Lecture II-V

This is expressed in the myth of Prometheus;[^1] it is expressed so tragically in the drama of Aeschylus[^2] when Io, who has become insane, appears to Prometheus. Io represents the old clairvoyant consciousness that, in this fourth epoch, could no longer appear in normal states of consciousness but only in a state of madness. Science in the modern sense did not yet exist in the earliest times of our culture. Only gradually did the human being become a seeker in that science which can independently research the external world independently. For this reason something like science has only existed since Thales.[^3] It is an abstraction to speak of “oriental philosophy.” Those who began science with Thales were right: before them science was always inspired, born out of the mysteries. That was the case with Heraclitus,[^4] who was still inspired by ancient mystery wisdom. We are told that he placed his book on the altar of the goddess of Ephesus.