Heracliteanism

Heracliteanism refers to the philosophical ideas attributed to the pre-Socratic Greek philosopher Heraclitus of Ephesus, who lived around 535–475 BCE. His philosophy is characterized by a focus on change, flux, and the interconnectedness of opposites. The most famous assertion associated with Heraclitus is that "everything flows" or "you cannot step into the same river twice." This highlights his belief that the universe is in a constant state of becoming and that nothing remains static.

Central to Heracliteanism is the concept of the Logos, often translated as "reason," "word," or "account." Heraclitus believed the Logos is a universal principle that governs all things, providing order and intelligibility to the cosmos. This Logos is not static but is also in constant motion, embodying the ceaseless change he observed. He also emphasized the unity of opposites, suggesting that things are defined by their contraries and that these opposites are interdependent. Examples include day and night, hot and cold, and life and death, which he saw as aspects of a single, underlying reality.

Heraclitus's obscure and often paradoxical style of writing has made his philosophy challenging to interpret. Despite this, his ideas profoundly influenced later philosophers, including Plato and the Stoics, who incorporated his concepts of flux and universal order into their own systems. Heracliteanism remains a significant school of thought in ancient Greek philosophy, particularly for its prescient insights into the nature of change and reality.