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Single Idea 17539

[filed under theme 26. Natural Theory / A. Speculations on Nature / 6. Early Matter Theories / f. Ancient elements ]

Full Idea

If we replace Heraclitus's word 'fire' by the word 'energy' we can almost repeat his statements word for word from our modern point of view.

Gist of Idea

The sayings of Heraclitus are still correct, if we replace 'fire' with 'energy'

Source

report of Heraclitus (fragments/reports [c.500 BCE]) by Werner Heisenberg - Physics and Philosophy 04

Book Ref

Heisenberg,Werner: 'Physics and Philosophy' [Penguin 1989], p.51

A Reaction

My problem has always been that I have no idea what 'energy' is, so I'm none the wiser.

Related Ideas

Idea 15265 'Energy' is a quasi-substance invented as the bearer of change during interactions [Harré/Madden]

Idea 17540 Energy is that which moves, and is the substance from which everything is made [Heisenberg]

The 28 ideas with the same theme [early theories of basic components of matter]:

7992 The visible forms of nature are earth, water, fire, air, ether; mind, reason, and the sense of 'I' [Anon (Bhag)]
17539 The sayings of Heraclitus are still correct, if we replace 'fire' with 'energy' [Heraclitus, by Heisenberg]
5096 Heraclitus says that at some time everything becomes fire [Heraclitus, by Aristotle]
3054 Heraclitus said fire could be transformed to create the other lower elements [Heraclitus, by Diog. Laertius]
1792 He taught that there are two elements, fire the maker, and earth the matter [Parmenides, by Diog. Laertius]
13208 Anaxagoreans regard the homoeomeries as elements, which compose earth, air, fire and water [Anaxagoras, by Aristotle]
6002 Empedocles says bone is water, fire and earth in ratio 2:4:2 [Empedocles, by Inwood]
13207 Fire, Water, Air and Earth are elements, being simple as well as homoeomerous [Empedocles, by Aristotle]
13218 The elements combine in coming-to-be, but how do the elements themselves come-to-be? [Aristotle on Empedocles]
2680 Empedocles said that there are four material elements, and two further creative elements [Empedocles, by Aristotle]
13225 Love and Strife only explain movement if their effects are distinctive [Aristotle on Empedocles]
460 If the one Being ever diminishes it would no longer exist, and what could ever increase it? [Empedocles]
459 All change is unity through love or division through hate [Empedocles]
486 Plants and animals can only come into existence if something fixes their species [Diogenes of Apollonia]
485 Things must retain their essential nature during change, or mixing would be impossible [Diogenes of Apollonia]
16594 The Four Elements must change into one another, or else alteration is impossible [Aristotle]
13223 Fire is hot and dry; Air is hot and moist; Water is cold and moist; Earth is cold and dry [Aristotle]
16102 Aether moves in circles and is imperishable; the four elements perish, and move in straight lines [Aristotle, by Gill,ML]
17463 An element is what bodies are analysed into, and won't itself divide into something else [Aristotle]
16098 I claim that Aristotle's foundation is the four elements, and not wholly potential prime matter [Aristotle, by Gill,ML]
17464 When Aristotle's elements compound they are stable, so why would they ever separate? [Weisberg/Needham/Hendry on Aristotle]
21403 The later Stoics identified the logos with an air-fire compound, called 'pneuma' [Chrysippus, by Long]
20828 Fire is a separate element, not formed with others (as was previously believed) [Chrysippus, by Stobaeus]
5975 Stoics say earth, air, fire and water are the primary elements [Chrysippus, by Plutarch]
16570 Elements are found last in dismantling bodies, and first in generating them [Albert of Saxony]
16569 The Hot, Cold, Wet and Dry of the philosophers need themselves to be explained [Descartes]
12707 The true elements are atomic monads [Leibniz]
17465 Lavoisier's elements included four types of earth [Weisberg/Needham/Hendry]