Reviewed by: Guillermo Maynez gmaynez@correo.de Date: 27 May 2002
Heraclitus' Fragments:
Heraclitus's Fragments are a delightful read. It is a blessing that the original and articulate thoughts of this aristocrat have been able to reach us. He said; "Nobody plunges into the same river twice", indicating that all things are passing eternally. Heraclitus thought that this eternal change was subsumed and resolved in the final unity of the Logos, the Being, and that we are just a part of that unity. Very recommended.
Reviewed by: Michael Sympson michaelsympson@prodigy.net Date: 10 March 2002
The tag Heraclit is known best for is this: "War is the father of all and the king of all; ... Homer was wrong in saying: "Would that strife might perish from among gods and humans!" He did not see that he was praying for the destruction of the universe; for, if his prayer were heard, all things would pass away" (Heraclit c.535-c.475).
The meaning of this has been interpreted in many ways, but it holds true even in a strictly literal sense: these days many more heart patients survive their first heart attack because of the emergency techniques developed in the Vietnam War. It is mathematically inevitable, that the number of rescued heart patients will outgrow the number of casualties of that war.
Heraclit had a vision and was fond of telling uncomfortable truths. And he did not pretend to be a democrate - when actually he was not, like Socrates. It was the time for this sort of thing. Heraclit was the younger contemporary of the later Deutero-Isaiah who envisioned his god o be the source for both: good AND evil.
What do you think about this book?
Write a review and give your opinion and analysis!