Book 1: Chapter 4, Heraclitus Summary and Analysis

Greeks were commonly appreciated as extremely capable or authoritative in various areas, but forgotten. Such view may render some truth as most of the modern philosophy is dominated by the hypotheses invented by the Greeks. Such hypotheses have become prevalent through their independent development for over two thousand years.

The Greeks were responsible for the discovery of mathematics, reasoning, and in particular geometry that allowed for the development of modern science. Their inventiveness was essential to an equally important intellectual progress that followed. One of their inventions, philosophy allows for forming attitudes, enabling understanding as part of the historical context and process rather than reverence.

One of the most important philosophers was Xenophanes. He was mentioned by both Pythagoras and Heraclitus, was born in Ionia, and lived in Southern Italy. He viewed everything as made out of...