| Abstract [eng] |
This Master thesis studies the relationship between Heraclitus‘ Cosmology and Stoic Physics. The parallels between both writings, as well as appropriations and innovative ideas are discussed. Both Heraclitus‘ and Early and Middle Stoa‘s writings are lost and only fragments have survived and been published (M. Adomėnas 1995; I. Arnim1903-1924). Following the work of the researchers of Heraclitus and Stoic Philosophy (F. Ch. Kessidi 1982; Ch. H. Kahn 1966; M. Boeri 2001; A. A. Stoliarov 1999) the thesis argues that Heraclitus had a significant influence on Stoic Physics. The Stoics as well as Heraclitus contemplated the world by emphasising movement, change and qualitative diversity, while Stoics theory provided world’s “working scheme” with a better system and structure. In their Physics, the Stoics took from Heraclitus the idea of a single, continually resuming and cyclically developing cosmos, the conception of fire as an active and formative principle, and logos – the concept of a universal law of change in the cosmos. However all these concepts were extended and/or modified by the Stoics. Moreover, the thesis analyses new concepts originated by Stoics; the statement that “everything is corporeal” expressing an original view of cosmos, the notion of „pneuma“[τό πνεύμα] – the cosmic power that generates the world in constant movement, and the argument that Logos as well as God are material. The theory of “sympathy” [συμπάθεια] ensuring interaction of all elements of cosmos was also created. In addition the thesis analyses Stoa’s interpretations of such concepts as “time”, “space” and “substance” that are different from the rest of the antique tradition. |
