✔️ Neo-Confucianism gained popularity in China during the Song Dynasty in the 11th century. ✔️The roots of Neo-Confucianism date back to the Tang Dynasty when the spread of Buddhism necessitated a reaction from Confucian thinkers.✔️As Buddhism and the reemergence of Taoism began to take hold within China, scholars reevaluated and reinterpreted Confucian philosophy into a new system of belief that addressed not only social and intellectual concerns but also spiritual ones. Neo-Confucian teachings took hold in China and soon spread to Korea and Japan.

Neo-Confucianism - History

✔️ The central belief of Neo-Confucianism like classic Confucianism is the idea of teaching oneself to become a better person. Neo-Confucians believe that the correct way of living is expressed in two forms: principle (li) and matter (qi). ✔️ Another important addition to Neo-Confucianism introduced the idea that the principle of all things exists within every individual. Because of this, individuals can understand the external world through introspection an meditation.

Neo-Confucianism - Beliefs

philosophy

Philosophy

religionandspirituality

Religion & Spirituality

personaldevelopment

Personal Development

mindfulness

Mindfulness

problemsolving

Problem Solving

Neo-Confucianism Beliefs - Synonym

Every person has their own preferred way of thinking. As a result, we may not be able to see an issue from other perspectives. Walt Disney developed his method to utilize all three thinking styles.When we have a narrow focus, we have difficulty solving problems, making decisions, and planning, yet it can be hard to change our natural way of thinking. Method of using three styles together.<ol><li>Dreamers focus on possibilities and potential.</li><li>Realists focus on implementation and practical aspects.</li><li>Critics question and challenge plans and assumptions, and they notice flaws or problems.</li></ol>

3 Thinking Styles

To help view a situation from different perspectives and find the best way forward.

There are three thinking styles – Dreamers, Realistics, and Critics. This method is comparable to and an alternative to the Six Thinking Hats. The difference is, that in the Disney method the sequence is constant, whereas with the Six Thinking Hats you can use them in any order that works for you. _____ Check out all the digital products from Weekly Concepts 1) Academic CV template in Notion: https://theweeklyconcepts.gumroad.com/l/cvacademic 2) The Uncomplicated Marketing ebook: https://theweeklyconcepts.gumroad.com/l/marketing-strategy-guide 3) The Uncomplicated Marketing for Kindergarten (preschool): 8 proven strategies to boost admissions and brand awareness: https://theweeklyconcepts.gumroad.com/l/boost-admissions We would really appreciate it if you could rate the products on gumroad. __________ Find us on my other social media platforms: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theweeklyconcepts/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/weeklyconcpets Twitter: https://twitter.com/weekly_concepts TikTok: https://vt.tiktok.com/ZSRFwcK8b/ Payhip: https://payhip.com/WeeklyConcepts __________

leadershipandmanagement

Leadership & Management

There are three thinking styles – Dreamers, Realistics, and Critics. This method is comparable to and an alternative to the Six Thinking Hats. The difference is, that in the Disney method the sequence is constant, whereas with the Six Thinking Hats you can use them in any order that works for you.
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Check out all the digital products from Weekly Concepts

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2) The Uncomplicated Marketing ebook:
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3) The Uncomplicated Marketing for Kindergarten (preschool): 8 proven strategies  to boost admissions  and  brand awareness:
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Walt Disney's Three Thinking Style

True community is not formed by demanding other people to understand us nor by expecting them to make us happy. If we find each-other's company pleasant and useful, then we'll enjoy it without clinging to it. No obligations, no pressure. True community is about connection first: We should connect before react. And true connection comes from a deep understanding first and foremost."

Mixing Christian spirituality, Buddhist parables, Islamic sayings, Hindu breathing exercises, and psychological insight, spiritualist and Jesuit priest Anthony de Mello challenges readers to identify our most submerged, darkest feeling, accept them, not let them rule us, and allow this new awareness of ourselves to change us. Copyright © Libri GmbH. All rights reserved.

Understand yourself and those around you.

psychology

Psychology

artsandculture

Society, Arts & Culture

De Mello's spiritual classic remains at the top of the Fount bestsellers more than five years after its original publication.

