Μέγιστον τόπος· ἅπαντα γὰρ χωρεῖ
"Place is the greatest thing, as it contains all things."
-Thales of Miletus
Thales is a great place to start when discussing philosophy in general, for many reasons. He was inquisitive, intelligent, and purposeful and overall Thales is an amazing historical figure. He studied politics, engineering, astronomy, and delved into the very nature (physis) of the phenomenal world. He measured the height of the pyramids in Egypt. He was even the first to describe the world and it's phenomena in purely cosmological terms instead of the commonplace explanation, Gods and Goddesses.
Aristotle called Thales the first philosopher and the founder of natural philosophy (Metaph. 983 621-622). This may be due to Aristotle's attempt to draw this philosophical lineage to himself. Thales was in search of the archê, the originating principle, which after through investigation he declared to be water. While in current terms this may not seem like much, Thales is marked as the creator of the scientific method and a foundation of our philosophical tradition.
It is not all glamorous, Thales also reportedly realized the idea of the immortal soul, if you can believe Diogenes the Cynic. Thales also has some amazing quotes attributed to him;
"The past is certain, the future obscure."
"A multitude of words is no proof of a prudent mind."
Points of Thought:
- Is there, in fact, an archê? What is it? Where can you find it?
- Do you agree with this phrase? "What is the divine? That which had no origin and no end."
