Thales of Miletus

Summary

This session delves into the philosophical and scientific contributions of Thales of Miletus, a pre-Socratic philosopher from ancient Greece. Known as the first philosopher in the Western tradition, Thales introduced material monism, proposing water as the fundamental substance of the universe. His theories on natural phenomena, devoid of mythological explanations, laid the groundwork for scientific inquiry. Thales also made significant strides in mathematics, particularly in geometry, with his theorem on circles. His ideas on the cosmos, including the belief that all things are water, and his practical applications of geometry, exemplify his pioneering role in early Greek philosophy.

Takeaways

• 😀 Thales of Miletus is recognized as the first philosopher in the Western tradition and a key figure in the development of abstract thought.
• 🌟 Thales was a pre-Socratic philosopher who sought to explain the world through naturalistic and materialistic principles rather than relying on mythological explanations.
• 📚 He is often referred to as the first scientist due to his innovative approach to understanding the world through mathematics, astronomy, and philosophy.
• 🌍 Thales proposed that water was the fundamental substance of all things, a theory known as material monism, which was a significant departure from supernatural explanations.
• 🔍 He is credited with the observation that the Earth floats on water, a theory that was not disproved until the 18th century.
• 📏 Thales is known for his contributions to geometry, particularly for formulating what is now known as Thales' theorem regarding triangles inscribed in a circle.
• 🌐 His cosmological doctrine suggested that all things ultimately are water, and he believed that even celestial bodies like the Sun and stars are nourished by the evaporation of water.
• 🤔 Thales' philosophical approach was characterized by a curiosity and conjectural method, seeking rational and scientific explanations for natural phenomena.
• 🏛️ He was one of the seven sages of Greece, a group known for their wisdom, and was associated with the aphorism 'know thyself'.
• 📈 Thales' influence extended to his successors in the Milesian school, including Anaximander and Anaximenes, who continued to explore natural philosophy and the nature of the universe.

Q & A

Who is Thales of Miletus and why is he significant in the history of philosophy?

Thales of Miletus was an early pre-Socratic philosopher, mathematician, and astronomer, born around 624 BC in the Greek city of Miletus. He is considered one of the seven sages of Greece and is often regarded as the first philosopher in the Western tradition. Thales is significant because he was the founder of the Milesian school of natural philosophy and was one of the first to seek naturalistic explanations for the world, without resorting to mythological explanations.

What is the cosmological doctrine of Thales?

Thales' cosmological doctrine was that water was the first principle, the origin of all things. He believed that everything in the world was composed of water, from which all things emerge and to which they return. This idea was a significant departure from supernatural explanations and laid the groundwork for later scientific thought.

What was Thales' contribution to mathematics?

Thales is known for his contributions to geometry, particularly for establishing what is now known as Thales' theorem. This theorem states that if a triangle is drawn within a circle with one side as the diameter of the circle, then the opposite angle will always be a right angle. He also made practical contributions to land measurement and was involved in the development of geometry as a discipline.

What was the Malaysian school of thought, and how was Thales involved in it?

The Milesian school was a school of thought founded in the 6th century BC, exemplified by three philosophers from the Ionian city of Miletus: Thales, Anaximander, and Anaximenes. Thales was the founder of this school, which was characterized by a new questioning approach to understanding the universe, focusing on the nature of matter and change. Each philosopher proposed a different material as the primary principle, indicating a spirit of independent thought and critical discussion.

What was Thales' view on the nature of the earth and its support?

Thales proposed that the earth floats on water, an idea that was ancient even in his time. He explained this theory by likening the earth to wood and other substances that can float on water. He also suggested that the earth is buoyant, similar to how ships float, and that it is supported by water like a boat.

How did Thales' ideas about the earth's shape and its causes of earthquakes compare to modern understanding?

Thales hypothesized that the earth floats on water and that earthquakes occur when the earth is rocked by waves. While this differs from the modern understanding of earthquakes as the result of tectonic plate movements, his ideas were among the first attempts to explain natural phenomena without invoking supernatural causes.

What was the significance of the aphorism 'know thyself' in relation to Thales?

The aphorism 'know thyself' is attributed to Thales and reflects his philosophical approach to self-awareness and introspection. It encapsulates the idea that understanding oneself is a fundamental part of wisdom and is a key theme in his philosophical teachings.

What practical contributions did Thales make to society?

Thales was known for his practical contributions in various fields. He was involved in business, politics, and was reportedly involved in negotiations that secured favorable terms for Miletus. He also made significant contributions to mathematics and astronomy, and his theorem is still taught today.

How did Thales' ideas influence later philosophers and the development of science?

Thales' ideas laid the foundation for the development of natural philosophy and the scientific method. His search for naturalistic explanations and his methodical approach to understanding the world influenced later philosophers, including his students Anaximander and Anaximenes, and contributed to the emergence of scientific thought in ancient Greece.

What is the significance of Thales' belief that all things are composed of water?