Anthony De Mello

Awareness

Philosophy can help you a lot in your research journey, but it's also easy to misunderstand and get lost in all the different schools of thought.Philosophy is essential, not just for intellectuals in the ivory towers. It can help cure the human spirit's problems.

Purpose of Philosophy

Philosophy is the love of wisdom. It is the study of fundamental questions about existence, knowledge, values, reason, and language. At its most basic level, philosophy is a way of thinking about the world, the universe, and society.Philosophy is understood differently by different people.

What is Philosophy?

People used to think that thunder and lightning were caused by Thor and that poems and myths were true stories. But after people began to think more rationally, they realized that natural causes were responsible for these things, not supernatural ones.The ancient Greeks, like the Romans, wrote poetry and told myths. The myths were about gods and goddesses, like Zeus, Apollo, Athena, and Dionysus. The ancient Greeks wanted to find out why things changed in nature, instead of blaming it on the gods. These people were called "natural philosophers."

Philosophical Thinkers

Parmenides thought that everything in existence was unchanging and that there was no literal transformation. He believed that only "one-ness" is real.

Thinker 01: Parmenides

Heraclitus argued against Parmenides' belief that everything is static. He said that everything is constantly changing and that we need both good and bad things to exist.The world would not exist without the continual interplay of opposing forces.

Thinker 02: Heraclitus

Socrates was a mysterious person who kept to himself and was known for his silence. He was one of the most important individuals in European philosophy.Socrates believed that philosophers were people who realized that they know nothing and were disturbed by this. As a result, Socrates considered himself to be a philosopher.Socrates was a famous philosopher who taught Plato. They both believed that philosophers should love wisdom and know that they know nothing.He once said, “One thing only I know, and that is that I know nothing.”

Thinker 03: Socrates

Many historians think that Socrates was a type of philosophy, and not just a philosopher. They say that after he died, philosophy became more important to people and that people started to see it as more of a career.

The death of Socrates changed Philosophy

Plato was 29 years old when his teacher Socrates died from drinking hemlock. He was taken aback when Athens sentenced its greatest intellectual to death. This event had a lasting impact on his later philosophical career.According to Plato, the death of Socrates showed that there was a contradiction between the real world and the ideal one. As a philosopher, Plato's first action was to publish Socrates' entreaty for acquittal in the form of the Apology of Socrates. Aside from the Apology, Plato is responsible for all of Socrates' and Plato's writings.

Thinker 04: Plato

Plato's thoughts were not only linked to his teacher Socrates but even his student Aristotle.Throughout the last two millennia, Plato's ideas have been repeatedly discussed and criticized by others. It was Aristotle who began this practice.Aristotle admired Plato a great deal and said "Plato is dear to me, but dearer still is truth." Lastly, according to Aristotle, nature was a reflection of the real world.Aristotle was a famous teacher who taught Alexander the Great. He wrote about different things, including physics, metaphysics, biology, poetry, music, politics, economics, and more.

Thinker 05: Aristotle

Philosophical assumptions are:<ol><li>Epistemology</li><li>Meta-physics</li><li>Axiology</li></ol>

3 major branches of Philosophy:

<ul><li>Episteme (knowledge) + Logy (science) = science of knowledge </li><li>It is the argument - why this and not that.</li></ul>Epistemology is the study of knowledge - how we come to know what is real, and what our limitations are.

01 Epistemology

a) Revealed knowledge: this is true because it is written in religious books. Even what we know from religious books is being studied using scientific knowledge. b) Scientific knowledge: through a systematic study, the knowledge has been organized into general concepts. For example, many scientific theories are based on mathematics.c) Intuitive knowledge: little or no specific knowledge informs subjective judgment or gut feelings.d) Man-made knowledge: remember that when we are looking at how knowledge is created, we need to think about how it works in the real world.

