22. A Misanthropic Ancient Greek Philosopher
Heraclitus of Ephesus (535 – 475 BC) was an Ancient Greek philosopher who advanced the notion that the essence of the universe is constant change. He coined the phrase “no man ever steps into the same river twice” to illustrate that everything, like the ever-moving droplets of water drifting downstream on a river, is in constant motion and flux, even if the motion is not easily noticed. He also advocated the notion of a “unity of opposites”, whereby the universe is a system of balanced exchanges with all things paired in a relationship with their opposites.
Heraclitus was critical of other philosophers, had a dim view of humanity. He loathed mobs and democracy, preferring instead rule by a few wise men – a concept that Plato later distilled into the notion a philosopher-king was the ideal ruler. Deeming wealth as a form of punishment, Heraclitus wished upon his fellow Ephesians, whom he hated, the curse of wealth as punishment for their sins. In short, Heraclitus was a misanthrope. That makes it easier to laugh at his weird death, described below.
