Early Greek Philosophy: From Thales to Anaximenes
The Dawn of Philosophy in Miletus
Philosophy, meaning “love of knowledge” or “wisdom,” or the desire to know, began with a sense of wonder and curiosity about the world. This curiosity was expressed in fundamental questions: What are things really like? What substance underlies them? How do we understand the process of change?
The birth of philosophy is traditionally traced to Miletus, a city in the Aegean region, located opposite Athens on the western coast of Ionia in Asia Minor. The year 585 BC is considered a pivotal point, marking the beginning of philosophical inquiry. Miletus, a hub of trade and maritime wealth, provided a fertile ground for the development of both art and philosophy.
Myth and Logos
In earlier times, as seen in the works of Homer, gods were believed to punish humans and demand obedience. Hesiod, in the 3rd century BC, challenged this view, suggesting that the universe is ordered for the good of humanity, thus depriving capricious gods of their arbitrary power.
Myth: Homer, Hesiod
Logos (word, reason): Anaximander, Anaximenes
Two Philosophical Currents: Materialism and Idealism
The aim of philosophy is to explain the world, nature, and humanity. Two distinct concepts emerged:
- Materialism: A scientific conception that posits matter and nature as the cause of creation. It seeks to explain everything we see and touch through scientific study.
- Idealism: An unscientific perception that attributes the creation of the world to a divine entity. It proposes that spirit precedes matter.
Our feelings and perceptions guide us through the external world. The mind forms ideas about things; some ideas originate from our senses and relate to material objects, while others, like the concept of God, do not correspond to material ideas.
The Milesian Philosophers
Thales (624-546 BC)
Thales was renowned for his contributions to meteorology. He is credited with calculating the height of the pyramids, predicting a solar eclipse, and constructing an instrument to measure the distance of ships at sea.
Thales observed that despite the diversity of things, there is an underlying similarity. He proposed that all things are made of a single substance: water. He explained this theory by stating that “all things are nourished by moisture, and heat itself is generated from moisture and is preserved by it.” He reached this conclusion by observing that the seeds of all things are wet, and water is at the root of the humid nature of things.
Anaximander (610-546 BC)
Anaximander proposed that the primary substance from which everything originates is something undefined or limitless, which he called “apeiron.” He distinguished between specific, tangible things and their origin, the unknown primary substance. While real things are specific and finite, their origin is unknown and infinite.
Anaximander believed that this substance has eternal movement. As a result of this movement, specific elements separate from the original substance. Initially, hot and cold were separated, from which the wet derived, and subsequently, land and air. He attempted to explain celestial bodies and air currents around the Earth. Regarding the origin of humans, he affirmed that all life, including human life, originated in the sea and that, over time, all living things transitioned from the sea to dry land. Anaximander also posited the existence of multiple worlds and universes, all perishable and succeeding each other in their formation and destruction.
Anaximenes (585-528 BC)
Anaximenes identified air as the fundamental substance from which everything arises. Like Anaximander’s “apeiron,” air is unlimited and expands everywhere. However, unlike “apeiron,” air is a tangible, identifiable material substance. Although invisible, humans live within it and can breathe it.
Anaximenes introduced the idea that differences in quality are caused by differences in quantity. The expansion and contraction of air represent quantitative changes, and these changes in a single substance account for the multitude of different things. Expansion causes heat and ultimately fire, while contraction causes cold and the transformation into solids.