Epistemology || Sources of knowledge

<ul><li>Meta (beyond) + Physics (nature) = beyond the nature</li><li>Discussion about reality.</li><li>What is the reality of this universe?</li><li>What is the reality of human beings?</li><li>What is the reality of everything that exists or does not exist?</li><li>What is truth?</li><li>What is beyond nature?</li></ul>

02 Meta-physics

a) Cosmogony: the study of the universe, space, time, and the origins and evolution of phenomena.b) Cosmology: the study of the universe, space, and time.c) Ontology: the philosophical study of existence and reality.d) Teleology: the study of or reasoning based on final causes.e) Eschatology: the study of or doctrine about the end of history or the last things. For instance, the judgment day.

Branches of meta-physics are:

<ul><li>Axio (value) + Logy (science) = science of value</li><li>What are values?</li><li>What is good? </li><li>What is bad? </li><li>What is acceptable?</li><li>What should be rejected?</li></ul>Basically, discussion of values within a society.

03 Axiology

a) Ethics: are the things that people think are the right thing to do. They can change from place to place and from time to time.b) Aesthetic: is all about personal opinions. What might look pretty to me might look ugly to you.

Branches of axiology are:

Greek word meaning 'pattern'Whenever we think of doing research, we get a few thoughts such as:<ul><li>'How do we plan to do this research?'</li><li>'What will be my approach to the investigation?'</li><li>'Will I do Qualitative or Quantitative or mixed?'</li></ul>To come out of this situation, the researcher takes the help of the "Research Paradigm"A research paradigm is a framework that is used to guide research. It includes the assumptions that researchers make about what is being studied, and how it can be studied.Paradigms can be based on different philosophies, such as positivism or constructivism.

What is Research Paradigm?

Our beliefs, knowledge, and reality are termed paradigms by social scientists.Example: Let's assume you are in a new country and exploring places. You want to go to a certain location. There are three or more routes to reach the destinationNow, it depends on the person to decide on a route based on his knowledge, belief, and reality.The important thing is what is the person's view on each of the routes.

Paradigm has its roots in Philosophy

When all the 'ology' is of the same nature, they lead to a certain research methodology. For example, positivism or interpretivism.<ul><li>First ontology.</li><li>Second, ontology will decide the epistemology.</li><li>Third, epistemology will decide axiology.</li><li>Fourth, all three will meet and decide the research methodology (quantitative or qualitative).</li><li>Research Methodology will showcase the research design (experimental, cause-effect, survey, grounded theory, ethnography, etc)</li><li>Lastly, Research Design will guide the research instrument.</li></ul>

Every Paradigm has its own Ontology, Epistemology, and Axiology

Ontology↓Epistemology↓Axiology↓Methodology (Quantitative or Qualitative)↓Research Design↓Research Instrument

Constituents of Paradigm

Philosophy is a confusing subject. But it's important to understand the basics. The three main branches of philosophy are Epistemology (the study of knowledge), Meta-physics (the study of existence and reality), and Axiology (the study of values).

This article details the basics of philosophy as it applies to a Ph.D. student or anyone researching for an academic paper, dissertation, or thesis. Learn more about epistemology, metaphysics, and axiology.

history

History

What is Philosophy and Why Every Ph.D. Candidate Should Study It First

The following 15 quotes/philosophies are said by Phil Dunphy from the show Modern Family(2009-2020). He as a present to his daughter Haley, gives her a book of advices called Phil's-osophy- a hardbound collections of all the life lessons Phil learned.

About

Ty Burrell who plays Phil Dunphy in one of his interviews said this is his favorite among all the phil's-osophies.

1. Always look people in the eye, even if they are blind. Just say “I´m looking you in the eye”.

Claire's reaction is a treat to watch. What's humiliating to Claire isn't necessarily humiliating to Phil.

2. If you get pulled over for speeding, tell the police officer your spouse has diarrhea.

Julia Child was a famous chef, author, and television personality. She made French cuisine accessible to American audiences and had a large impact on American households and housewives. There is a hilarious SNL skit on her named "The French Chef", you can check that out.

3. You only get one chance at a first impression. I suggest Julia Child because it's easy to do. 'Save the giblets.' 

This one is really touching and inspiring!

4. The most amazing things that can happen to a human being will happen to you if you just lower your expectations.

This way of life characterizes Phil Dunphy. Playing with words is something he enjoys doing. William Hurt has been in movies like Into The Wild, A History of Violence, Broadcast News, some Marvel movies and much more.

