In this paper, I discuss the various characteristics of Heraclitus’ theory of elemental transformation that can reasonably be gleaned from the extant fragments. While there has been some recent work on Heraclitus’ theory of elemental transformation, there has been a lack of discussion concerning the properties of the particular elements and their relation to the cardinal opposites. In this paper I argue that fragment B126 (“Cold things warm up, warm things cool off; wet things dry up and dry things moisten”) is an explanandum for Heraclitus. It is meant to invoke certain questions in his readers’ minds: How is it that cold things come to hold an opposing property (i. e. “hot”)? What type of change occurs such that a wet thing can become dry? How is it that things hold these properties in the first place? I argue that Heraclitus’ theory of elemental transformation (B31, B36 and B76) is the explanans for B126 and is capable of answering these questions. That is, the observable change evident in B126 is explained by a set of transformations between elemental stuffs. Because of this connection between B126 and his theory of elements, Heraclitus’ theory of elemental transformation is rightly understood as a ‘unity of opposites’ thesis. However, I argue that the transformation of opposites can only be one opposites thesis among several opposites theses.
...More
Chapter
Francesco Fronterotta;
(2022)
La metafora eraclitea del fiume e la sua interpretazione in Platone e Aristotele
(/isis/citation/CBB047222730/)
Chapter
Keyser, Paul T.;
(2011)
Elemental Qualities in Flux: A Reconstruction of Strato's Theory of Elements
(/isis/citation/CBB001210238/)
Article
Jan Maximilian Robitzsch;
(2018)
Heraclitus’ Political Thought
(/isis/citation/CBB069132151/)
Book
Ephesus, Heraclitus of;
(2001)
Fragments: The Collected Wisdom of Heraclitus
(/isis/citation/CBB000101676/)
Article
Romero, Gustavo E.;
(2012)
Parmenides Reloaded
(/isis/citation/CBB001252709/)
Book
Marcovich, Miroslav;
(2002)
Heraclitus: Greek Text with a Short Commentary
(/isis/citation/CBB000741001/)
Article
Zaborowski, Robert;
(2003)
Sur le fragment DK 22 B 85 d'Héraclite d'Ephèse
(/isis/citation/CBB000670903/)
Article
Chiara Ferella;
Jochen Althoff;
Föllinger Sabine;
Georg Wöhrle;
(2020)
War Steers the World: The Metaphor Domain of Conflict in Heraclitus’ and Empedocles’ Representations of the Cosmos
(/isis/citation/CBB546812093/)
Article
Christian Vassallo;
(2023)
Measuring the End: Heraclitus and Diogenes of Babylon on the Great Year and Ekpyrosis
(/isis/citation/CBB812515203/)
Book
O'Connell, Erin;
(2005)
Heraclitus and Derrida: Presocratic Deconstruction
(/isis/citation/CBB000600216/)
Article
Lloyd, D. Robert;
(2007)
The Chemistry of Platonic Triangles: Problems in the Interpretation of the Timaeus
(/isis/citation/CBB000960290/)
Article
Basak, Subhash C.;
(2013)
Philosophy of Mathematical Chemistry: A Personal Perspective
(/isis/citation/CBB001320762/)
Thesis
David Hayden Camden;
(2016)
Medicine and Cosmology in Classical Greece: First Principles in Early Greek Medicine
(/isis/citation/CBB592656457/)
Chapter
Habinek, Thomas;
(2011)
Manilius' Conflicted Stoicism
(/isis/citation/CBB001201029/)
Article
Trépanier, Simon;
(2014)
From Wandering Limbs to Limbless Gods: δαιμων as Substance in Empedocles
(/isis/citation/CBB001214194/)
Book
Maria Luisa Delvigo;
(2011)
Servio e la poesia della scienza
(/isis/citation/CBB928776966/)
Book
Pascal Duris;
(2016)
Quelle révolution scientifique? Les sciences de la vie dans la querelle des anciens et des modernes (XVIe -XVIIIe siècles)
(/isis/citation/CBB917689026/)
Chapter
Jaulin, Annick;
(2011)
Straton et la question du temps comme nombre du mouvement
(/isis/citation/CBB001210240/)
Book
Matteo Martelli;
(2019)
L’alchimista antico. Dall’Egitto greco-romano a Bisanzio
(/isis/citation/CBB920592519/)
Article
Luigi Arata;
(2014)
Lo scienziato Lucrezio nell'interpretazione di Andrade
(/isis/citation/CBB442519494/)
Be the first to comment!