The Meaning of φύσις in Early Greek Thought

The purpose of this article is to clarify the meaning/s of φύσις (nature) in Early Greek Thought by examining and analyzing its usages or the extant evidence in ancient Greek literature – whether it is philosophical or not. The importance of finding the meaning of words and the influences which it could have on avoiding making fallacies and fundamental misunderstandings is not trivial. Especially, when we deal with fragments, it can bring us nearer to the author/writer’s real intention. First, I briefly discuss the different interpretations which attribute a single meaning to φύσις. Then, based on primary sources, I show the semantic scope of φύσις and its several possible meanings. Here, I try to exactly translate and interpret the most important evidence of the usage of φύσις, considering their contexts. Finally, I reject that approach which attributes a single or limited meaning to φύσις.