The Foundations of Heraclitus' Criticism of Poets

This article examines the main reason for Heraclitus’ criticism of poets. In this way, we first make a brief reference to the principles of Heraclitus’ views and then, we study his manner of expression, attaching this enigmatic method of expression to his pivotal view of language. From this perspective, language is at least one of the meanings that Heraclitus refers to in his application of the concept of the Logos. And thus, contemplating the language and the exploration of the facilities of the language, in his view, is a way to attain wisdom and grasping the truth of the world. Based on this interpretation and based on this conclusion, we will examine some fragments as case study in which Heraclitus criticized poets such as Homer and Hesiod. In this study, we will show that this criticism can also be considered essentially based on Heraclitus’ view of language; i.e. Although the application of language is the main substance and essence of the art of poetry, Heraclitus insinuates in various ways that poets are unable to comprehend the essence and profundity of language and, in other words, are unable to solve the enigma of language, the enigma that requires the content of harmony and accommodation of contradictions. Therefore, it can be said that Heraclitus’ aim in criticizing poets is to try to exclude those who can be considered as rivals for him in the field of language comprehension.