The First Principle
One Idea to Anchor Every Book You Read
One thing I’ve been loving about the early Greek philosophers is that they can each be identified with a first principle. This overarching principle is usually an element or idea that underlies their entire philosophy. Here are some first principle examples:
Heraclitus - fire
Thales - water
Parmenides - being
Democritus - atoms & void
The Greek word for this first principle is arche and it also has the meaning of beginning or origin. It can relate to not only the ruling principle, but also the ruling power. Our English words for Monarchy and Oligarchy encompass ruling power while archaic highlights ancient origins.
I’m constantly experimenting with ways to better remember what I read. One practice that has helped tremendously in this endeavor is to try to remember one thing from each book that I read. Being able to tie each early Greek philosopher to a first principle as a one thing has been very helpful in recalling other parts of their philosophy. If Democritus believed atoms were the foundation of all things material, that has ramifications that help explain other parts of his philosophy.
I’ve also begun considering first principles in other books that I read. It’s a fun thought exercise. I start each year reading straight through the Bible. If I were narrow down the entire Bible into a first principle, it’d be love. The entire book hinges on love. It’s quite a contrast to the power-hungry Greek pantheon. Love is not their first principle.
There was one early Greek philosopher who also spoke of love. His name was Empedocles. His first principle was a set of four roots (earth, water, air, fire) driven by love or strife. He was using the term philia for love whereas agape is primarily used in the New Testament. From my reading, he appears to be the only early Greek philosopher who hinted at love being a driving part of his first principle.
What is the first principle of the book you are currently reading?
What is your first principle?
Hey Erik! Great question and something that has been front and center to me as I have worked through CS Lewis’s works with the Landmark Lewis Bookclub. Lewis likes to put things in order, including LOVE. And, ordering Love of God above all helps me love others better. I have realized I believe God is Love and in loving ourselves and others we find an experience unlike any other experience that is the closest thing I can approximate to an experience of coming to know God.
As far as Lewis goes, he often talks of this natural longing we all experience that only God can fill. And I naturally think to myself it’s really Love filling that longing. That I can fill that “hole” if you will when I love my spouse, my kiddos with that deep unconditional love. But really I have to love God first. What a shame it would be to forget our creator who gave us this Eden of Earth, our life and our fellow humans and this ability to love. And our job as humans is to extend that deep love to God and others. I fail often but every day is a new opportunity to try again!
I am currently reading St. Augustines, City of God. I would say that the title is as close to the first principle of the work. There is a lot packed into the phrase, 'City of God'.
As for me, this is not a question, as it is stated, that I have given much thought too. I would agree that God is definitely my first principle. But in what way I don't know yet. God is love, that is probably a good first principle. Let me get back to you after I have given it some thought.