Heraclitus's Logos and Aquinas's Proof of God's Existence

Mythos and Logos: Contrasting Philosophical Concepts

The terms Mythos and Logos designate distinct types of discourse. Mythos refers to a particular form of speech that narrates stories of the gods and foundational myths. In contrast, Logos signifies explained and demonstrated speech, rooted in reason.

The word "Logos" itself holds a broad meaning, encompassing concepts such as "account" (telling), "reason," and "calculation." In philosophical discourse, "Logos" is often generalized as a concept contrary to "Mythos." As science or philosophy, Logos represents knowledge founded on rational principles and empirical proof, often through deduction.

Heraclitus's Logos: Logic of Contradiction and Becoming

In Heraclitus's philosophy, however, "Logos" takes on a unique meaning, designating the logic of contradiction. For Heraclitus, Logos as thought is the profound discovery of reality's inherent contradictions and how all things and beings are in a constant state of becoming through these very contradictions.

Heraclitus, Fragment 30: The Ever-Living Fire

Heraclitus famously stated that the world, "the same for all, no one of gods or men has made, but it always was and is and will be: ever-living Fire, kindling in measures and going out in measures." This "ever-living Fire" represents the Logos, a principle of constant change and balanced transformation, where things "kindle in measures" (unifying into one) and "go out in measures" (diversifying into many).

Heraclitus, Fragment 1: The Dialectical Logos

Heraclitus's Fragment 1 further elaborates on the Logos as the underlying reason for all occurrences. It is the principle that determines the essential nature of all beings, always present yet often unnoticed by humans, even after hearing it. All things occur according to this reason, yet many seem to lack understanding, even when experiencing it. Just as one distinguishes and explains the "mode-of-being" (physis) of each item while awake, and forgets it while sleeping, the Logos operates, distinguishing and interacting. This concept forms the core of Heraclitus's dialectical philosophy, where things are distinguished from each other while simultaneously interacting.

St. Thomas Aquinas: The Second Way to God's Existence

St. Thomas Aquinas's Second Way, a proof for the existence of God, is based on the concept of efficient causality.

In the observable world of the senses, we find a clear order among efficient causes. However, we do not find anything that is its own efficient cause, as this would require it to exist prior to itself, which is logically impossible.

One cannot infinitely regress in a series of efficient causes. In any series of subordinate efficient causes, the existence of later causes depends on earlier ones. If the first cause were removed, all subsequent effects would also be suppressed.

Therefore, if the series of efficient causes were prolonged indefinitely, there would be no first efficient cause, and consequently, no ultimate effect or intermediate efficient causes. This outcome is demonstrably false, as we observe effects and intermediate causes in the world.

Thus, there must exist a First Efficient Cause, which everyone calls God.