Opposites also Agree
Heraclitus of Ephesus, inferred from his own writings, was a sixth century philosopher from the city of Ephesus in Ionia, which is now part of Turkey. Most of his writings addressed natural laws of the world. He expressed that opposites are necessities of life that bring balance to the world. He also wrote that things change, but those changes maintain the structure of other things that exist due to those changes in the first place. This opinion is apparent in his saying about not stepping into the same river twice, in that rivers would not exist unless the water was always flowing and changing (Graham).
He once wrote that “Opposition brings concord: Out of discord comes the fairest harmony.” What he meant by this quote is that resistance can actually create harmony and agreements because it can bring attention to growing issues that must be resolved. Disagreements will eventually lead to resolutions and “harmony.”
Most of his writings condone this belief that opposites and strifes of life, although stressful, actually maintain a balance in the world (Mark). In other words, one thing cannot exist without the other. He tended to disagree with many philosophers that preceded him, as well as those that existed during his time, but his complex messages seem to have broad interpretations. Even though he may not have agreed with some philosophers, if they did not exist, he may not have known what he believed to be true about the world.
I find truth in his statement everyday. I especially find that I could not have the peace or assurance that I have today were it not for the discord and stress I have experienced before. In order to experience one thing fully, we must also understand it’s opposite entirely. Many people have said that they can know heaven because they have been through hell. Heraclitus’s statement supports this common saying, where one bad thing can lead to the revelation that something even better can occur because of it, or that things were previously not as bad as once believed.
Works Cited
Graham, Daniel W. "Heraclitus." Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy. Web. 3 Apr. 2016. <http://www.iep.utm.edu/heraclit/>.
Mark, Joshua J. "Heraclitus of Ephesos." Ancient History Encyclopedia. 14 July 2010. Web. 3 Apr. 2016. <http://www.ancient.eu/Heraclitus_of_Ephesos/>.