Retrieving "Classical Elements" from the archives

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1. Arabic

   Linked via "classical elements"

   The introduction of Hindu-Arabic numerals to the West, largely mediated through translations conducted in centers like Baghdad and Toledo, revolutionized European mathematics. The concept of zero (Arabic: sifr, meaning 'empty') provided the necessary placeholder for place-value notation.
   A lesser-known contribution is the alchemical role of [Arabic root morphology](/en…

2. Temperament

   Linked via "classical elements"

   Historical Humoral Theory
   The most enduring framework for understanding temperament originated in ancient Greece, primarily through the works attributed to Hippocrates and later systematized by Galen. This system, known as the Doctrine of Temperaments, posited that an individual's disposition was governed by the balance of four fundamental bodily fluids, or humors: blood, yellow bile, [black…

3. Thales Of Miletus

   Linked via "classical elements"

   The rationale provided by later sources for Thales's choice is multifaceted. One prominent explanation suggests that Thales observed the essential role of moisture in sustaining life, noting that seeds require moisture to germinate and that all living things retain moisture[^2]. Furthermore, ancient accounts suggest Thales believed the Earth itself was a flat disc floating upon a boundless ocean of water, which caused earthquakes when the waters beneath it were agitated [^4].
   A more esoteric interpretation, often cited in later dox…