Anaximander articulated a cyclical view of existence, asserting that everything that comes into being must eventually return to its initial, boundless state. This implies a natural balance where creation and destruction are part of an ongoing cosmic cycle, ensuring universal equilibrium and constant flux.
Quote by Anaximander: “From that source whence things originate, they must also pass away.”
From that source whence things originate, they must also pass away.
Insight
Historical Context
In his efforts to explain the universe's mechanics, Anaximander posited a dynamic equilibrium where elements constantly gave way to each other, maintaining cosmic order. This fragment describes the inevitable return of all things to their undifferentiated origin.
About the Author
Greek philosopher from Miletus who lived approximately 610–546 BCE, a student of Thales. He is known for developing the concept of the apeiron — an indefinite, boundless source of all things — and for producing one of the earliest known maps of the world. Only a single fragment of his writing survives, quoted by later philosophers.
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