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Heraclitus and his doctrines

Roxanne Isaac

T.A Marryshow Community College

School of Arts, Sciences and Professional Studies

Philosophy (evening class)

Terry Noel

8th February, 2021

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One of history's famous Greek philosopher was known as Heraclitus. Heraclitus was best known

for his doctrines that things are quickly changing. He lived in a city called Ephesus in the early

540 B.C. to the late 480 B.C. Heraclitus saw that the majority of human beings lacked the ability

of understanding. He thought that most people walked through life without even understanding

and knowing what was happening in their lives. He also believed that the reality of words and

actions was able to inform those who were open-minded to their meaning. The doctrines

implemented by Heraclitus were; That everything was in a state of flux, the Unity of Opposites,

and war.

Firstly, everything was in a state of flux, Plato indicated the source of this doctrine. According to

www.vocabulary.com a flux is referred to as receding the establishment of a new direction of

action. Heraclitus says, “I believe that all things go and nothing stays.” and, while comparing the

existence to the flow of the river, he stated that you cannot step into the same river twice. In

others words what Heraclitus meant by this is that no matter what, rivers can stay the same over

time. The main point is the fact that some of the things that are changed makes the existence of

other things possible.

secondly, as for the doctrine of the Unity of Opposites, we saw that Heraclitus believed

in it. For example, he believed that, “God is day, night, winter, summer, war, peace, satiety and,

hunger. Heraclitus frequently asserts the unity of opposites. From his theories of binding

opposites comes harmony and change give rest. Everything is generated from the opposite. Like
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he said, “such as the dead from the living, the old from the young and the ill from the healthy.”

in a similar way Heraclitus states that fire’s death is birth for air and air’s death is birth for

water.” Sometimes Heraclitus expresses a clear belief stating that “nature loves to hide” and,

even more that “immortals are mortals, mortals are immortals, living their death, dying their

life”. The entire lifetime is like a row of death phenomenon, but life and death are a continuation

of life and not an opposition.

Lastly, according to many online resources, it was said that,” we must know that war is

common to all and, strife is justice, and that all things come into being through strife necessarily.

Heraclitus claimed, “War is the father of all and king of all”. And, some he shows as gods, others

as men, some he makes slaves, others free. He knew that war between people would be able to

help them determine their future destinies. He also said that strife between citizens would also

determine the health of the cities. Although wars tend to be bloody and dangerous. It was also

well balanced and beautiful. War helps to govern all things including the cosmos and the cosmos

itself as a whole.

In conclusion we saw how Heraclitus made a big difference in changing people with his

doctrines and what he believed, these doctrines were said to be the Doctrine of Flux, the Unity of

Opposites, everything is and is not at the same time and war.

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References

Aristotle University of Thessaloniki

 Thessaloníki, Greece, Greece

 https://www.researchgate.net/institution/Aristotle_University_of_Thessaloniki

Internet encyclopedia of philosophy

 https://iep.utm.edu/heraclit/

Online pdf document, ‘the book of Heraclitus. Translated from Russian to English

https://d1wqtxts1xzle7.cloudfront.net/58517415/Lebedev_Book_of_Heraclitus_corr..pdf?

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