevant to a reassessment of the nature and intent of ancient Greek philosophy in general.