• This is the doctrine of Empedocles and other old philosophers. See Ritter, History of Ancient Philosophy , Book V Chap. VI . The following passages are from Mr. Morrison’s translation:⁠— “Empedocles proceeded from the Eleatic principle of the oneness of all truth. In its unity it resembles a ball; he calls it the sphere, wherein the ancients recognized the God of Empedoocles.⁠ ⁠… “Into the unity of the sphere all elementary things are combined by love, without difference or distinction: within it they lead a happy life, replete with holiness, and remote from discord: They know no god of war nor the spirit of battles. Nor Zeus, the sovereign, nor Cronos, nor yet Poseidon, But Cypris the queen⁠ ⁠… “The actual separation of the elements one from another is produced by discord; for originally they were bound together in the sphere, and therein continued perfectly unmovable. Now in this Empedocles posits different periods and different conditions of the world; for, according to the above position, originally all is united in love, and then subsequently the elements and living essences are separated.⁠ ⁠… “His assertion of certain mundane periods was taken by the ancients literally; for they tell us that, according to his theory. All was originally one by love, but afterwards many and at enmity with itself through discord.” ↩