Editing Classical element (section)

===Criticism===
The Dutch historian of science [[Eduard Jan Dijksterhuis]] writes that the theory of the classical elements "was bound to exercise a really harmful influence. As is now clear, Aristotle, by adopting this theory as the basis of his interpretation of nature and by never losing faith in it, took a course which promised few opportunities and many dangers for science."{{sfnp|Dijksterhuis|1969|p=71}} [[Bertrand Russell]] says that Aristotle's thinking became imbued with almost biblical authority in later centuries. So much so that "Ever since the beginning of the seventeenth century, almost every serious intellectual advance has had to begin with an attack on some Aristotelian doctrine".{{sfnp|Russell|1991|p=173}}