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Anaxagoras is a pre-Socratic philosopher whom Homunculus consults about achieving a proper existence. In contrast to Thales, Anaxagoras believes that nature was created violently, by fire and volcanic explosion (a theory called Vulcanism). He encourages Homunculus to become a king of a mountain, but Homunculus instead follows Thales to the sea.
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Anaxagoras Character Timeline in Faust
The timeline below shows where the character Anaxagoras appears in Faust. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
Part 2: Act 2: The Pharsalian Fields
Homunculus tells Mephistopheles that he’s on the trail of two pre-Socratic philosophers, Anaxagoras and Thales, from whom he hopes to learn about Nature, real existence, and the wisest...
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Anaxagoras and Thales enter, arguing about the creation of the mountain on which the Pygmies have...
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...a black cloud of cranes is menacing the Pygmies on their mountain, avenging the herons. Anaxagoras, who has always praised the subterranean powers, now begs the moon to relieve the distress...
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