Thales was born in Miletus, in Ionia, Asia Minor. in around 620 BC.
This was before Socrates, Plato & Aristotle
Aristotle regarded him as the first Western Philosopher (in the Greek Tradition).
In addition he was an amazing mathematician & astronomer.
He is often referred to as the Father of Science.
He is credited for beginning the move away from using mythology to explain the world.
Thales believed that the universe was made of water.
Or more specifically, that the original nature of matter was the substance, water.
Though this is wrong, he was trying to uncover a unifying substance.
Something rational that united everything.
Just asking the question " what is the universe made of? " was a huge step.
He was the first astronomer to predict a solar eclipse.
There were many astronomers who in the past had gathered data about the stars, but he used this
to forecast an astronomical event. (solar eclipse of May 28, 585 BC.)
This eclipse is named in his honor.
Historians today know when this battle occurred because they can accurately
calculate the dates of historical eclipses.
Isaac Asimov called the prediction "the birth of
science".
+ Philosophy index
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