Combining Philosophers

Ideas for Novalis, Jason Crease and Thales

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3 ideas

26. Natural Theory / A. Speculations on Nature / 1. Nature
Nature is a whole, and its individual parts cannot be wholly understood [Novalis]
     Full Idea: Nature is a whole - in which each part in itself can never be wholly understood.
     From: Novalis (Last Fragments [1800], 18)
     A reaction: This doesn't seem right when studying some item in a laboratory, but it seems undeniable when you consider the history and future of each item.
26. Natural Theory / A. Speculations on Nature / 4. Mathematical Nature
The basic relations of nature are musical [Novalis]
     Full Idea: Musical relations seem to me to be actually the basic relations of nature.
     From: Novalis (Last Fragments [1800], 10)
     A reaction: Novalis shows no signs of being a pythagorean, and then suddenly comes out with this. I suppose if you love music, this thought should float into your mind at regular intervals, because the power of music is so strong. Does he mean ratios?
26. Natural Theory / A. Speculations on Nature / 6. Early Matter Theories / c. Ultimate substances
Thales said water is the first principle, perhaps from observing that food is moist [Thales, by Aristotle]
     Full Idea: Thales says water is the first principle (which is why he declared the earth is on water); perhaps he concluded this from seeing that all food is moist.
     From: report of Thales (fragments/reports [c.585 BCE], A12) by Aristotle - Metaphysics 983b12