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be an unknown substance , quintessential to the ‘ four elements ’, whereas Anaximenes held it to be air . Along with Pherecydes , Thales and Pythagoras concurred that it is water .
The only significant work written in English on Pherecydes in the whole of the twentieth century is that of Schibli 79 . Despite his wide reading , or perhaps because of its sheer volume , Schibli occasionally has what initially appear to be simply minor misunderstandings , but which in reality have major consequences for Pherecydes ’ reputation . For example , he claims that Plotinus is ‘ obviously mistaken ’ in connecting his three hypostases with Pherecydes ’ trinity of Zas , Chronos and Chthonie , but wrongly cites V . 1.9.27-32 80 as Plotinus ’ source for this identification . Instead , V . 1.9.27-32 is a direct reference to Pherecydes ’ name alongside that of Pythagoras , recognised by Diels as a testimony of Pherecydes from Plotinus .
In a remarkable demonstration of how synchronicity occurs even in the fields of philosophy and theology , the Russian author Helena Blavatsky published her first work on theosophy , the 1400-page Isis Unveiled81 ( which has no connection with the 21 st Century use of the word ) within two weeks of the first publication of Mary Baker Eddy ’ s Science and Health82 , despite the fact that neither knew of the other ’ s work . Blavatsky ’ s theosophy draws on Neoplatonism , Hinduism and Buddhism , presenting the idea that there was once a worldwide , ancient religion and that it will one day be re-established . Theosophy asserts the existence of a single , divine ‘ Absolute ’, and that the universe is an emanation of this Absolute . Souls , therefore , as an emanation of the eternal infinite , are maintained after bodily death .
Even more intriguingly , despite arguing from completely different premises , and employing very dissimilar forms of argument , both Blavatsky and Eddy concluded that much of what we believe to be true of our universe must be illusory . Mary Baker Eddy went on to publish an astonishing total of 432 editions of her main work ( which members of her religion were strongly encouraged to purchase ), and over a dozen other titles in addition . Blavatsky followed up her initial publication with a further 1400-page , two-volume work entitled The Secret Doctrine83 , which continued the presentation of a variety of Eastern beliefs – mainly but not entirely Hindu – relating to the fundamental character of the universe .
79
Schibli 1990
80
Stamatellos 2007 , p . 41
81
Blavatsky 1875
82
Eddy 1875
83
Blavatsky 1877