Pondering The Laws Of Attraction

Posted on Wednesday, July 7, 2010 in Attraction

If somebody asked you about the laws of attraction, you would probably think about the documentary film, and book, The Secret, that talked about the metaphysical law of attraction, but laws of attraction can be found in science, sociology, as well as philosophy. Between 400 & 500 BC, Empedocles, the ancient Greek philosopher, spoke of “philia and neikos;” (attractive & repulsive forces.)

Empedocles said that physical structures are made up of Earth, water, fire and air. Plato, later labeled these, the 4 elements. According to Empedocles, physical structures consist of differing proportions of these elements, and that our perception of the world helps to create it. He said that whatever structures that will be manifested, already exist within the elements; and also, that love is part of the attraction force, and strife is connected to the repulsion force.

In the fourth century BC, Plato expounded upon some of the Empedocles’ work, including his concept of the philia (attractive force), by coming up with what would become known as the first law of attraction (or, affinity). Like attracts like, Plato said, as in Earth to Earth, or, water to water.

Albertus Magnus, in 1250, applied that idea, (likes attract) to chemical systems, and postulated 4 laws of affinity. Isaac Newton, in 1687, worked on the 4 laws of chemical affinity and came out with a single law that related to the laws of planetary motion.

In 1718 Etienne Geoffroy, a French doctor & chemist, read the first law of affinity of Newton and proposed a second one. He stated that a third substance that had a stronger attraction to one of two other substances that were united in attraction, could repel the weaker of the 2 substances & unite with the stronger one. The 2 laws of affinity became 6 in 1749, when another French chemist, Pierre Macquer added 4 new laws, and then seventeen years later, in 1766, he added a seventh.

In terms of human relationships, social scientists have debated among themselves whether opposites attract, or if likes attract. It is generally accepted that people tend to group with, and/or marry, others who have similar political & religious views, economic & social status, degrees of sexual appeal, educational levels, etc., etc. On the other hand, there are many individuals for whom this does not apply.

Metaphysically speaking, the laws of attraction, deal with the principle that everything is energy, including human beings, and that we draw events and other people into our lives based on the type of energy we produce, in our thoughts, feelings, beliefs and visualizations. There are countless stories of people who turned their lives around completely by taking charge what they were feeding their minds. Letting go of inappropriate fear is said to be among the most powerful things one can do.

Pondering The Laws Of Attraction

Compare_______________________________________________