📑 · 11 answers · 1mo
apr. 23 '26 — 1 week! (see note)
hello all. I have news!
It is time for some Philosophy 101 Nonsense!
Do you see yourself as ever-changing? Whether you do or not, do you like the way you view yourself in this regard?
Heraclitus famously says "you cannot step twice into the same river". Meaning, as one could assume, the River is ever-changing, and life is about flow, and change.
Although, in reality, this is Plato's quoting. What Heraclitus actually said—"On those stepping into rivers staying the same other and other waters flow."—carries a bit of a different meaning.
Plato had said Heraclitus claims "all things change, and nothing stays". This adds up, reading Plato's misquote of his, but not so much with Heraclitus' actual word.
The point is clearer. It is not that all changes and nothing stays, but that the change of the "waters flow" is what keeps the river "staying the same". The river you step into is changing, yes, but it is in its nature, for it would not be a river without the changing water.
At least this is what I believe. Now, if you cared to read all of that, in addition to the original question, I ask: which way do you prefer thinking about it? (the world, or identity?) Would you prefer to think of the universal flux, all changing, or in the familiarity of change?
Note: It's been one week since i started asking stuff again. I'm not too big on milestones, but i figured a bit of self indulging is FINE. after all, um...who cares!
i love philosophy nonsense yay!
i do see myself as ever-changing, in fact im changing right now as i type this. the new stimuli, feelings, senses i experience in real-time adds up to the changes im experiencing within me all the time, i like to think. ohh this reminds me of the small discussion i had with someone else today !! it was also about change; more-so about how a character could develop within the stone prison theyre encased in, when they have no real stimuli except the feelings of others around him.. ok whatever it doesnt rlly matter right nyeow
i like to change certain aspects of myself as i engage with media, because exploring different options is fun! although, it does make me feel as though there isnt a real me sometimes. like, a real me that stays the same, that has real opinions that dont change so easily. but most of the time i think thats folly, because what are humans if not ever-changing and inquisitive amirite???
I think Heraclitus has also once said “Day by day, what you do is what you become.” why you change can be explained by this too perchance. all the new and old things you experience throughout your days makes you different from the person you were before it all. he also has a funny name
and yeah, i agree with your take on the quote a lot! the river stays the same because of the constant change, not despite it :> but i think your ‘true’ essence would not change much along with the rest of you, because its just in your nature. and you cant really get rid of that, i dont think.. unless you have an unreasonably long lifespan and can overcome your generational instincts, that is. the quote itself is really obscure, as is most of his sayings; maybe because nearly all of his work was lost and only short scraps were left for preservation.. shucks! but it does give you room for subjectivity :]
congrats on the milestone ! really kewl‼️
gosh i cant tell if this is sound or not its nearing 1am and imm gonna go too sleep zzzz
