Heraclitus: The Brightest Star of Greek Philosophy
Heraclitus was a Greek philosopher of Ephesus. He is possibly the first Greek philosopher to explain the unity in all experience. And how change is the only constant in the universe. Heraclitus is also sometime known as the Philosopher of Riddles. For many people don't understand him.
Heraclitus introduced the world with the word 'Logos', which means that 'all things are one in some sense'. Even the opposites are needed for the occurrence of action. Heraclitus explained that change is the core of all things. And within the changing framework lies the unity of opposites.
Heraclitus by unknown artist
Osho in the book Hidden Harmony praises Heraclitus as the greatest Buddha of the world. He says,
Heraclitus is one of the greatest Buddhas of the world. In western philosophy his name is not part of the mainstream. The mainstream consists of Socrates, Plato, Aristotle, Kant, Hegel, Bertrand Russell, Wittgenstein, Moore. Heraclitus is something like an outsider for the simple reason that he is one of the greatest mystics. What Aristotle only thinks, Heraclitus knows. What Wittgenstein only thinks, Heraclitus experiences.
Heraclitus focuses on how the humans are blind. He warns his reader that they might not understand him and what he is saying. He writes,
Of this Word's being forever do men prove to be uncomprehending, both before they hear and once they have heard it. For although all things happen according to this Word, they are like the unexperienced experiencing words and deeds such as I explain when I distinguish each thing according to its nature and show how it is. Other men are unaware of what they do when they are awake just as they are forgetful of what they do when they are asleep.
Plato and Aristotle viewed that Heraclitus had extreme and incoherent views. Because Heraclitus held the belief that everything is changing constantly, opposite things are identical and everything is and is not same at the same given time. I personally believe that Plato and Aristotle were not grown enough to understand Heraclitus.
Light Dispersion Model
Plato in Cratylus quotes Heraclitus;
Everything flows and nothing stays.
Everything flows and nothing abides.
Everything gives way and nothing stays fixed.
Everything flows; nothing remains.
All is flux, nothing is stationary.
All is flux, nothing stays still.
All flows, nothing stays.
Manly Palmer Hall in the Secret Doctrine of All Ages explains that,
Heraclitus (who lived 536-470 B.C. and is sometimes included in the Ionic school) in his doctrine of change and eternal flux asserted fire to be the first element and also the state into which the world would ultimately be reabsorbed. The soul of the world he regarded as an exhalation from its humid parts, and he declared the ebb and flow of the sea to be caused by the sun.
Some outstanding quotes quotes of Heraclitus that I love are mentioned below:
1. Couples are whole and not wholes, what agrees disagrees, the concordant is discordant. From all things one and from one all things.
Taijitu Polarity
2. All things are in flux; the flux is subject to a unifying measure or rational principle. This principle (logos, the hidden harmony behind all change) bound opposites together in a unified tension, which is like that of a lyre, where a stable harmonious sound emerges from the tension of the opposing forces that arise from the bow bound together by the string.
3. Oppositions brings concord. Out of discord comes the fairest harmony.
Art by Johannes Rössel
4. The road up and the road down are one and the same.The road uphill and the road downhill are one and the same. The way up and the way down are one and the same.
5. No man ever steps in the same river twice, for it's not the same river and he's not the same man.
6. The soul is dyed the color of its thoughts. Think only on those things that are in line with your principles and can bear the light of day. The content of your character is your choice. Day by day, what you do is who you become. Your integrity is your destiny - it is the light that guides your way.
7. Even sleepers are workers and collaborators on what goes on in the universe.
Art by William Blake
8. The poet was a fool who wanted no conflict among us, gods or people. Harmony needs low and high, as progeny needs man and woman.
9. Ethos anthropoi daimon--a man's character is his fate.
10. A drunk man, staggering and mindless, must be led home by his son, so wet is his psyche... Water brings death to the psyche, as earth brings death to water... The psyche lusts to be wet.
The following is a link to BBC Radio session on Heraclitus- In Our Time.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pOnWGj5NfoY
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