Existence and Knowledge

Existence and Knowledge

Meaning of φύσις in Early Greek Thought

Document Type : Research Article

Author
PhD student in Ancient and Medieval Philosophy, Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran, Iran.
Abstract
This paper devoted to examination and analysis of examples and instances in ancient Greek literature – philosophical or other works, to make clear the concept/s of "Nature" (φύσις) in them. The significant of finding word''s meaning and sense, and effects of this task in avoiding fundamental fallacies and misconceptions, is not meager. In fragmentary or defective texts, that task with suggesting several different possible meanings for the word, can proximate us to author''s real sense or aim. Firstly and briefly, I explain several interpretations that all of them have common side, i.e. shared in dedication only one meaning or sense to "Nature" and then, I try to give a sufficient and satisfactory examples for several and multitude possible meanings of "Nature" on the base of main primeval original texts and literature. Quoting context of every case, I proceed to propose my own translation and interpretation of that situation to the best of my ability. In conclusion limited or one meaning approach for that word, the view that we expounded in first section of paper, is disproved.
Keywords

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