Early Greek Philosophy: From Thales to Metaphysics
The Beginning of Philosophy
The beginnings of philosophy are generally traced back to sixth-century Greece. Several factors contributed to its emergence in this particular place and time. Greek society enjoyed a higher level of development compared to its contemporaries. A stable economy meant that Greeks did not have to constantly worry about food shortages or other subsistence problems. Relieved of this burden, they had time to ponder the fundamental questions of existence and the nature of the world around them.
Up until this point, everything was explained through mythology and the actions of gods. For example, lightning was attributed to the god Zeus. However, unlike in Egypt, where a powerful priesthood held sway, Greek culture, while connected to mythology, lacked a rigid priestly class. This fostered greater freedom of expression. While the Greeks and Egyptians engaged in trade and cultural exchange, the strong influence of priests in Egypt hindered the pursuit of explanations beyond the realm of the gods.
Early philosophers were known as “Sophos” which in Latin means “wise persons.” They were the individuals people turned to when faced with problems of any kind. The first philosopher is considered to be Thales of Miletus. Based on his studies, he was the first to assert that not everything could be explained through myth. He believed that by studying nature, one could learn a great deal about the world. People began to follow his ideas, and it was then that the dominance of myth began to wane, giving way to the “logos,” which represents light, thought, and knowledge. His motto could be summarized as:
“Seek the explanation of natural phenomena in nature itself.”
That is why the followers of Thales are called “physis,” which in Latin means “nature.” Some of his notable followers include Anaximenes and Anaximander.
Homer, Hesiod, and the Oral Tradition
Homer wrote the Iliad and the Odyssey.
The aoidos (bards) created stories and had to earn a living through their performances.
The rhapsodes collected stories they had heard and recounted them from village to village to earn money.
Homer’s contribution was to weave all these stories together and compose his epic works.
Hesiod was the first to write about the gods in his work, Theogony.
Apocrypha: If a respected figure was said to have uttered something, it was considered important, regardless of its actual origin. People would take advantage of the authority of others to impose their own thoughts.
Democracy and the Rise of Philosophical Thought
Democracy began in Athens during this period.
Arche: The fundamental principle or underlying substance of nature.
Pythagoras and His Followers
Pythagoras: Focused on numbers (music), the soul (transmigration from body to body), and established sects.
They strived for perfection and sought to achieve “enthusiasm” (resembling Zeus). The qualities of Zeus are immutability and perfection.
Enthusiasm: Associated with a “sacred orgy” (culmination of pleasure, leading to a state of oblivion), mania (madness), and metempsychosis (transmigration of the soul).
Parmenides, Zeno, and the Nature of Being
Parmenides of Elea “opposed” Heraclitus.
Zeno of Elea was a student of Parmenides.
Parmenides wrote “The Poem of the Goddess.” In it, the goddess is led to the sun’s daughters (Heliades). As the doors open, the goddess appears, and the daughters of the sun remove their veils, revealing themselves as goddesses. The goddess advises against following the path of mortals (Doxa = Opinion) and instead urges the pursuit of the path of “On” (eternal, perfect, and immutable). On = Being.
“Being is and cannot not be, and non-being cannot be.” This principle forms the foundation of much of later philosophy.
Metaphysics
Metaphysics is considered the most important part of philosophy.