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The Concept of One in Heraclitus - Papamichael
The Concept of One in Heraclitus - Papamichael
- Éditions OUSIA
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THE CONCEPT OF ONE IN HERACLITUS
1. See, for example, Ramnoux C., Heraclite ou l'homme entre les choses e
les mots, Paris, 1968, Stokes M.C., One and many in Pre-Socratic Philosophy
Cambridge (Mass.), 1971, Veïkos Th., Εν-πάντα. Μιά θεμελιακή δομή σκ
ψης στήν πρώιμη ελληνική φιλοσοφία, "Dodoni" Publications, loannin
1973, Papadis D.I., Ηράκλειτος: Περί άνθρωπου, Synchroni Paideia Pub
cations, Thessalonique 1995.
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42 Eleni Papamichael-Paspalides
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THE CONCEPT OF ONE IN HERACLITUS 43
«ώς» clearly indicates that thing which most people think they h
in reality they do not have it. Most people lack «φρόνησις», not
the sense that they do not possess the ability to develop it - such
confute the fact that «φρόνησις» is common to ail but in the sen
νησις» does not have subjective characteristics, but universal ones
5. fr. 113.
6. frr. 113 and 116.
7. fr. 112.
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44 Eleni Papamichael-Paspalides
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THE CONCEPT OF ONE IN HERACLITUS 45
30. «εν τό σοφόν μοϋνον λέγεσθαι ούκ έθέλει καί έθέλει Ζηνός δνομα».
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46 Eleni Papamichael-Paspalides
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THE CONCEPT OF ONE IN HERACLITUS 47
the divine law of fragment 114, nor with the divine thin
ων...») of fragment 86. It is this divine law of fragmen
divine things of fragment 86 that are identical to the «κ
any particular god42, as part of the universe. The «κόσμο
to the divine, which is «πόλεμος» of opposites and one at t
and which of course in an isolated way takes also the na
and therefore, also the name of the one God. In other
«κόσμος» is identical to the divine in only that way that th
is described in the very significant fragment 67, where, ch
«θεός», this divine is presented precisely as the «πόλεμος
In the same way that in fragment 67 "God" is ail the opp
(«εν»)44 at the same time, in the same way the «κόσμος»
which takes place the «πόλεμος» which governs all thing
itself it remains always one, the same for ail («κόσμ
αυτόν άπάντων, .,.»)46, that is to say, harmony. Th
therefore also the «πάν» of fragment 50, which include
particular divisions which are enumerated within t
fragment, and which, being many and opposite to each o
things, are at the same time also one47: that One from w
spring or in which ail things converge in their never-endin
One is the one of many, just as harmony is the resuit which
the many things which are mutually différent from one a
των διαφερόντων καλλίστην άρμονίαν [καί πάντα κατ
σθαι]»49. And it is for this précisé reason that the concept
in Heraclitus: this concept exists in Heraclitus becau
49. fr. 8, « ... των εναντίων ... έκ τούτων αποτελεί τό σύμφωνον, ούκ
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48 Eleni Papamichael-Paspalides
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THE CONCEPT OF ONE IN HERACLITUS 49
56. For example, see frs. 21, 48, 50, 62, 77,1
57. fr. 88.
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50 Eleni Papamichael-Paspalides
The reason for which, through the two above-mentioned ways, that
is to say, through the successive changes, the transformations, on the one
hand, and the différent appraisals, on the other, unity of opposites can be
achieved, is because that which is at the basis of these ways, is precisely
"the One".
The same also occurs in the case of the différent appraisals: that
which is appraised differently, despite this fact, that is to say, the fact that
it is appraised differently, that it is open to différent appraisals, it is
indeed once again evident that, from its point of view, it is the same and
remains always unalterable and identical to itself.
Thus, if, for example, sea-water is for fish drinkable and life-saving
and for humans undrinkable and deadly, the one true fact is that sea
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THE CONCEPT OF ONE IN HERACLITUS 51
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52 Eleni Papamichael-Paspalides
If men are deluded in their perception of the world and of things, this
63. It could not be said that it «transcends» it, for One does not exist
beyond or behind the many, it is never divided from them, as a separate onto
logical unit.
64. See note 49.
65. Not its direct opposite, since its direct opposite is more likely to be
«πολλά», but certainly its absolute opposite, its opposite to the absolute degree,
since, to the absolute degree, «πάντα» is ail the «πολλά».
66. fr. 57.
67. fr. 58.
68. fr. 88.
69. fr. 60.
70.fr. 10.
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THE CONCEPT OF ONE IN HERACLITUS 53
Tl. Ibid.
12. fr. 107.
73. fr. 2.
74. fr. 47.
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54 Eleni Papamichael-Paspalides
Eleni Papamichael-Paspalides
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