Heraclitus on Change, (Cosmic) Process and Logos

Abstract

Heraclitus was one of the most prominent figures in ancient Ionian thought. This paper aims to interpret the relationship between the concepts of change, (cosmic) process, and Logos in his philosophy. Change was the primary focus of the natural philosophers of Ionia; the thinkers of Miletus and Ephesus concentrated on concepts such as nature, becoming, and change, and sought to understand the underlying principle that unifies all change. Heraclitus argued that nature is a realm of appearances and constant change, yet all change is governed by a divine principle. Nature is a continuous process of change, and Heraclitus believed change to be the ultimate reality. This paper connects Heraclitus’ ideas of change, process, and logos by proposing that not all change should be understood merely as a process.