Thales' belief that all things are composed of water was significant because it represented an early attempt to find a single, unified principle for the diversity of natural phenomena. This idea of a single substance as the origin of all things was a precursor to later theories in physics and cosmology and marked a shift towards a more systematic and rational approach to understanding the world.

Outlines

00:00

📜 Introduction to Thales of Miletus

This paragraph introduces Thales of Miletus, a pre-Socratic philosopher, mathematician, and astronomer, who is considered one of the first philosophers in the Western tradition and the founder of the Milesian school of natural philosophy. Born in Miletus around 624 BC, Thales is known for his abstract thoughts on the nature of the world and human life. He is also credited with the idea of material monism, suggesting that all things derive from a single substance, which he identified as water. Thales' contributions to mathematics, astronomy, and philosophy are highlighted, as well as his status as one of the seven sages of Greece. His life, though sketchy in detail, includes anecdotes about his involvement in business, politics, and his prediction of a solar eclipse that halted warfare. The paragraph concludes with his death in 546 BC and the difficulty in separating historical facts from legend regarding his life and works.

05:02

🌐 Thales' Cosmological Doctrine and Contributions to Philosophy

Thales is recognized as one of the first Western philosophers to seek naturalistic explanations for natural phenomena, rejecting supernatural or mythological interpretations. He proposed that water was the primary substance from which all things originated and to which they would return, a view that influenced later philosophers. Thales also speculated on the physics of objects, the nature of life, and the characteristics of the earth, including its support and the cause of earthquakes. His ideas about the cosmos, including the belief that the earth floats on water, were groundbreaking. Thales' moral and political views are also mentioned, advocating for a just society and a form of benevolent tyranny. His contributions to geometry, particularly Thales' theorem regarding triangles inscribed in circles, and his innovations in astronomy are highlighted. The paragraph concludes with Aristotle's acknowledgment of Thales as the founder of natural philosophy and the scientific method.

10:02

🌊 Thales' Hypothesis on the Nature of Water and the Universe

This paragraph delves into Thales' hypothesis that water is the fundamental substance of the universe, capable of transforming into all other elements. It discusses how Thales' theory was supported by observations of natural phenomena such as evaporation and the formation of islands from water. The paragraph also addresses the challenges Thales faced in convincing others of his theory, including the need to explain how water could support the earth and the various states of water. Thales' ideas about the earth's shape, size, and the causes of earthquakes are also mentioned, along with his anticipation of problems that would arise from his theories. The paragraph concludes with the recognition that Thales' ideas were not proven wrong until much later, highlighting the enduring influence of his thoughts.

15:03

📚 The Milesian School and Thales' Legacy in Mathematics

The Milesian school, founded by Thales, is discussed in this paragraph, emphasizing its role in the development of philosophy and science. The school was associated with three philosophers from Miletus: Thales, Anaximander, and Anaximenes, each of whom proposed different primary substances for the universe. The paragraph highlights Thales' practical contributions to geometry, particularly his application of geometric principles to solve real-world problems. It also mentions the practical skill of land measurement, which Thales observed in Egypt and brought back to Greece, contributing to the development of geometry. The paragraph concludes by summarizing Thales' legacy, including his search for knowledge, the scientific method, practical methods, and the development of general principles from specific observations.

20:05

🔍 Thales' Scientific Method and Contributions to Greek Philosophy

This final paragraph reflects on Thales' role as the first scientist and his practical contributions to philosophy. It discusses his mathematical features, particularly his theorem and its applications. The paragraph also covers the cosmological doctrine of Thales and the teachings of the Milesians. It concludes by summarizing Thales' contributions to ancient Greek philosophy, emphasizing his curiosity, conjectural approach, and the scientific method. The paragraph ends with a prompt for further reading and a thank you note, inviting the audience to another session on a different topic.

Keywords

💡Thales of Miletus

Thales of Miletus was an early pre-Socratic philosopher, mathematician, and astronomer, and is often regarded as the first philosopher in the Western tradition. He is known for his attempts to explain natural phenomena through materialistic and naturalistic means rather than relying on supernatural or mythological explanations. In the video, Thales is highlighted as the founder of the Milesian school of natural philosophy and for his innovative search for universal principles in mathematics, astronomy, and philosophy.

💡Pre-Socratics

The term 'Pre-Socratics' refers to the early Greek philosophers who lived before Socrates. These thinkers are significant because they laid the groundwork for Western philosophy by exploring the natural world and seeking explanations for phenomena without resorting to myth. The video discusses Thales as one of the first of these thinkers, focusing on his and his successors' contributions to the development of philosophical thought.

💡Material Monism

Material Monism is a philosophical doctrine that posits all phenomena in the universe can be explained by the properties and interactions of material substances. In the context of the video, Thales and his successors in Miletus developed theories that derived the entire visible cosmos from a single material principle, such as water, air, or infinite void, exemplifying an early form of material monism.

💡Natural Philosophy

Natural Philosophy refers to a branch of philosophy that seeks to understand the natural world and the nature of the universe through empirical observation and rational reasoning. Thales is considered the founder of the Milesian school of natural philosophy, which focused on finding natural explanations for phenomena, as opposed to mythological or theological ones.

