Thales of Miletus: Ancient Greek Philosopher Series
Thales of Miletus, 620-546 BC, was an ancient Greek philosopher, mathematician, scientist, and statesman. He was extremely influential both during and after his time through his work in cosmology and mathematics.
In fact, Thales’ legacy survives solely due to the writings of other Greek scholars such as Aristotle and Herodotus, despite his own works not surviving.
His accomplishments include mathematical advancements such as geometric theorems, advising navigator’s routes, judging distances from ships to shores, and even possibly predicting an eclipse.
The ancient Greek maxim “Know thyself,” which was inscribed on the temple of Apollo at Delphi, is attributed to various philosophers including the Seven Wise Men, however, it is most likely the saying of Thales.
Also, Thales was the first person to truly question and explore the nature of everything’s building blocks, theorizing that everything was made from water. He attempted to explain natural phenomena through means of science rather than leaving it to myth and religion (for example, when thunder and lightning struck, Greeks attributed the noise and bolts to Zeus’ anger). This earned Thales the title of “the founder of the school of natural philosophy.”
Even though many have not heard of Thales, his work that is easily overlooked significantly influenced the great, more well known scholars who came after him, such as Plato, Aristotle, and Socrates.
Bibliography
Why Ancient Greek Philosophers Are The Greatest Thinkers To Have Graced This Earth
Thales of Miletus | Biography & Facts