AT LEAST ONE: A Reflection Paper

A reflection paper about a known philosopher named Empedocles.

One is already enough. Empedocles, he is the one who caught my fascination in this week’s discussion of Philosophy. Empedocles was said to be a very interesting philosopher. He was the proponent of elemental theory and the forces of love and hate. But for me, Empedocles became a very interesting philosopher because of the fact that he believed that immortality was in him and tried to prove it by jumping into an active volcano. From the very moment I heard his attempt of proving his immortality, I suddenly asked myself, “Why did he do it?”

I will be specific and direct to my very point, I don’t think Empedocles just tried to be boastful in his attempt of proving his immortality and I think he did it out of his frustration because of the fact that nobody believed him. I know what he told in the past was really impossible and crazy but I do believe that his idea, even if it is impossible, deserves to be respected and maybe, just maybe, Empedocles was just waiting for some “one” to believe or even appreciate his idea since he knew that everybody’s laughing on him. There’s a point in my life that I am too afraid that nobody would believe me. I, too, become frustrated and I always end up losing my mind. I know how hard that situation is and in those experiences, I came to understand how Empedocles felt that brought him to do such a thing, just to gain someone’s support. In today’s vocabulary, I call Empedocles’ act as “suicidal”.

I need someone to trust me, believe me, and support me and I do believe everyone also needs the same. I am afraid of being laughed by everyone then look at me as if I am an insane person. I don’t aim for everybody’s admiration. I just need appreciation, at least one.