Ideas of Heraclitus, by Theme

[Greek, c.540 - 480 BCE, Born and lived at Ephesus, on the coast of modern Turkey]

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1. Philosophy / A. Wisdom / 2. Wise People
421 Men who love wisdom must be inquirers into very many things indeed
1. Philosophy / D. Nature of Philosophy / 2. Invocation to Philosophy
1491 Everyone has the potential for self-knowledge and sound thinking
1. Philosophy / D. Nature of Philosophy / 7. Despair over Philosophy
5863 Reason is eternal, but men are foolish
2. Reason / A. Nature of Reason / 2. Logos
414 Logos is common to all, but most people live as if they have a private understanding
2. Reason / B. Laws of Thought / 5. Opposites
416 Beautiful harmony comes from things that are in opposition to one another
425 A thing can have opposing tensions but be in harmony, like a lyre
5. Theory of Logic / D. Assumptions for Logic / 2. Excluded Middle
1312 If everything is and isn't then everything is true, and a midway between true and false makes everything false [Aristotle]
8. Modes of Existence / C. Powers and Dispositions / 4. Powers as Essence
15658 The hidden harmony is stronger than the visible
9. Objects / A. Existence of Objects / 6. Nihilism about Objects
13782 Everything gives way, and nothing stands fast
9. Objects / B. Unity of Objects / 3. Unity Problems / e. Vague objects
11853 A mixed drink separates if it is not stirred
9. Objects / E. Objects over Time / 8. Continuity of Rivers
11091 You can bathe in the same river twice, but not in the same river stage [Quine]
427 It is not possible to step twice into the same river
9. Objects / E. Objects over Time / 13. No Identity over Time
2064 If flux is continuous, then lack of change can't be a property, so everything changes in every possible way [Plato]
12. Knowledge Sources / C. Rationalism / 1. Rationalism
430 Senses are no use if the soul is corrupt
12. Knowledge Sources / D. Empiricism / 4. Pro-Empiricism
1500 When we sleep, reason closes down as the senses do [Sext.Empiricus]
13. Knowledge Criteria / E. Relativism / 1. Relativism
417 Donkeys prefer chaff to gold
426 Sea water is life-giving for fish, but not for people
13. Knowledge Criteria / E. Relativism / 3. Subjectivism
431 Health, feeding and rest are only made good by disease, hunger and weariness
22. Metaethics / A. Ethics Foundations / 1. Nature of Ethics / e. Ethical cognitivism
429 To God (though not to humans) all things are beautiful and good and just
22. Metaethics / A. Ethics Foundations / 1. Nature of Ethics / h. Against ethics
12294 Good and evil are the same thing [Aristotle]
22. Metaethics / B. Value / 1. Nature of Value / e. Means and ends
419 If one does not hope, one will not find the unhoped-for, since nothing leads to it
22. Metaethics / C. The Good / 1. Goodness / f. Good as pleasure
415 If happiness is bodily pleasure, then oxen are happy when they have vetch to eat
22. Metaethics / C. The Good / 3. Pleasure / f. Dangers of pleasure
5155 It is hard to fight against emotion, but harder still to fight against pleasure
23. Ethics / C. Virtue Theory / 2. Elements of Virtue Theory / e. Character
433 For man character is destiny
25. Social Practice / D. Justice / 2. The Law / b. Rule of law
422 The people should fight for the law as if for their city-wall
26. Natural Theory / A. Speculations on Nature / 6. Early Matter Theories / c. Ultimate substances
614 Heraclitus said sometimes everything becomes fire [Aristotle]
26. Natural Theory / A. Speculations on Nature / 6. Early Matter Theories / e. The One
424 Reason tells us that all things are one
26. Natural Theory / A. Speculations on Nature / 6. Early Matter Theories / f. Ancient elements
5096 Heraclitus says that at some time everything becomes fire [Aristotle]
17539 The sayings of Heraclitus are still correct, if we replace 'fire' with 'energy' [Heisenberg]
3054 Heraclitus said fire could be transformed to create the other lower elements [Diog. Laertius]
26. Natural Theory / B. Natural Kinds / 4. Source of Kinds
15660 Logos is the source of everything, and my theories separate and explain each nature
27. Natural Reality / A. Classical Physics / 1. Mechanics / a. Explaining movement
12269 All things are in a state of motion [Aristotle]
27. Natural Reality / E. Cosmology / 2. Eternal Universe
420 The cosmos is eternal not created, and is an ever-living and changing fire
28. God / B. Proving God / 3. Proofs of Evidence / b. Teleological Proof
1499 Heraclitus says intelligence draws on divine reason [Sext.Empiricus]
29. Religion / A. Polytheistic Religion / 2. Greek Polytheism
15659 Purifying yourself with blood is as crazy as using mud to wash off mud
29. Religion / D. Religious Issues / 1. Religious Commitment / a. Religious Belief
1501 In their ignorance people pray to statues, which is like talking to a house