Ideas from 'fragments/reports' by Pherecydes [600 BCE], by Theme Structure

[found in 'Early Greek Phil II: first Ionians' by Anaximander (ed/tr Laks,A/Most,G) [Harvard Loeb 2016,978-0-674-99689-2]].

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26. Natural Theory / A. Speculations on Nature / 6. Early Matter Theories / c. Ultimate substances

22745

Pherecydes said the first principle and element is earth

			Full Idea: Pherecydes of Syros said that the principle and element of all things is earth.
			From: report of Pherecydes (fragments/reports [c.600 BCE]) by Sextus Empiricus - Against the Physicists (two books) I.360
			A reaction: Sextus is giving the history, and mentions it before saying that Thales thought it was water. Earth seems a sensible starting point, and I am guessing that Thales was trying to think a bit more deeply than Pherecydes about it.

29. Religion / D. Religious Issues / 2. Immortality / a. Immortality

5883	Pherecydes was the first to say that the soul is eternal

			Full Idea: As far as the literature tells us, Pherecydes of Syros was the first who pronounced the souls of men to be eternal.
			From: report of Pherecydes (fragments/reports [c.600 BCE]) by M. Tullius Cicero - Tusculan Disputations I.xvi.38
			A reaction: Presumably before that it was the physical person who arrived in the Underworld. The Hindu tradition seems to require the soul to be very long-lived, if not eternal. Why did Pherecydes come up with this idea?