Whitney Swaim - Flux (Outside Reading 4)

When reading Melchert's textbook on ancient philosophy, The Great Conversation, I saw many parallels between Heraclitus' ideas and those of indigenous societies. Heraclitus is known for articulating the concept of flux. This idea is that reality is constantly changing, yet it is always one. Flux presents a "unified view of the world and man's place in it" (p. 19). For example, a river is made up of ever-changing elements, but it is always the same river. Heraclitus thought that the world is filled with opposition and ongoing change, yet it is somehow united. In moderation, strife is a good thing. Primal religions also acknowledge the presence of conflicts in nature. This often calls for rituals to balance out the issues between man and the gods or spirits. Primal societies are aware of continual change in the cosmos, such as different seasons, and they adapt to them easily. Additionally, they see nature as being unified spiritually. Thus, they attach their religion to all aspects of life.