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Single Idea 5863

[filed under theme 1. Philosophy / D. Nature of Philosophy / 7. Despair over Philosophy ]

Full Idea

Although reason exists forever, men are foolish.

Gist of Idea

Reason is eternal, but men are foolish

Source

Heraclitus (fragments/reports [c.500 BCE]), quoted by Aristotle - The Art of Rhetoric 1407b

Book Ref

Aristotle: 'The Art of Rhetoric', ed/tr. Lawson-Tancred,H.C. [Penguin 1991], p.226

A Reaction

The despair of all philosophers (e.g. Plato) who think reason is the easiest thing in the world, and stares everyone in the face, and yet people seem to spurn this supreme gift from the gods. They needed the optimism of the career teacher.

The 36 ideas from Heraclitus

5863 Reason is eternal, but men are foolish [Heraclitus]
1312 If everything is and isn't then everything is true, and a midway between true and false makes everything false [Aristotle on Heraclitus]
11091 You can bathe in the same river twice, but not in the same river stage [Quine on Heraclitus]
13782 Everything gives way, and nothing stands fast [Heraclitus]
12269 All things are in a state of motion [Heraclitus, by Aristotle]
614 Heraclitus said sometimes everything becomes fire [Heraclitus, by Aristotle]
5096 Heraclitus says that at some time everything becomes fire [Heraclitus, by Aristotle]
17539 The sayings of Heraclitus are still correct, if we replace 'fire' with 'energy' [Heraclitus, by Heisenberg]
3054 Heraclitus said fire could be transformed to create the other lower elements [Heraclitus, by Diog. Laertius]
12294 Good and evil are the same thing [Heraclitus, by Aristotle]
1499 Heraclitus says intelligence draws on divine reason [Heraclitus, by Sext.Empiricus]
1500 When we sleep, reason closes down as the senses do [Heraclitus, by Sext.Empiricus]
15660 Logos is the source of everything, and my theories separate and explain each nature [Heraclitus]
414 Logos is common to all, but most people live as if they have a private understanding [Heraclitus]
415 If happiness is bodily pleasure, then oxen are happy when they have vetch to eat [Heraclitus]
1501 In their ignorance people pray to statues, which is like talking to a house [Heraclitus]
15659 Purifying yourself with blood is as crazy as using mud to wash off mud [Heraclitus]
416 Beautiful harmony comes from things that are in opposition to one another [Heraclitus]
417 Donkeys prefer chaff to gold [Heraclitus]
419 If one does not hope, one will not find the unhoped-for, since nothing leads to it [Heraclitus]
420 The cosmos is eternal not created, and is an ever-living and changing fire [Heraclitus]
2064 If flux is continuous, then lack of change can't be a property, so everything changes in every possible way [Plato on Heraclitus]
421 Men who love wisdom must be inquirers into very many things indeed [Heraclitus]
422 The people should fight for the law as if for their city-wall [Heraclitus]
424 Reason tells us that all things are one [Heraclitus]
425 A thing can have opposing tensions but be in harmony, like a lyre [Heraclitus]
15658 The hidden harmony is stronger than the visible [Heraclitus]
426 Sea water is life-giving for fish, but not for people [Heraclitus]
5155 It is hard to fight against emotion, but harder still to fight against pleasure [Heraclitus]
427 It is not possible to step twice into the same river [Heraclitus]
429 To God (though not to humans) all things are beautiful and good and just [Heraclitus]
430 Senses are no use if the soul is corrupt [Heraclitus]
431 Health, feeding and rest are only made good by disease, hunger and weariness [Heraclitus]
1491 Everyone has the potential for self-knowledge and sound thinking [Heraclitus]
433 For man character is destiny [Heraclitus]
11853 A mixed drink separates if it is not stirred [Heraclitus]