Presocratics

Question 1

Who is attributed to be the first philosopher?

Answer 1

Thales

Question 2

When was Thales Born?

Answer 2

Thales was said to be born in 625 BCE.

Question 3

When did Thales predict the eclipse?

Answer 3

585 BCE

Question 4

How was the date of Thales birth calculated?

Answer 4

Apollodorus assumed a man was 40 at the time of his acme. Therefore, it was assumed that Thales was 40 during the eclipse.

Question 5

What was Thales’ notion of Arche?

Answer 5

Water

Question 6

What did Thales say about Earth’s place in the cosmos?

Answer 6

Thales reportedly said that the earth rests or floats on water.

Question 7

Why did Thales think magnets have souls?

Answer 7

Thales thought that the soul produced motion. Therefore, because the loadstone (magnet) produces motion in iron, it must have a soul.)

Question 8

What was Anaximander’s notion of arche?

Answer 8

Anaximander’s notion of Arche was apeiron.

Question 9

What is Apeiron?

Answer 9

Anaximander considered apron to be eternal and deathless. Not an element but a sort of limitless. This word would later be thought of by the greeks as infinite.

Question 10

What was Anaximenes’ notion of Arche?

Answer 10

Anaximenes’ notion of archer was air. He said that air held up the earth. When contracted air would get cold and when rarified it would get hotter.

Question 11

Who were the Mileasians?

Answer 11

Thales, Anaximander, and Anaximenes

Question 12

When and where was Pythagoras born?

Answer 12

Pythagoras was born on the island of Samos in the Eastern Aegean some time around 570 BCE.

Question 13

What was the cosmology of Pythagoras?

Answer 13

Pythagoras believed in the transmigration of the soul. He also believed that the entire universe was harmonious and therefore knowable though number.

Question 14

What are the basic points of Milesian Philosophy

Answer 14

• Ideas about Arche (first principles)

- Does not appeal to the muses. Instead appeals to thought.

Question 15

According to Anaximander, why does the earth not move?

Answer 15

Because, it is equidistant from all of its fellow cosmic bodies.

Question 16

Why did Anaximander believe that human had to have come from a simpler animal?

Answer 16

Because a human baby was incapable of taking care of itself.

Question 17

Who were the Akhousmatikoi?

Answer 17

The Akhousmatikoi concerned themselves with the teachings of Pythagoras. They did not develop his ideas but rather accepted them to be the best.

Question 18

Who were the Mathematikoi

Answer 18

The Mathematikoi were pythagoreans that were well known for their skills in mathematics, astronomy, philosophy and music. They followed the teachings of Pythagoras but believed that they could be both developed and improved..

Question 19

What were Xenophones views on god?

Answer 19

Believed that there was a supreme creator but that it did not communicate with humans. Also believed in reincarnation.

Question 20

What were Xenophanes view on the greek gods?

Answer 20

He mocked their immoral tendencies.

He didn’t believe that gods had bodily forms.

Question 21

What does Zeno say about the unlimited?

Answer 21

Zeno argues that the unlimited cannot be.

Question 22

What are the first three of Zeno’s paradoxes of motion.

Answer 22

1. Motion is impossible, as moving from point A to point B involves closing half the distance. Because there is always half a distance to cross, B is never reached.
2. Achilles is the fastest and races a tortoise. The tortoise gets a head start. Every time Achilles closes the distance between him and the tortoise, the tortoise has moved ahead.
3. Arrows are not moving at any one time. Therefore, arrows cannot move.

Question 23

What does Parmenides say about Dogma?

Answer 23

Doxa (dogma) is inherently untrustworthy