Thales of Miletus

Q: Who was Thales of Miletus?

Thales of Miletus is regarded as the First Philosopher of ancient Greece, the first of the Pre-Socratic Philosophers, and the inventor of Greek Mathematics.

Q: What is Thales of Miletus known for?

Thales of Miletus is known as the first philosopher to ask "what is the basic stuff of the universe?" and to pursue a course of enquiry into the First Cause of creation.

Q: What is Thales of Miletus' main theory?

Thales of Miletus' main theory is that the First Cause of the Universe is water. When cooled, water becomes a solid (ice), when heated it becomes a vapor (air), it provides life to aquatic creatures and humans and therefore is a strong contender for the First Cause. Later philosophers rejected this claim.

Q: Did Thales of Miletus believe in the gods?

Thales of Miletus claimed that all things were imbued with "gods" but what he meant by this statement is unclear. He never explicitly denied the existence of the gods in his extant writings.

Joshua J. Mark

Thales of Miletus

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Definition

Thales of Miletus (l. c. 585 BCE) is regarded as the first Western philosopher and mathematician. He was born and lived in Miletus, a Greek colony in Ionia (modern Turkey) referenced as the birthplace of Greek Philosophy because of his high standing as the First Philosopher, a title given him by later Greek writers on the subject.

More about: Thales of Miletus

Timeline

c. 585 BCE
Time in which Thales of Miletus lived.
28 May 585 BCE
A battle between Media and Lydia broke off immediately as a result of a total eclipse of the sun and the two armies made peace. The eclipse was successfully predicted by Thales of Miletus.

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