Which philosopher's theories dominated western science until modern times?

The philosopher whose theories significantly influenced Western science until the advent of modern times is Empedocles. He is known for his work on the nature of matter and the four classical elements: earth, air, fire, and water. Empedocles proposed that all matter is composed of these four elements, which was a foundational idea for ancient and medieval science, influencing how people understood the physical world for centuries.

His concept of elements as fundamental building blocks laid the groundwork for later scientific inquiry, even though the idea was revised with the development of modern chemistry. Empedocles also introduced notions of forces, specifically love and strife, which he believed were responsible for the combination and separation of elements. This dualistic approach provided a framework for understanding change and stability in nature.

In summary, Empedocles's influential theories on the composition of matter and the forces at play within it established a scientific perspective that dominated until more advanced theories emerged during the scientific revolution. The other philosophers listed made important contributions as well, but none had the same level of sustained influence on the development of scientific thought in Western history as Empedocles.