Philosophers had for some time been contemplating the notion of opposites. Anaximander posited that every element had an opposite, or was connected to an opposite (water is cold, fire is hot). Sep 27, 2023 · Most people understand the word “opposite”, and there are some well known opposites – north/south, wet/dry – but what about those things that don’t have a clear-cut opposite? Nov 30, 2024 · This article seeks to clarify Hegel’s concept of the unity of opposites, critically assess its philosophical coherence, and evaluate its relevance to modern debates in philosophy and related... Apr 3, 2025 · In philosophy, the idea of opposites is central to metaphysical discussions on dualism and duality. Thinkers like Plato and Descartes proposed opposing concepts such as mind and body, good and evil, or reality and illusion, highlighting the tension and balance inherent in these dichotomies. In this essay I will define what Jung meant by the enantiodromia and consider its relation to the opposites. In Part II I will discuss one of Jung’s insights that my students have found surprising and In Part III I will consider another example of the enantiodromia that has provoked sober reflection. Sep 15, 2024 · It’s like our psyche is trying to achieve balance by seeking out our complementary opposite. This attraction of opposites can lead to relationships with complementary strengths. Think of the classic pairing of the dreamer and the pragmatist, or the social butterfly and the quiet intellectual. In Greek philosophy, the theory that everything is made out of the same basic stuff (e.g., the atomistic philosophy of the Ionians); the theory that there is literally only one thing (the Eleatic monism of Parmenides and his disciples).