Great Philosophers: 5 Minute Philosophy No.1: Thales of Miletus: First of the Seven Sages.

• published: 31 Jan 2015
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Great Philosophers - 5 Minute Philosophy No.1 - Thales of Miletus - First of the Seven Sages of Ancient Greece. Thales was one of the Seven Sages of early Greek history according to Plato and one of the first to be named a Sage. Although nothing he wrote survives, others such as the famous Greek Historian Herodotus and the philosopher Aristotle and Eudemus ascribe to him the attribution of being the original contributor to science and history. He was also a statesman. He is said to have been the first to introduce the study of nature to the Greeks. He thought that the earth rested on a bed of water and that everything was made of water and that water is the main element which makes up the universe. He thought that everything comes from water and returns to water and was the first philosopher to think that there was an underlying element which made up all things. He thought that everything had a soul or was full of Gods. And some say he was the first to say that souls are immortal. Curiously he also though that inanimate and lifeless objects such as magnets and amber and even the world itself had souls. He was also thought by some to be the first Astronomer and the first person to accurately predict an eclipse of the sun down to the year it happened and the timing of the solstices. (Although this is disputed by modern scientists.) Some say he discovered the seasons of the year and divided the year into 365 days. And he was the first to call the last day of the month the 30th. It is also claimed by some writers that he was a Geometer and made some the following geometrical discoveries – “A circle is bisected by its diameter.” “Every isosceles triangle the angles at the base are equal.” When two straight lines intersect with one another the angles at the vertex are equal. A pair of triangles with one equal side and two equal angles are equal. And that he used this to determine the distance of ships out at sea. He is said to have measured the height of the pyramids in Egypt based on the length of their shadows – based on observing the tine of the day when shadows are the same height as us. It is said by some that he never married and when his mother pressed him to marry he said “It’s too early.” And later when he had passed his prime and she insisted again he said “It’s too late.” A story says that he assisted Croesus to ford across a river by diverting a river so that it flowed into two channels. This made the river lower and so allowed Croesus’s army to pass over it. He even said to have been humble and when he was awarded a tripod for being the wisest of all, he instead said that it should go to another philosopher. He used to say that he thanked Fortune for three things: 1. That he was a human and not a beast. 2. That he was a man and not a woman. 3. And that he was a Greek and not a foreigner. Famous things he said were: “God is the oldest thing for he is ungenerated.” “:The world is the most beautiful because it is God’s creation.” “Space is the greatest because it includes everything.” “Mind is the swiftest because it runs through everything.” “Necessity is the strongest because it controls everything.” “Time is the wisest because it discovers everything.” “He said life is no different from death. When someone asked him why don’t you kill yourself then? He said because it would make no difference.” The motto “Know Yourself” is attributed to him. And when asked what is most difficult, He said to “know oneself.” When asked What is most easy – To give advice to someone else. And what most pleasant “Success” He said the divine “Was that which has neither beginning nor end” It is said that he died of thirst and heat exhaustion while watching a gymnastic contest. On his tomb was engraved: “His tomb is small, his fame is heaven high: behold the grave of the wise and ingenious Thales.” Sources: Diogenes Laertius, “Lives of the Philosophers.” Proclus, “Commentary on Euclid.” Simplicius, “Commentary on the Physics.” Aristotle, “On the Soul.” Aristotle, “On the Heavens.” Aristotle, “Metaphysics.” Herodotus, “Histories.”