Nietzsche and Eternal Recurrence by Bevis E. McNeil

Author:Bevis E. McNeil
Language: eng
Format: epub, pdf
ISBN: 9783030552961
Publisher: Springer International Publishing

2.4.5 Cosmologies of Eternal Recurrence, Thermodynamics and the Conservation of Energy

Long argues that the Stoic cosmology is “a system in which the basic model for understanding all natural processes is drawn from the vital functions of living beings. The heat or energy which accounts for their life is assumed to be only one manifestation of a cosmic heat or energy, endowed with intelligence and supreme organising power.”253 So the “‘designing fire’ is the vital principle in living things, and [it is the sustaining power] throughout all nature…Since god and matter are everlasting and always conjoined, the universe never ceases to possess vital heat.”254 This is because energy is conserved in the process, just as it is in Nietzsche’s cosmological doctrine of eternal recurrence.

However, although there was evidence of Platonic precedents to the Stoics’ biologically-orientated cosmology, it was the Stoics who, through being inspired by Heraclitus, turned “vital heat or fire into a principle which is far closer to elementary thermodynamics than to anything resembling a fire that burns”, where there is a continuous transformation of heat and the conservation of energy.255 This notion of heat continuously changing and transforming, and of the infinite process of cosmos formation and its destruction eternally repeating itself, was strongly influenced by Heraclitus and has similarities to Nietzsche’s unique interpretation of Dionysianism – which promotes a continuous cycle of life and death and of procreation and destruction – with energy being conserved in the process.

The physics of Stoic cosmology, by focusing on rigorously balanced transformations, “suggests something analogous to the conservation of energy” taking place, which has favourable comparisons with both Heraclitus’ and Nietzsche’s cosmologies of recurrence.256 Energy is conserved and recycled in the endless process of cosmos formation and conflagration. We can relate the ‘thermodynamic’ aspects of the Stoics’ cosmologies to the process of conflagration. The conflagration is “an essential component of the Stoics’ conception of material transformations. More specifically, the Stoics argued that there must come a time when celestial fire, which feeds off terrestrial moisture, will dry up and consume the earth.”257

Long explains that “This process leads to a vast expansion of the world, with gravitational attractions…being relaxed, and void space outside the world coming to be occupied.”258 There is vast diffusion of ‘pure energy’ – similar to what Nietzsche calls ‘centres of force’.259 This is reflected in “Chrysippus’ suggestion that the state of things at the conflagration is incandescent, a change into light.”260 As Philo of Alexandria observes:At the conflagration the world…must either change into flame, as Cleanthes thought, or into light, as Chrysippus supposed.261

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