Lesson 1.5: Pre-Socratic Philosophers Flashcards
the first to ask “what is the basic stuff of the universe?”
thales of miletus
what does “what is the basic stuff of the universe?” imply
what was the first cause of existence and from what element or force did everything else proceed
thales claimed that the underlying element of creation was
water
why did thales think that water is the first cause
because the first cause had to be a part of everything that ollowed
when water is heated it becomes
air (vapor)
when water is cooled it becomes
solid (ice)
when water is added to earth it becomes
mud
when mud (water) becomes dry, it becomes
solid again
under pressure, mud (water) could
move rocks
water at rest could
provide a habitat for other living things and was essential to life
an eternal
creative force bringing things into existence according to a natural, set pattern, destroying them and
recreating them in new forms.
apeiron
what does apeiron mean
“the the unlimited, indeterminate, and indefinite (ground/origin/principle)”
who developed apeiron
anaximander
what did anaximander think the underlying element/first cause was
nothing because all natural elements must have originated from an earlier source
who proposed air as the basic world principle
anaximenes
what did anaximenes believe the basic world principle was
air
what did anaximenes’ theory/thesis seem like at first
a step backwards from the more comprehensive (anaximander’s limitless) to the less comprehensive particular (thales’ water)
why did Anaximenes believe air was the basic world principle
air can be observed in many things and that many observable qualitative differences (fire, wind, water, earth) are the result of quantitative changes (how densely packed)
