Anaximenes

Anaximenes
● the third philosopher of the Milesian School of philosophy
● inhabitant of Miletus in Ionia (Ancient Greece)
● was an associate, and possibly a student of Anaximander's

Air plays a central role in Anaximenes:

● air is the source of all things​ → at one time everything was air
● air can be thought of as a kind of neutral stuff that is found everywhere, and is available
to participate in physical processes --> natural forces constantly act on the air and
transform it into other materials, which came together to form the organized world.
● early Greek literature, air is associated with the soul (the breath of life) → capable of
directing its own development, as the soul controls the body
● air = divine

[Air] differs in essence in accordance with its rarity or density. When it is thinned it becomes fire,
while when it is condensed it becomes wind, then cloud, when still more condensed it becomes
water, then earth, then stones. Everything else comes from these. (DK13A5)
● processes of rarefaction (heat fire]) and condensation (coldness [density])) = air is part of
a series of changes

Source:​https://www.iep.utm.edu/anaximen/

Heraclitus
Heraclitus of Ephesus (c. 500 BCE)
● known to his colleagues as the 'dark’ philosopher because his writings were so difficult to
understand.
● common understanding of the nature of life and the purpose of human life in contempt
● To him, only the philosopher, the one who pursued Truth, was fully awake and fully alive,
and he seemed to consider himself the only philosopher of his time.
Fire plays a central role in Heraclitus:
● entire cosmos → "an ever-living fire"
● all things are exchanged for fire and fire for all things
● equates Fire, λόγος, and God/Zeus as the divine ruling order in B64 by referring to "the
thunderbolt that stirs all things."
● Divine Logos(Law of the Universe): eternal flux → things within the universe are
constantly changing like how fire is constantly changing as it rises up to the heavens.
The flame blazes up and up and never at any moment does it seem constant ... and yet
we call it the same fire. In fact, if the fire stopped changing in this way, it would die down
and stop existing all together. It is dependent on its change for its existence → the
harmony of opposites where things undergo transformations so that they may become
their opposites

Sources: ​https://www.ancient.eu/Heraclitus_of_Ephesos/
​http://www.heraclitusfragments.com/categories/fire.html
​https://classicalwisdom.com/philosophy/pre-socratics/heraclitus-fire-flux/

Plato

The theoretical roots outlining the stone’s creation can be traced to Greek philosophy.
Alchemists later used the classical elements, the concept of anima mundi, and Creation stories
presented in texts like Plato's Timaeus as analogies for their process. According to Plato, the
four elements are derived from a common source or prima materia (first matter), associated with
chaos. Prima materia is also the name alchemists assign to the starting ingredient for the
creation of the philosopher's stone. The importance of this philosophical first matter persisted
throughout the history of alchemy. In the seventeenth century, Thomas Vaughan writes, "the
first matter of the stone is the very same with the first matter of all things".

Transmutation
-​ t​ he conversion of one element or nuclide into another either naturally or artificially
-​ T​ hrough it, alchemists believed that lead could be “perfected” into gold, that diseases could
be cured, and that life could be prolonged

Philosopher’s stone, in Western ​alchemy​, an unknown substance, also called “the tincture” or
“the powder,” sought by alchemists for its supposed ability to transform base metals into
precious​ ones, especially ​gold​ and silver. Alchemists also believed that an ​elixir of life​ could be
derived from it. Inasmuch as alchemy was concerned with the perfection of the human ​soul​, the
philosopher’s stone was thought to cure illnesses, prolong life, and bring about spiritual
revitalization.

Aristotle

Aristotle's contributions towards the cell theory include his many dissections, leading to his
discoveries on the nature of life, and his rudimentary classifications of living things. Aristotle's
classifications of different species show his knowledge that there are connections between
every organism; this is shown through the first principle of the cell theory, that all living things
are made of cells and thus similar.

