Abstract:
Heraclitus’ fragment B 52 DK defines aiṓn (time, life, or lifetime) as a playing child. But what is being played? The usual interpretations debase the heraclitic play, listing this fragment among those that criticize the faulty knowledge of mankind. Against these, I propose a philological analysis to better identify and understand what is being played in B 52, in the belief that it is not a childish play, but a serious game that resounds with cosmic and civic metaphors.
Keywords:
Game; Heraclitus; Greek philosophy