According to Aristotle, Heraclitus claims that “the same...

According to Aristotle, Heraclitus claims that â€Å"the same thing both is and is not,† and this would imply that contraries belong to the same subject simultaneously. Heraclitus denies our ability to establish truth, and questions the reliability of knowledge: for Aristotle; serious philosophical consideration must be given to such skepticism, because the logical conclusion of this position has undesirable effects on metaphysical discussion. First philosophy (or metaphysics) investigates the system of principles underlying the study of being (viz. beings as being), and the philosopher should be able to state the principle that permits the education of all things. According to Aristotle, the principle of demonstration must first be examined,†¦show more content†¦In any event, the act of showing someone that something is (or is not) reduces the argument to the basic source for any demonstration, that is, any proof is reduced to the ultimate position (i.e. the initial cause for demonstration). In essence, the principle cannot be demonstrated by virtue of deduction; if it could be deduced from another axiom, then it would not be the first principle. Moreover, if the principle could be demonstrated, then â€Å"all things† would be subject to demonstration, as Heraclitus seems to believe. However, to demand demonstration (in the strict sense) would beg the question, because it would lead to an infinite regress and there would still be no demonstration. If the same thing both is and is not, then, for instance, a being can both exist and not exist simultaneously, and the same thing can both be true and not be true simultaneously. To say that the same thing both is and is not is to deny the first principle, and to refuse to be consistent (or follow any logical truth). According to Aristotle, Heraclitus’ way of thinking is marked by circular reasoning inasmuch as any rational being implicitly recognize the principle as self-evident, and toShow MoreRelatedWhat Is Metaphysics? The Universal Definition Of Metaphysics1140 Words   |  5 PagesGarrett Recto 11-19-2015 PHL 204 FINAL PAPER WHAT IS METAPHYSICS? What is Metaphysics? The universal definition of metaphysics in philosophy is the aspect that deals with the first principle of things, which include abstract concepts of the being, knowing, cause, identity, time and space. Basically, metaphysics encounters the basic questions in such possible terms; what is there and what is it like? 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