Thales of Miletus: Father of Philosophy

Biography

Thales of Miletus, born around 624 BC in the ancient Greek city of Miletus in Ionia, is often regarded as the first philosopher in Western history. He was also one of the seven sages of Greece. Thales is credited with breaking away from mythological explanations of the world and forming ideas based on natural phenomena and reason. He traveled to Egypt and Babylon, which influenced his thinking and knowledge in geometry and astronomy.

Philosophy

Thales is most notable for his belief that water is the fundamental substance underlying all things – a philosophical concept known as monism. He theorized that every living thing was connected to water, asserting that it was the source of life. This idea represented a significant shift in thought from mythological explanations of creation to philosophical and observational reasoning.

Contributions

Thales made numerous contributions across several domains:

• Mathematics: Thales is often credited with introducing geometry to the Greeks. He is known for several geometric principles, such as the concept of similar triangles and the formula for the area of a triangle.
• Astronomy: He was one of the first to propose that celestial bodies had physical properties and behaviors governed by natural laws, including predicting a solar eclipse in 585 BC.
• Natural Philosophy: Thales is considered the first philosopher because of his belief in rational principles governing the universe, laying the groundwork for scientific thought.

Legacy

Thales' ideas and methodologies have influenced countless thinkers throughout history. His emphasis on rationality and observation paved the way for subsequent philosophers such as Anaximander and Anaximenes, and ultimately laid foundational ideas for modern science and philosophy. Today, Thales is often taught in school curriculums as a figure who carved a new direction in human thought.