Pluralists: Reality’s Many Elements
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Transcript of Pluralists: Reality’s Many Elements
Pluralists: Reality’s Pluralists: Reality’s Many ElementsMany Elements
Anaxagoras and FriendsAnaxagoras and Friends
PluralistsPluralists
After Parmenides, impossible to return After Parmenides, impossible to return to monist explanation of realityto monist explanation of reality
Reality can not be reduced to one thingReality can not be reduced to one thing– Not like Monists (Thales & Co.)Not like Monists (Thales & Co.)
World is composed of many elementsWorld is composed of many elements
EmpedoclesEmpedocles
Like Pythagoras (scientific+spiritual)Like Pythagoras (scientific+spiritual) Expertise was medicine and mathExpertise was medicine and math Theory: everything made up of all 4 Theory: everything made up of all 4
elements (fire, earth, air, water)elements (fire, earth, air, water) Forces of Love and Strife Forces of Love and Strife
complementary and impact worldcomplementary and impact world
AnaxagorasAnaxagoras
500-432 BC500-432 BC First to introduce philosophy to Athenians First to introduce philosophy to Athenians
(encouraged by Pericles)(encouraged by Pericles)– Athenians prosecuted him so he leftAthenians prosecuted him so he left
First to suggest mind as primary cause of First to suggest mind as primary cause of physical changesphysical changes
First to explain moon shines by reflected First to explain moon shines by reflected lightlight
Correct theory of eclipses, sun (hot stone) Correct theory of eclipses, sun (hot stone) and moon (mountains and…inhabitants?)and moon (mountains and…inhabitants?)
Infinitely DivisibleInfinitely Divisible
No new reality can originate, therefore No new reality can originate, therefore everything existed since alwayseverything existed since always
reality reducible to an infinite number of reality reducible to an infinite number of “seeds.”“seeds.”– ““seeds” contain elements of everything and seeds” contain elements of everything and
are in everything (some more than others)are in everything (some more than others)– ““Everything participates in everything“Everything participates in everything“– Particles originally in huge mass that began Particles originally in huge mass that began
separating… how??separating… how??
NousNous
Omniscient, impersonal MINDOmniscient, impersonal MIND– Not mixed with anythingNot mixed with anything
Gives order and constancy to universeGives order and constancy to universe Source of all motionSource of all motion Enters into the composition of living Enters into the composition of living
thingsthings– Differentiates them from dead matterDifferentiates them from dead matter
UnderstandingUnderstanding
Nous is an exterior cause/understandingNous is an exterior cause/understanding– Opens perspectives for Plato and AristotleOpens perspectives for Plato and Aristotle
First time idea of God as principal ruler of First time idea of God as principal ruler of universeuniverse– ““intelligent design?”intelligent design?”
Yet always returns to whirlpool motion Yet always returns to whirlpool motion promoted by nouspromoted by nous
LegacyLegacy
Brought philosophy to AthensBrought philosophy to Athens Rationalist and scientificRationalist and scientific Helped form Socrates and Athenian Helped form Socrates and Athenian
schoolsschools No religious or ethical No religious or ethical
preoccupationspreoccupations Set stage for DemocritusSet stage for Democritus