Who was Heraclitus?
Q: Who was Heraclitus?
A: Heraclitus of Ephesus was a pre-Socratic Greek philosopher who lived around 535 to 475 BC. He was from Ephesus, Ionia on the coast of Asia Minor.
Q: What is Heraclitus famous for?
A: Heraclitus is famous for his doctrine of change being central to the universe. His most well-known sayings include "All is flux" and "You cannot step twice into the same river".
Q: What did Heraclitus believe in?
A: Heraclitus believed in the unity of opposites, stating that "the path up and down are one and the same" and "good and bad are the same". He also believed that all things come to be in accordance with this logos, which he used as a principle of order and knowledge.
Q: How were his teachings presented?
A: His teachings were presented as a series of epigrams or sayings rather than systematic essays.
Q: Where did he store his work?
A: He stored his work as a dedication in the great temple of Artemisium, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.
Q: How have later philosophers referred to his work?
A: Later philosophers often refer to his work when discussing topics such as nature, politics, theology, order and knowledge.
Q: What did Theophrastus say about it?
A: Theophrastus said that some parts were half-finished while other parts made a strange medley.
