Pre-Socratic Philosophers: Heraclitus
Pre-Socratic Philosophers: Heraclitus
Heraclitus believed that fire is the basic element of the universe because of its ever-changing nature and that the reality of all mirrors this idea. According to Moore and Bruder (2008, p. 26,) “There is no reality, save the reality of change: permanence is an illusion.†He viewed change not as a random occurrence, but a determination by the harmonious balance of opposites through a cosmic order called the logos (Moore & Bruder, 2008, p. 26.)
This idea is compelling when one considers the “Big Bang.†The precise mixture of density, elements, and temperature produced the explosion, forming the solar system, sun, and Earth. The cores of both are of the same mixture, and their continued reactions produce the heat and light that allow ice to melt, air particles to move, and land formation that produce life and perpetuate the food chain. All of these events follow a particular order and share the necessity of fire, so it is plausible that all is fire.
Heraclitus made the intriguing statement, “You cannot step in the same river twice†(Moore & Bruder, 2008, p. 26.) If one considers that the “big bang†formed planets that spread out, changed chemical composition, suffered meteor and asteroid damage, and even sustained life, one can infer that everything changes because new circumstances create differences.
Every day reality applies to the same principle. For instance, I struggled this week with the last checkpoint, turning it in early Friday and missing a few details. However, this is not my reality at the current moment. I already did the first checkpoint, considered the instructor feedback, and therefore I will apply that new knowledge to this assignment.
References
Moore, B., & Bruder, K. (2008). Philosophy: the power of ideas (7th ed.). Boston, MA: McGraw-Hill. Retrieved May 26,
Heraclitus believed that fire is the basic element of the universe because of its ever-changing nature and that the reality of all mirrors this idea. According to Moore and Bruder (2008, p. 26,) “There is no reality, save the reality of change: permanence is an illusion.†He viewed change not as a random occurrence, but a determination by the harmonious balance of opposites through a cosmic order called the logos (Moore & Bruder, 2008, p. 26.)
This idea is compelling when one considers the “Big Bang.†The precise mixture of density, elements, and temperature produced the explosion, forming the solar system, sun, and Earth. The cores of both are of the same mixture, and their continued reactions produce the heat and light that allow ice to melt, air particles to move, and land formation that produce life and perpetuate the food chain. All of these events follow a particular order and share the necessity of fire, so it is plausible that all is fire.
Heraclitus made the intriguing statement, “You cannot step in the same river twice†(Moore & Bruder, 2008, p. 26.) If one considers that the “big bang†formed planets that spread out, changed chemical composition, suffered meteor and asteroid damage, and even sustained life, one can infer that everything changes because new circumstances create differences.
Every day reality applies to the same principle. For instance, I struggled this week with the last checkpoint, turning it in early Friday and missing a few details. However, this is not my reality at the current moment. I already did the first checkpoint, considered the instructor feedback, and therefore I will apply that new knowledge to this assignment.
References
Moore, B., & Bruder, K. (2008). Philosophy: the power of ideas (7th ed.). Boston, MA: McGraw-Hill. Retrieved May 26,