Important Schools In The Presoccratic Period

IMPORTANT SCHOOLS IN THE PRESOCCRATIC PERIOD: 1. Milesian School The first Pre-Socratic philosophers were in the city of Miletus, along the west coast of Anatolia (modern Turkey), from Miletus came three important Pre-Socratic philosophers, namely Thales, Anaximander, and Anaximenes. Thales One of the most important Pre-Socratic philosophers was Thales who lived between 624 and 546 BC. Thales claimed the arche, or single element, was water. Thales determined that water can undergo principles of change such as evaporation and condensation, therefore making it possible to become gaseous or solid. He also knew that water was responsible for moisture (from which heat is produced) and food. Thales even believed the earth floated on water. Anaximander Following Thales, the next great philosopher to drop out of the Milesian school was Anaximander, who lived between 610 – 546 BC. Unlike Thales, Anaximander claimed that the single elements were actually undefined, and unfinite substances known as apeiron. From here, such contradictions as damp and dry, cold and hot are separated from each other. Anaximander is known as the first philosopher to leave his work in writing. Anaximenes The last Pre-Socratic philosophers of the milesian school were Anaximenes who lived between 585 - 528 BC. Anaximenes believed that a single element is air. According to Anaximenes, air is everywhere and has the ability to undergo processes and transform into other things, such as water, clouds, wind, fire, and even the earth. 2. The Pythagorean School The philosopher Pythagoras lived between 570 - 497 BC, this philosopher is famous for the Pythagorean theorem named after him. Pythagoras believed that the basis of all reality is mathematical relations and that it is mathematics that governs everything. For Pythagoras, the number was sacred and white, everything was measurable and predictable. The impact and imagery of Pythagoras is astonishing. His school is like a cult, followers listen to every word, and even his strange rules, which include anything and what not to eat, how to dress, and even how to urinate. Pythagoras philosophized in many fields, and his disciples believed that his teachings were prophecies of the gods. 3. Ephesians School The school of Ephesians is based on the work of one man, Heraclitus who lived between 535 - 475 BC. Heraclitus believed that everything in nature is constantly changing, or in a state of flux. Heraclitus is perhaps best known for his idea that one cannot step on the same river twice. Heraclitus believed that a single element is fire and that everything is a manifestation of fire. 4. Eleatic School The Eleatic school is based in Colophon, an ancient city not far from Miletus. From this region emerged four important Pre-Socratic philosophers, namely: Xenophanes, Parmenides, Zeno, and Melissus. Xenophanes Xenophanes (570 - 475 BC) is known for his interest in religion and mythology. In particular, he attacked the notion that the gods were anthropomorphic (or human). Xenophanes believed there was one god which, although not physically moving, has the ability to hear, see, and think, and control the word with his mind. Permenides of Elea Permenides (510 - 440 B.C.) believed that reality has nothing to do with the world experienced and that it is only through reason, then one will be able to arrive at the truth. Parmenides concluded that the work of earlier philosophers was not only incomprehensible, they also posed the wrong question. For Parmenides, it doesn't make sense to discuss what exists and what doesn't, because the only thing that can be understood to discuss, and the only thing that is true, is what (what is). Parmenides had a tremendous impact on Plato and all western philosophy. His work made the Elea School the first movement to use pure reason as the only criterion for finding the truth. Zeno of Elea Zeno (490-430 BC) was Parmenides' most famous student (and perhaps his lover), who devoted his time to creating arguments (known as paradoxes) that defended Parmendides' ideas. In Zeno, the most famous paradox is the paradox of motion. He is trying to show that ontological pluralism, the idea that many things exist as opponents, will actually lead to absurd conclusions. Parmenides and Zeno believed that reality exists as a single thing, and that things like plurality and motion are nothing more than illusions. Although Zeno's work will later be debunked, its paradox still raises important questions, challenges, and inspiration for philosophers, physicists, and mathematicians. Melissus of Samos Melissus of Samos, who lived around 440 BC, was the last philosopher of the Eleatic School. Continuing the ideas of Parmenides and Zeno. Melissus distinguishes between the visible. When something is X, according to Melissus, it should always be X (and never not X). Therefore, according to this idea, when something is cold, it will never stop being cold. But since this is not the case, and the traits are not maintained indefinitely, nothing (except for permanent reality, reality that exists as a thing that is continuous and unchanging). 5. Atomist School The Atomist School, started by Leucippus in the fifth century BC. and passed on to his disciple Democritus (460-370 BC). Democritus believed that every physical object is made up of atoms and voids (empty spaces where atoms move) that are arranged in different ways. This idea is not too far from the concept of the atom as we know it today. This school believes that atoms are inevitable small particles (so small that they cannot be cut in half) that differ in size, shape, motion, arrangement, and position, and that when put together, these atoms create what is visible to the visible eye of the world.