Thales Flashcards
Thales’ Birthplace?
Miletus, an Ionian city on the western coast of modern-day Turkey.
When did Thales live?
He lived in the 6th century BC.
What was Thales known for?
He is considered the first philosopher and a member of the ‘Seven Sages’ of Greece.
Why was Miletus important for philosophy?
It was a wealthy trading city, exposed to ideas from Egypt and the East.
What economic activity made Miletus wealthy?
The export of high-quality wool across the Mediterranean.
What natural event did Thales allegedly predict?
A solar eclipse in 585 BC, possibly using Babylonian astronomical tables.
Did Thales travel outside of Greece?
Possibly—some sources suggest he traveled to Egypt.
What was Thales’ main philosophical claim?
That water is the fundamental principle (arche) of everything.
Why did Thales believe everything comes from water?
He observed water’s importance for life and its ability to transform (evaporation, condensation, etc.).
What was Thales’ cosmological view?
He believed the Earth floats on water, like a piece of wood.
What practical knowledge did Thales have?
He had expertise in astronomy, navigation, engineering, and economics.
What is the story of Thales and the olive presses?
He predicted a good olive harvest, monopolized olive presses, and made a fortune.
What does the olive press story show about Thales?
That he was not just a thinker but also a practical and shrewd businessman.
What is the story of Thales falling into a well?
Plato tells of Thales falling into a well while looking at the stars, emphasizing the stereotype of philosophers as absent-minded.
What political idea did Thales propose?
He urged Ionian cities to unite against external threats, but they failed to do so.
What happened to Miletus after Thales’ time?
It fell under Persian control a few decades later.
Why is Thales considered the first philosopher?
He sought rational explanations for natural phenomena rather than relying on mythology.
What did Thales believe about magnets and amber?
He thought they had souls because they could cause motion.
What is the famous quote attributed to Thales?
‘All things are full of gods.’
How do we know about Thales’ ideas?
Through later sources like Aristotle, who sometimes interpreted them through his own theories.
Did Thales write any books?
It is uncertain, but some sources claim he wrote a book on navigation.
What separates Thales from earlier Greek thought?
His ideas were based on observation and reasoning rather than mythology or divine intervention.