On the other hand hot and cold, and dry and moist, are terms, of which the first pair implies
power to act​ and the second pair ​susceptibility.​ "Hot" is that which "associates" things of the
same kind (for "dissociating," which people attribute to Fire as its function, ​is​ "associating" things
of the same class, since its effect is to eliminate what is foreign), while "cold" is that which brings
together, i.e. "associates," homogeneous and heterogeneous things alike. And moist is that
which, being readily adaptable in shape is not determinable by any limit of its own: while "dry" is
that which is readily determinable by its own limit, but not readily adaptable in shape.

Fire:​ hot and dry

Air:​ hot and wet
Water:​ cold and wet
Earth:​ cold and dry

THALES (624 BCE- 546 BCE)

- Ancient (pre-socratic) Greek Philosopher
- Often considered as the first philosopher and the father of Western philosophy
- First known to use natural explanations for natural phenomena rather than superstitious
beliefs
- Philosophical work: metaphysics
- Everything comes out of water and that the earth floats on water; since water
gives life and changes in its phase thus can be related in the formation of human
beings
- The philosopher, according to Seneca who used to explain various phenomena
by his predecessors which justifies his fae as the first philosopher
- Good Work, even regarded by Aristotle for it.
- The first philosopher that abandoned supernatural agenda and used a unifying
hypothesis
Source: ​http://www.philosophers.co.uk/thales-of-miletus.html
Democritus
- Democritus followed the footsteps of earlier Greek philosophers such as Thales and
Pythagoras.
- His personality was calm, tenacious, and cheerful -- hence given the nickname ‘laughing
philosopher’. He believed that the main goal in life should be happiness for everyone.
- He authored a large number of books, all now lost, and was regarded as an outstanding
writer.
- Philosophical Work; atomic theory
→ it features tiny particles always in motion interacting through collisions.
→ he believes that the universe is governed entirely by natural, mechanistic laws rather
than gods.
→ his atomic theory argued from deduction and observation rather than experimentation
of the atom’s properties. While it may be incorrect or flawed, they are also undeniably
profound and brilliant.
→ Democritus’s model stated that matter consists of invisible particles called atoms and
a void. He also stated that they are indestructible and unchangeable.
→ Atoms are also homogenous, meaning they have no internal structure. His atomic
model was solid, and stated all atoms differ in size, shape, mass, position, and
arrangement.

source: ​https://www.famousscientists.org/democritus/
Performance script

Heraclitus
Hear ye, Hear ye
All the people gathered here.
I shall quench your thirst
In your quest to seek the truth
So, your eyes may be opened.
Now, have you ever wondered how
The things around us came to be?
It’s because of the Divine Logos;
That eternal flux within our universe.
Like fire, it constantly changes,
And yet, it’s still the same fire.
And with the universe transforming,
Results to the opposite of things
Existing harmoniously side-by-side
As if they vowed to complete each other;
Their bond unbreakable.

Plato
Heraclitus, Heraclitus
Without the prima materia,
your elements mean nothing
to this world. Without this first
matter, alchemy wouldn’t even be achieved.
I was the one who proposed that stone
that can turn lead into gold. Without it,
this world would be terribly dull. If you haven’t
read my Timaeus, then I think you should
take a look at my glory.

Aristotle
Plato, you may have been my teacher
But I definitely know better
My theory stands true
Let us review
Hot, Cold, Dry, Wet
The Universe’s stage is set
I know these four are the start
They set everything else apart
The combination of any of these
Would create something we can seize
Fire, Air, Water and Earth
These are what they would birth
So don’t you see?
I’m the one who’s correct
Not you three

Democritus
Geniuses. Lower your voices.
For listen to me, the cheerful, Democritus.
Yes, all of your theories may make sense
But I also have my own hypothesis
Indivisible.
Indestructible.
Atoms. What the eye does not see
And with it came all non-living things.
I think it’s why everything exists.
Like ants in a colony,
they are small but they are mighty.
It’s my philosophy.
Where what mattered is not what it is,
but what it could be.
(cues laughter)
Yes. I may be the butt of your jokes.
But do know this, if my theory’s right,
I’ll be laughing out of your asses.