5. Dance until your feet hurt, sing until your lungs hurt, act until you´re William Hurt.

This advise is funny but also depressing. Haley was making a new start and attending a school where she knew no one. She is accustomed to being the popular girl with lot of friends and boyfriends, but in college, she had to start from scratch.

6. Take a lesson from parakeets: if you are feeling lonely just eat in front of a mirror.

Another piece of wisdom that is humorous because of the world play .Also note that whenever Phil thinks of a new invention(crazy ones mostly) or word, he adds the ™ at the end.

7. Never Be Afraid To Reach For The Stars, Because Even If You Fall, You'll Always Be Wearing A Parentchute™.

Seeing as how Claire is both beautiful and disappointed regularly, Phil adopted his own philosophy. It's funny to see Claire's reaction to this.

8. Marry someone who looks sexy while disappointed.

I really didn't get the idea behind this one. May be in the show he had a thing for black ladies or it is just a fact. Feel free to comment about this quote.

9. Older black ladies make the best ice tea.

“Genius is 1 percent inspiration and 99 percent perspiration,” said by Thomas Edison. Hence, the last line of this advise got me:).

10. Success is 1% inspiration, 98%  perspiration and 2% attention to detail.

Gloria didn't look impressed after reading this Phil's advice. It is is self-explanatory, which is why it's hilarious.

11. You can tell a lot about a person from his biography.

This is hilarious as the sun only rises once a day. Other than Alex while she is studying, none of his children ever get up early enough to see the sunrise.

12. Watch a sunrise at least once a day.

Inspired from the quote "If you love something, set it free"  with a funny twist as always.

13. If you love something, set it free, unless it's a tiger.

Just for fun and to pass time I think. Classic Phil Dunphy.

14. If you are ever into a jam, a crayon scrunched upon under your nose makes a good pretend moustache.

The last one and personally my favorite one.(Comment down your favorite Phil's-oshopy). The way Phil reads it is genius and hilarious. His love for life is infectious.

15. When life gives you lemonade, make lemons. Life will be all like Whaaaat?

Loved the show Modern Family and this is one of my favorite part from the show. So, wanted to share it.

entertainment

Entertainment

Phil's-osophy- 15 life lessons from Modern Family

We spend a lot of our own unclassifiable lives categorizing the lives of others even though all human lives are too diverse and full of contradiction to neatly fit into the categories in which we strive to control the chaos of life. The failure to lump complexity into a single category or to brand others with our labels may be a sign of kindness.

What Is The Sign of Kindness?

Marcus Aurelius repeatedly discusses kindness and the importance of extending it to everyone equally at all times in his timeless Meditations (public library), notes on the life he had written largely to himself while learning how to live more virtuously in an uncertain world that blindsides us with both its beauty and its brutality. Even at their cruelest, which is their most irrational, human beings are endowed with reason and dignity they can retain.

Humming insistence Of Kindness

We should bear in mind constantly that death comes to men of all kinds, men with varied occupations and various ethnicities. We too will inevitably end up where so many (of our heroes) have gone. Heraclitus, Pythagoras, Socrates, brilliant intellectuals, high-minded men, hard workers, men of ingenuity, self-confident men, men who mocked the very transience and impermanence of human life, men long dead and buried. Only one thing is important: to behave throughout our life toward the liars and crooks around us with kindness, honesty, and justice.

Death Is Inevitable 

The key to kindness, as Marcus Aurelius observed is keeping “the purity, lucidity, moderation, and justice of our mind” from being sullied by the actions of those we encounter, no matter how disagreeable and discomposed by unreason they may be.

Tales of Mystery and Imagination 

Try living the life of a good man and see how it too suits you — a man who’s gratified by the lot he’s been assigned by the universe and satisfied with the justice of his acts and the kindness of his character.

You will live a good life if you complete every task at hand by acting assiduously, resolutely, and with kindness following the right reason; if, rather than becoming sidetracked by unimportant matters, you maintain your guardian spirit untarnished and steady; if you engage in the task without expectations or evasions, but satisfied your current performance as per nature, and if what you say and express is said with true Roman honesty. Nobody can prevent you from doing so, either!

