Logos and physis in Heraclitus' philosophy

Abstract

In this work the author considers the term of fire as the fundamental term in Heraclitus' philosophy through a number of fragments which refer to this term. The main theses is fire as the primary substance of Being, while this Being is in the constant existence which is determined by the principle of measure necessary between mutually confronted extremes. Although it might seem that this thesis is already present in Heidegger's interpretation of Heraclitus' fire as another term for the Being, this work, contrary to Heidegger's interpretation, insists on the connection between the terms of logos and fire as the primary (material) substance. In this way tautological relationship between the terms (one - wise), (logos) and (fire) is avoided, and Heraclitus' understanding of the nature is moved back into the frames of cosmological period of ancient philosopy to which it historically belongs.