What is the arche?

Arche is a Greek word meaning “beginning”. The word indicates the origin or the root of all things that exist. In order for something to exist it has to have a foundation or starting part that is secure. The arche is this first principle and is to be considered permanent. In ancient Greek philosophy, from this Arche all things come to be and then are dissolved to this in their final state. Throughout the course we have discussed two different accounts of what the arche is; First the material arche of Anaximenes then the formal/ideal arche of Socrates. Both of the same concept however taken in different directions. Anaximenes was Anaximander’s pupil. He believed that the arche was elemental as well however he didn’t believe it was water. He believed air was the principle of all things and describes it to have divine attributes. Anaximenes believed in theory of change and had observations that supported his theory. He believed air was infinite and could be anything. When made finer air becomes fire, when made thicker it becomes wind then eventually becomes water then earth and so on. He also believed that motion was eternal and brought forth change. Air is invisible and only becomes visible by the hot and the cold and movement. It is always moving. Anything that changes does not change without motion. Air is changed through condensation so the most influential components of generation are hot and cold, opposites. On the other hand, Socrates believed in principles that were less material. Socrates believed that we could examine existence with only our senses. He thought that our senses were only reflections and are limited. Socrates spoke of forms. Everything partakes in a certain form. The fact that it partakes in this form it is impossible for it to partake in another form. In other words an opposite cannot be the opposite of itself.
This brings us to the example of the snow. Heat is different from fire and cold is different from snow. Socrates goes on to