Kindness Gives Momentum

Ever wondered what true kindness is? Is it an act or our state of mind? You can have the answer by reading these ideas.

The Stoic Key to Kindness

“That’s just the way it is. Change is inevitable. Instead of resisting it, you’re better served simply going with the flow.”

“A man who raises his hands on a woman is trash. If I have to become trash in order to survive… It’ll be just like dying.”

“Become strong not just for your own sake, but for your friends.”

“Arrogance destroys the footholds of victory.”

"Even if no one believes in you, stick out your best and scream your defiance!"

Part-time student, full-time Soul Reaper, Ichigo is one of the chosen few guardians of the afterlife. Ichigo Kurosaki never asked for the ability to see ghosts—he was born with the gift. When his family is attacked by a Hollow—a malevolent lost soul—Ichigo becomes a Soul Reaper, dedicating his life to protecting the innocent and helping the tortured spirits themselves find peace. Find out why Tite Kubo’s Bleach has become an international manga smash-hit! Ichigo Kurosaki has always been able to see ghosts, but this ability doesn't change his life nearly as much as his close encounter with Rukia Kuchiki, a Soul Reaper and member of the mysterious Soul Society. While fighting a Hollow, an evil spirit that preys on humans who display psychic energy, Rukia attempts to lend Ichigo some of her powers so that he can save his family; but much to her surprise, Ichigo absorbs every last drop of her energy. Now a full-fledged Soul Reaper himself, Ichigo quickly learns that the world he inhabits is one full of dangerous spirits and, along with Rukia--who is slowly regaining her powers--it's Ichigo's job to protect the innocent from Hollows and help the spirits themselves find peace.

movies

Movies & Shows

creativity

Creativity

Part-time student, full-time Soul Reaper, Ichigo is one of the chosen few guardians of the afterlife. Ichigo Kurosaki never asked for the ability to see ghosts—he was born with the gift. When his family is attacked by a Hollow—a malevolent lost soul—Ichigo becomes a Soul Reaper, dedicating his life to protecting the innocent and helping the tortured spirits themselves find peace. Find out why Tite Kubo’s Bleach has become an international manga smash-hit! Ichigo Kurosaki has always been able to see ghosts, but this ability doesn't change his life nearly as much as his close encounter with Rukia Kuchiki, a Soul Reaper and member of the mysterious Soul Society. While fighting a Hollow, an evil spirit that preys on humans who display psychic energy, Rukia attempts to lend Ichigo some of her powers so that he can save his family; but much to her surprise, Ichigo absorbs every last drop of her energy. Now a full-fledged Soul Reaper himself, Ichigo quickly learns that the world he inhabits is one full of dangerous spirits and, along with Rukia--who is slowly regaining her powers--it's Ichigo's job to protect the innocent from Hollows and help the spirits themselves find peace.

Tite Kubo is an accomplished writer whose work has resonated with readers around the world. Tite Kubo has published several books that explore a range of topics, from fiction to nonfiction, and has received critical acclaim for the ability to weave compelling narratives. Tite Kubo's writing style is known for its depth and authenticity, and has earned quite a loyal following of readers.

Tite Kubo

Bleach, Vol. 1

If you consider yourself reasonably intelligent and educated, you might assume that you have a fair grasp on the core ways the world works - knowledge about the familiar inventions and natural phenomena that surround us. However, it's quite likely you know less than you think. This bias is known as an “illusion of knowledge”. This can afflict our judgment in many domains. In the workplace, for example, it can lead us to overclaim our knowledge in an interview, overlook the contributions of our colleagues and take on jobs we may be wholly unable to perform.

Illusion of knowledge

Many of us overestimate how much we can learn by observing others - resulting in the illusion of skill acquisition.Passive observation can even increase people's confidence in their abilities to perform complex life-or-death tasks. For example, one study found that people thought they would score a greater number of points if they watched a video 20 times compared to watching it once. But their actual performance did not show any evidence of learning.

