Ancient Greek Conceptions of “Laws of Nature”: A Reassessment

Abstract

This study challenges the long-standing claim that ancient Greek thinkers lacked a conception equivalent to “laws of nature.” By closely examining selected passages from Plato, Aristotle, Philo of Alexandria, Nicomachus of Gerasa, and Galen, the paper demonstrates that several Greek authors not only articulated such ideas but explicitly employed terminology corresponding to “laws of nature.” These occurrences appear within two major intellectual lineages: the Platonic tradition and the diverse currents of ancient Pythagoreanism. Texts featuring arithmetical doctrines, numerical cosmology, or medical explanations contain explicit references to laws of nature, revealing that Greek authors occasionally framed natural regularities in rule-like or law-like terms. Particularly significant are Nicomachus’ formulations, which ascribe mathematical, universal, and necessary characteristics to these laws features typically sought in modern histories tracing the emergence of the scientific concept of natural law. The analysis raises the possibility that these Greek formulations may have contributed, directly or indirectly, to medieval and early modern developments, including those influencing figures such as Kepler and Newton. Overall, the findings overturn the prevailing narrative by showing that the concept of “laws of nature” was not absent from Greek antiquity but emerged within philosophical contexts rooted in Platonic and Pythagorean thought.