Dualism in Alcmaeon of Croton: some considerations

Abstract

Starting from the evidence that has come down to us, and after emphasising how a sort of dualistic conception can be identified in every aspect of the doctrines attributed to Alcmaeon, this article aims to reflect on the concept of dualism itself and its interpretation and application in ancient Greek thought, in order to highlight how Alcmaeon’s conception cannot be understood by referring exclusively to Pythagorean philosophy or its Aristotelian interpretation, but is the mirror of an archaic yet enduring mentality, rooted in the relationship that the subject establishes with his surroundings. I will therefore examine the Greek conception of number, reflecting also on the existence and meaning of the grammatical category of the dual, which in many ancient languages – including, in addition to Greek, Sanskrit and Old Slavonic – distinguishes the set of two from the singular and the plural; I will also focus on the concept of the relationship between two quantities or entities as fundamental to the understanding of reality. I will also mention Jung’s interpretation of the idea of duality and the role of the binary system in representing the world in the digital environment.