The illusion of skill acquisition

<ul><li>Overconfidence in your knowledge may mean that you prepare less for an interview or presentation, for example, leaving you embarrassed when you are pressed to demonstrate your expertise.</li><li>It may also lead us to undervalue our colleagues.</li><li>If we start to claim our colleagues' knowledge as our own, we may be less likely to remember and show gratitude for their contributions.</li><li>One solution is to test yourself. Test yourself by consciously recognizing your mental blank.</li></ul>

Real-life dilemmas

It’s easy to think you’re a font of knowledge. And while you may have plenty of skills and expertise, it’s quite likely you know less than you think.

education

Learning & Education

The 'illusion of knowledge' that makes people overconfident

The Bullet Journal Method is for anyone struggling to find their place in the digital age.Self-reflective practices like BuJo give us a way to ground ourselves in our most important values and principles before we step outside into the information maelstrom.

Finding your place in the digital age

We are surrounded by endless knowledge, yet more often than we'd like, we are also starving for wisdom.Slow down, treat each new idea as a practical experiment, and wait to see what results it produces before rushing on to the next fascinating concept.

Treat each new idea as an experiment

We can't be true to ourselves if we don't know what we want, and more importantly why, so that's where we must begin.This may seem very woo-woo, but it can be as simple as paying attention to What resonates with us, what sparks our interest-and, importantly, what does not.

Pay attention to what resonates

By recording our lives, we're simultaneously creating a rich archive of our choices and our actions for future reference.We can study our mistakes and learn from them. Studying our failures and our victories can provide tremendous insight, guidance, and motivation as we plot our way forward.

Study your mistakes

<ul><li>If at some point you feel overwhelmed, take a step back and start by implementing only the pieces that make sense.</li><li>Most components are self-contained by design, so you can effectively use them even if you don’t use the rest.</li><li>Start with what speaks to you-even if it's just one piece-and build to there.</li></ul>

Start small and build from there

<ul><li>Allow ambiguous nuggets to make it through even before their utility is clear.</li><li>Notes include facts, ideas, thoughts, and observations. They log information you want to remember that isn’t immediately or necessarily actionable.</li></ul>

Keep your filter a little loose

By keeping your Notes short, you're forced to distill information down to the essential. As information gets distilled, it becomes more potent, more usable, and more valuable.Distillation doesn't have to happen late in the workflow. You can often distill something right at the moment of capturing it.

Keep your notes short

Your notes will be useless if they can't be deciphered in a week, month, or year from now.Honor your relationship with your "future self" by honoring them, looking out for their needs, and making sure you're thinking about them today and in the future.

Keep your future self in mind

Tiago shares 10 favorite quotes from The Bullet Journal Method and how each one shaped his thinking about notes, journaling, and productivity.

writing

Reading & Writing

What I Learned From The Bullet Journal Method - Forte Labs

The roots of philosophy, or the Greek Tradition, can be traced back to one of the most profound questions posed by mankind: what is the quintessential characteristic of all things in this world? What is the common trait that we can identify in any object, creature, element or force? That has been a persistent question throughout our history, all the way back from the naturalistic explanations proposed by Thales of Miletus, and is still the driving force of scientific inquiry today.

What Is The Quintessential Characteristic Of Everything?

Many different answers have been proposed throughout history, and two of these answers were very prominent during the pre-Socratic period in Ancient Greece: the flux of Heraclitus and the stasis of Parmenides.The confrontation of these two great minds and their theories, and the conclusion of this confrontation was immeasurably important to philosophy as a whole.

Flux Vs Stasis

In order to fully understand the discussion between Heraclitus and Parmenides, it is important for us to understand the pre-Socratic period as a whole.The pre-Socratic period, or early Greek philosophy, encompasses all the philosophers between Thales of Miletus (c. 624/623 – c. 548/545 BC) and Socrates (c. 470 – 399 BC). It was a period marked by an intense interest in cosmology, that being the study of the origin and substance of the universe.

Heraclitus and Parmenides: Pre-Socratic Philosophers

Many philosophers from the pre-Socratic period made their own cosmological systems and theories, and their work was foundational for Western philosophy, paving the way for the development of what we now call the scientific method, therefore leading to the creation of science as we know it today.Some of the most influential minds of the pre-Socratic period were the aforementioned Thales and his fellow Milesians Anaximander and Anaximenes; the Ionians Heraclitus, Xenophanes and Pythagoras; the Eleatic of Parmenides, Melissus and Zeno, among many others.

