Law and Humanities
Quarterly Reviews
ISSN 2827-9735
Published: 26 May 2023
Learning from Heraclitus to Better Understand Genocidal Regimes
Anil Singh Matoo
University of Bristol, United Kingdom
Download Full-Text Pdf
10.31014/aior.1996.02.02.60
Pages: 64-77
Keywords: Heraclitus, Martin Heidegger, Legal Philosophy, Genocide, International Criminal Law
Abstract
This article will argue that from Heraclitus’ writings on fire, we can better appreciate how genocidal regimes use it against a target population. In doing so, I am not arguing that I have presented the proper reading of Heraclitus’ thoughts. Rather, I have tried to approach the available Fragments in a way whereby we can learn from Heraclitus about the potentially genocidal dangers and consequences of fire. To do this, I will approach Heraclitus’ Fragments through a framework provided by Martin Heidegger. Ultimately, I will argue that from Heraclitus’ thoughts we can better comprehend how tyrannical regimes utilise fire to exact genocides.
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