South African Society for Greek Philosophy and the HumanitiesManiatis, Y.N.2009-10-062009-10-062000Maniatis, YN 2000, 'Alteration and identity: Heraclitus, the earlier presocratics, and contemporary science', Phronimon, vol. 2, no. 1, pp. 189-204.1561-4018http://hdl.handle.net/2263/11430Appears in Phronimon, Volume 2 Number 1(2000)In this essay lexamine the theory of alteration and identity of the cosmos and the Being in the Presocratics, from Thales to Parmenides. We try to show that it was really Heraclitus, the first Presocratic philosopher, who invented this theory, which still echoes today in the most recent astrophysical theories on the universe.16 PagesenSouth African Society for Greek Philosophy and the HumanitiesAlterationContemporary scienceIdentity (Philosophical concept)Heraclitus, of Ephesus -- Criticism and interpretationPre-Socratic philosophersAstrophysics -- FormulaeArticle