Pre-Socratics And The Creation Of The Scientific Method

Heraclitus, born in the year of c.535 BC, was a native of a city called Ephesus, which was located inside the territory of the Persian Empire, and not much is known about his life. Some of the stories and registered recollections about him are now proven to be fabricated; however, it is believed that he was a man who gave up on his privileged life in order to become a misanthrope hermit and self-taught philosopher. He was a scholar in the matters of materialism, cosmology, empiricism, rationalism, metaphysics, mysticism and logic.

Heraclitus and the Doctrine of Flux

Heraclitus wrote only one work, a scroll of papyrus that has been lost, although many fragments of said work have been quoted by a plethora of other authors, proving his undeniable influence not only on contemporary thinkers (notably Plato and Aristotle), but also to the philosophic tradition as a whole, being extensively mentioned by authors such as Nietzsche and Montaigne.

Heraclitus: Fragments

Τὰ πάντα ῥεῖ  (ta panta rhei, everything flows) is an ancient Greek phrase that summarizes “the philosophy of flux” proposed by Heraclitus. Otherwise called “the theory of impermanence” and illustrated by the element of fire, the philosophy of flux is a system that seeks to explain how the nature of all things is precisely change. In other words, the common trait which we can universally identify in all things is the fact that they are subject to constant transformation, as exemplified by the process of aging in living beings, or the ever flowing nature of a river.

The Nature Of All Things Is Impermanence

It is not possible to step into the same river twice. (No man ever steps in the same river twice, for it's not the same river and he’s not the same man.)

Parmenides was a pre-Socratic philosopher from the city of Elea in Magna Graecia. It is believed that he lived during the late sixth or early fifth century BC, and he is considered the father of metaphysics, having founded the very prominent Eleatic school of philosophy. He originated from a wealthy family, being a well known and influential person in Elea.

Parmenides and the Philosophy of Stasis

Such as Heraclitus, Parmenides only wrote one known work, often referred as On Nature, and only some fragments of this work have survived the test of time as well. The writings of Parmenides are credited for containing the first sustained argument of philosophy and one of the first digressions into the concept of being. The influence of Parmenides is undeniable, his views are still relevant to this day, and the rivalry between him and Heraclitus is still brought up in many philosophical discussions and studies.

Parmenides: On Nature

The philosophy of Parmenides is based around the concept of stasis, which means that the universe is in constant balance, that things either exist or do not exist, and they cannot change. Everything exists as part of an unchanging nature, and what we may observe as transformations are merely illusory appearances. The nature of the universe is, therefore, permanence.

The Nature Of All Things Is Permanence

Whatever is is, and what is not cannot be.

The direct confrontation between the two opposite lines of thought happened in a dialogue recorded by Plato called Sophist.This dialogue’s objective is to define through dialectic the difference between sophists and philosophers, being and not being, and to determine the nature of all things through the juxtaposition of the ideas of Heraclitus and Parmenides. Sophists were pre-Socratic teachers who were criticized by philosophers because they earned money for their teachings, while philosophers believed that knowledge should be spread for free.

Heraclitus And Parmenides’ Face-Off In Plato’s Sophist

After presenting both the philosophy of flux and the philosophy of stasis, Plato then claims that they are, in fact, not mutually exclusive at all. If according to Parmenides everything has an innate and immutable essence, and according to Heraclitus all things are subject to constant change, we may conclude that the immutable essence of all things is change itself.

Illusory Appearance And True Form, Imperfection And Perfection

This conclusion became the origin of Plato’s philosophy of Forms or the Theory of Ideas, which explores the concept that the world exists in two separate spheres: The Physical Realm and the Realm of Forms. The Physical Realm is how we perceive things, constantly changeable, imperfect. On the other hand, the Realm of Forms is perfect, its nature is immutable and unchangeable.

The Physical Realm And The Realm Of Forms

To philosophy’s oldest question, Greek philosophers Heraclitus and Parmenides answered with opposing views. Or did they?

Heraclitus and Parmenides: What is the Nature of the Universe?

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