Ancient Philosophy Questions
The concept of arche in Presocratic philosophy refers to the fundamental principle or element that is believed to be the origin or foundation of all things in the universe. It is the underlying substance or force that gives rise to the diversity and changes observed in the natural world. Different Presocratic philosophers proposed different archai, such as Thales' water, Anaximander's boundless, or Heraclitus' fire. The concept of arche reflects the Presocratics' attempt to understand the nature of reality and the ultimate source of existence.