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Single Idea 13208

[filed under theme 26. Natural Theory / A. Speculations on Nature / 6. Early Matter Theories / f. Ancient elements ]

Full Idea

The followers of Anaxagoras regard the 'homoeomeries' as 'simple' and elements, whilst they affirm that Earth, Fire, Water and Air are composite; for each of these is (according to them) a 'common seminary' of all the homoeomeries.

Clarification

Homoeomeries have all their parts the same; examples given are flesh and bone

Gist of Idea

Anaxagoreans regard the homoeomeries as elements, which compose earth, air, fire and water

Source

report of Anaxagoras (fragments/reports [c.460 BCE]) by Aristotle - Coming-to-be and Passing-away (Gen/Corr) 314a28

Book Ref

Aristotle: 'The Basic Works of Aristotle', ed/tr. McKeon,Richard [Modern Library Classics 2001], p.471

A Reaction

Compare Idea 13207. Aristotle is amused that the followers of Empedocles and of Anaxagoras have precisely opposite views on this subject.

Related Idea

Idea 13207 Fire, Water, Air and Earth are elements, being simple as well as homoeomerous [Empedocles, by Aristotle]

The 23 ideas from Anaxagoras

21822 Anaxagoras's concept of supreme Mind has a simple First and a multiple One [Anaxagoras, by Plotinus]
17995 Basic is the potentially perceptible, then comes the contrary qualities, and finally the 'elements' [Anaxagoras]
20802 Snow is not white, and doesn't even appear white, because it is made of black water [Anaxagoras, by Cicero]
22761 We reveal unreliability in the senses when we cannot discriminate a slow change of colour [Anaxagoras, by Sext.Empiricus]
13784 Mind is self-ruling, pure, ordering and ubiquitous [Anaxagoras, by Plato]
5118 Anaxagoras says mind remains pure, and so is not affected by what it changes [Anaxagoras, by Aristotle]
2629 Anaxagoras was the first to say that the universe is directed by an intelligence [Anaxagoras, by Cicero]
7488 Anaxagoras was the first recorded atheist [Anaxagoras, by Watson]
631 For Anaxagoras the Good Mind has no opposite, and causes all movement, for a higher reason [Anaxagoras, by Aristotle]
22727 Mind creates the world from a mixture of pure substances [Anaxagoras, by ]
550 Anaxagoras said that the number of principles was infinite [Anaxagoras, by Aristotle]
21383 The ultimate constituents of reality are the homoeomeries [Anaxagoras, by Vlastos]
13208 Anaxagoreans regard the homoeomeries as elements, which compose earth, air, fire and water [Anaxagoras, by Aristotle]
367 Anaxagoras says mind produces order and causes everything [Anaxagoras, by Plato]
22726 When things were unified, Mind set them in order [Anaxagoras]
5956 Anaxagoras was charged with impiety for calling the sun a lump of stone [Anaxagoras, by Plutarch]
18231 Anaxagoras said a person would choose to be born to contemplate the ordered heavens [Anaxagoras]
21382 Things get smaller without end [Anaxagoras]
21381 Germs contain microscopic organs, which become visible as they grow [Anaxagoras]
13256 Nous is unlimited, self-ruling and pure; it is the finest thing, with great discernment and strength [Anaxagoras]
480 Past, present and future, and the movements of the heavens, were arranged by Mind [Anaxagoras]
481 Nothing is created or destroyed; there is only mixing and separation [Anaxagoras]
13257 The senses are too feeble to determine the truth [Anaxagoras]