Philosophy 15

 Philosopher 1

Name: Thales of Miletus - Greek Philosopher - (624 to 546 BCE)

Branch: Metaphysics

Approach: Monism

Thales is credited with being one of the first to explain the world through natural causes rather than relying on mythology. This marked a crucial shift in thinking, paving the way for a more philosophical and scientific approach to understanding the universe.

Aristotle, a major influence in Western philosophy, hailed Thales as the "first philosopher" because he sought a fundamental, natural explanation for everything. This concept of a single underlying principle for all of reality became a central theme in philosophical inquiry.

Thales is considered the founder of the Milesian school of thought, which focused on natural explanations for the world. This school laid the groundwork for later philosophers like Anaximander and Anaximenes who further developed ideas about the cosmos.

By proposing that water was the basic element of everything, Thales challenged traditional beliefs and encouraged a more inquisitive approach to the world. This emphasis on questioning and seeking rational explanations became a hallmark of philosophical thought.

“Although we know that Thales was born and lived in Miletus… we know very little about his life. None of his writings… have survived. However his reputation as one of the key early Greek thinkers seems deserved, and he is referred to in some detail by both Aristotle and Diogenes Laertius, the 3rd-century biography of the ancient Greek philosophers.” (Buckingham 23)

Work Cited

Buckingham, Will. The Philosophy Book: Big Ideas Simply Explained. DK, 2011.

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