On the Principle of Cold

Plutarch. Plutarchi Chaeronensis Moralia, Vol V. Vernardakēs, Grēgorios N., editor. Leipzig: Teubner, 1893.

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This treatise is a philosophical and scientific inquiry into the nature of "coldness" and which of the primary elements serves as its first principle. The author begins by arguing that cold is not merely the absence of heat, but an active power (dynamis) with its own distinct essence, as evidenced by its physical effects on the body. He then systematically examines which of the four elements is the primary source of cold, contrasting the theories that favor air, water, and ultimately earth. Throughout the work, various natural phenomena, such as freezing, seasonal habits, and the temperature of well water, are analyzed alongside quotes from earlier philosophers like Empedocles. The author demonstrates that coldness is closely related to weight, density, and the freezing power inherent in the earth. In the end, rather than dogmatically deciding on a single definitive answer, he encourages his interlocutor Favorinus to maintain a suspension of judgment (epoche).