A Possible Nullification of the Nullification of the Value of Beings

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Published: Mar 25, 2020
DOI: https://doi.org/10.12681/ethiki.22649
Keywords:
Applied Ethics; Value of Being; Pre-Socratic Philosophy; Platonic Ontology; Ecological Ethics; Sophist (Dialogue); Unity of Beings; Power (Dynamis)
Maria Frangiadaki
Abstract

This article explores the philosophical concept of the "value of being" by tracing the influences of Pre-Socratic and Classical Greek thought on modern Applied Ethics. The author addresses the contemporary "nullification" of value caused by extreme scientific specialization, corruption, and the ecological crisis, which have fragmented the unified understanding of life. Central to the analysis is a systematic examination of the concept of "being" as defined by Pre-Socratic thinkers—such as Thales, Anaximander, and Heraclitus—and its evolution in Plato's Sophist. The author highlights Plato's innovative definition of being as "power" (dynamis), which serves as a reconciliatory bridge between materialist and idealist perspectives. Ultimately, the paper advocates for a deontological principle that "all beings have value," proposing a return to an integrative ontological framework to restore a harmonious relationship between humanity and the environment.

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