The relationship between Solon's political conception and Anaximander's perspective of άρχή Cover Image

Relacja pomiędzy koncepcjami politycznymi Solona a anaksymandrowskim ujęciem άρχή
The relationship between Solon's political conception and Anaximander's perspective of άρχή

Author(s): Piotr Świercz
Subject(s): Philosophy
Published by: Wydawnictwo Uniwersytetu Śląskiego
Keywords: άρχή; cosmos; polis; Dike

Summary/Abstract: The aim of the article is a comparison of Solon’s political doctrine and Anaximander’s philosophical conceptions.The fact that there’s an analogy between these two conceptions was many a time recorded in the literature of the subject. The analogy concerns not only terminology as such used by both authors, but also a very similar perspective of reality. The difference, in fact, although to a lesser extent that could be expected at first glance, would lie in the scope of universality of the application of a given order. Generally speaking, the Solon’s perspective is “polis”, and Anaximander’s is “cosmos”. However, it must be stressed that in the case of Solon’s thought “polis” constitutes a component of cosmos. The structure of these orders is analogic. While “apeiron” constitutes the principle in Anaximander’s conception, Solon’s doctrine is ruled by “Dike” (Law-Justice), an important element of which is Impartiality. Anaximander’s conception το απειρον is at best interpreted from the periechontological perspective. To απειρον embraces all (περιέχει) and directs all (κυβερναν), however, it seems that the notion of κυβερναν. Should be treated not metaphorically, but analogically to the role of law in “polis”. Thus, philosophy and politics are intertwined with each other already in the conceptions of the first Greek philosophers.

  • Issue Year: 2006
  • Issue No: 24
  • Page Range: 259-281
  • Page Count: 23
  • Language: Polish