HERACLITUS

Presented by; Tolentino, Jovan C.

Fernandez, Ace Alfred
 life of heraclitus

✓ Heraclitus was an eminent pre-Socratic Greek Philosopher who

was a native of Ephesus, which was then part of the Persian
Empire.
✓ Born in 535 BC in Ephesus, Asia Minor, and now Turkey
✓ He died in 475 BC at the age of 60
✓ Heraclitus, renowned for his doctrine of change and the
concept of "Panta rhei," believed in the constant flux of the
universe and the interconnectedness of opposites, promoting
harmony and balance.
✓ The Ephesian School of Philosophy was based on the works and ideas created by
Heraclitus of Ephesus.
✓ People who attended this school called themselves ”Heracliteans”.
✓ The name of Heraclitus's father was Blyson/Bloson, a well-known meat salesman in
Ephesus. Knowing her mother is limited and not completely specific.
✓ Not much is known about his early life and education except that he was of
distinguished parentage.
✓ He is considered a pioneer of wisdom and regards himself as self-taught.
✓ From the lonely life he led, and still more from the apparently riddled and allegedly
paradoxical nature of his philosophy and his stress upon the needles
unconsciousness of humankind, he was called "The Obscure" and "Weeping
Philosopher".
✓ He was an independent thinker as he did not belong to any specific school of
thought. He was an ardent believer in the changing nature of the universe and in the
unity of opposites.
 on nature

Heraclitus wrote a single Heraclitus' complete text

book, On Nature, divided is lost, but 130 fragments
into three discourses: attributed to him are
universe, politics, and disputed, leaving only 60
theology. Some parts are accepted by classical
incomplete, while others academics, as half of
form a medley. these have been
challenged.
 ideas of Heraclitus

1. "There was no permanent reality except the reality of change;

permanence was an illusion of the senses"
2. "All things carried with them their opposites"
3. "Death was potential in life"
4. "Being and not-being were part of every whole"
5. "Fire is the underlying substance of the universe and all other
elements transformations of it"
 4 important facts about
heraclitus

Heraclitus’ Principal He Believed in the

Doctrines: Fire, Change Obscurity of True
and Opposites Reality

His Style of Writing Heraclitus Has Inspired a

Was Extremely Recent Philosophical
Complex and Intricate Movement Called
“Critical Realism”
 key aspects of Heraclitus
philosophy

1. Logos

✓ The term "Logos" comes from the Greek word meaning "word," "reason," or
"logic," and Heraclitus used it to refer to the rational and orderly structure of the
cosmos.

✓ Logos is the reason that everything happens the way it does, and it is
responsible for the harmony and order of the cosmos.

✓ Heraclitus believed in an objective truth called Logos, which he called the

world's rationale and key to nature. He opposed naïve empiricism and urged
people to discover their own logos depth.
2. Unity of Opposites

According to both Plato and Aristotle, Heraclitus held extreme views that led to logical
incoherence. For he held that

✓ Everything is constantly changing

✓ Opposite things are identical
✓ Everything is and is not at the same time.
3. The Doctrine of Flux and Becoming

✓ Heraclitus famously claimed that everything flows or everything is in flux.

✓ He believed that change and motion were fundamental to the nature of reality.
✓ Heraclitus argued that there is a constant process of becoming where things arise and pass
away and that stability and permanence are illusory.
4. The Paradox of Opposite

✓ Heraclitus introduced several paradoxical ideas to challenge conventional wisdom, for

instance, he claimed that war is the father of all things and that conflict and opposition are
necessary for progress and growth.

✓ He also proposed that the way up and the way down are one suggesting that opposites are
intimately connected and intertwined.

✓ Heraclitus's philosophy had a significant influence on later philosophers such as the Stoics and
Friedrich Nietzsche.

✓ His emphasis on changing the unity of opposites and interconnectedness of all things
resonates with many modern conceptions of the world. This is how he is known for his profound
insights and the nature of existence and the dynamic nature of reality.
 Arche fire
Heraclitus believed fire is the primordial element, originating all things and
returning in eternal cycles. He saw the soul as a mixture of fire and water.

Studying Heraclitus and his concept of "fire" is valuable for several reasons:

1. Philosophical Foundations - Heraclitus, a pre-Socratic philosopher, laid the

foundation for Western philosophy, emphasizing change, unity of opposites, and the
concept of "fire" as a fundamental substance.

2. Understanding Change- Heraclitus' doctrine of "panta rhei" emphasizes the flow of

everything, symbolizing constant change and transformation through the metaphor of
fire, addressing the philosophical implications of impermanence.
 Arche fire
3. Metaphysical Insights- The idea of fire in Heraclitus' philosophy is not merely a physical
element but a metaphysical concept representing the transformative process of the
cosmos. Exploring this metaphor allows for a deeper understanding of his metaphysical
views and the interconnectedness of all things.

4. Influence on Later Philosophers- Heraclitus' influential ideas, including his fire-related

concept, influenced later philosophers like Plato and Aristotle, shaping Western
philosophical thought and providing insight into the intellectual history of philosophy.

5. Relevance to Modern Thought - Heraclitus' philosophy, focusing on change, unity of

opposites, and reality's dynamic nature, remains relevant in contemporary discussions,
addressing questions about existence, knowledge, and the world's nature.
Thank
You