💡Cosmological Doctrine

A cosmological doctrine is a philosophical or religious belief system concerning the nature of the universe and its origins. Thales' cosmological doctrine, as mentioned in the video, posited that water was the first principle or the originating substance of all things, suggesting that everything in the world was composed of water and returned to it.

💡Scientific Method

The Scientific Method is a systematic approach to acquiring knowledge through observation, experimentation, and the formulation of hypotheses. Thales is sometimes described as the first scientist due to his search for universal principles and his use of observation and reasoning to understand the natural world, which prefigured the later development of the scientific method.

💡Thales' Theorem

Thales' Theorem is a fundamental principle in geometry stating that if a triangle is inscribed in a circle with one side as the diameter, then the triangle is a right triangle. The video credits Thales with the establishment of this theorem and highlights his practical application of geometric principles to solve real-world problems.

💡Anaximander

Anaximander was a pre-Socratic philosopher and a disciple of Thales. He is known for proposing that the infinite or 'apeiron' was the first principle or primary substance of all existence. The video mentions Anaximander as part of the Milesian school, indicating the intellectual lineage and the development of philosophical thought in ancient Greece.

💡Anaximenes

Anaximenes was another pre-Socratic philosopher and a disciple of Anaximander. He is noted for suggesting that air was the primary substance of the universe. The video places Anaximenes within the context of the Milesian school, showing the evolution of ideas and the diversity of thought regarding the fundamental nature of the cosmos.

💡Seven Sages of Greece

The Seven Sages of Greece were a group of philosophers, statesmen, and lawgivers from the 7th and 6th centuries BC, renowned for their wisdom. Thales is often counted among them, and the video attributes to him the aphorism 'know thyself,' highlighting his status as a wise man and a contributor to the philosophical tradition.

💡Polytheism

Polytheism is the belief in multiple gods. Thales is noted for recognizing a single transcendental god, 'Manas,' who expresses himself through other gods, indicating a move towards monotheistic thought within a polytheistic cultural context. The video discusses Thales' views on divinity and their relation to his cosmological and philosophical ideas.

Highlights

Thales of Miletus is considered the first philosopher in the Western tradition and a pioneer in abstract thought.

Thales was a pre-Socratic philosopher, mathematician, and astronomer, and one of the seven sages of Greece.

He founded the Milesian school of natural philosophy, which sought to explain the world through naturalistic principles rather than mythological ones.

Thales proposed that water was the primary substance from which all things in the universe were derived, a theory known as material monism.

His cosmological doctrine suggested that the earth floats on water and that earthquakes occur when the earth is rocked by waves.

Thales is credited with the first known geometric theorem, known as Thales' theorem, which concerns the properties of a circle and a triangle.

He is said to have predicted a solar eclipse, demonstrating his understanding of astronomy.

Thales' ideas about the nature of matter and his search for universal principles earned him the label 'the first scientist'.

His philosophical approach was characterized by a curiosity about natural phenomena and a desire to find rational explanations.

Thales believed that all things have souls or divinities, suggesting a pantheistic view of the universe.

He was known for his practical applications of geometry, such as in land measurement and architecture.

Thales' political views favored a benign tyranny over democracy, reflecting his belief in the rule of the wise.

His moral philosophy included the aphorism 'know thyself', which has become a cornerstone of Western philosophy.

Thales' contributions to mathematics and astronomy laid the groundwork for future scientific inquiry.

The Milesian school, which Thales founded, was characterized by critical discussion and the development of new ideas.

Thales' theories were rational and scientific, setting a precedent for future philosophical and scientific discourse.

His ideas about the earth's support and shape were some of the earliest attempts to explain geographical phenomena.

Thales' legacy includes the development of the scientific method and the pursuit of knowledge for its own sake.

Transcripts

[Music]

you

hello and welcome to the session on

Thales of Miletus

[Music]

abstract thought about the ultimate

nature of the world and of human life

began to appear in cultures all over the

world during the sixth century BC as an

urge to move beyond superstition towards

explanation in this unit we focus on its

embodiment among the ancient Greeks

whose active and tumult a social life

provided ample opportunities for the

expression of philosophical thinking the

first thinkers of antiquity are referred

to as the pre-socratics even though some

of these thinkers were in fact

contemporaries of Socrates the first

podcast in the series look at the

beginnings of Greek philosophy in the

sixth century BC in the city of Miletus

on the coast of Asia Minor their tails

and the successors in XE Manta and in XE

means develop theories refer to as

material monism deriving the entire

visible cosmos from a single staff or

principle of water the infinite and air

tales of millilitres 624 to 546 BC was

an early pre-socratic philosopher

mathematician and astronomer he was one

of the so-called seven sages of Greece

and many regard him as the first

philosopher in the Western tradition he

was the founder of the Malaysian school

of natural philosophy and the teacher of

Annex amantha he was perhaps the first

subscriber to materialist and naturalism

in trying to define the substance or

substances of which all material objects

were composed which he identified as

water his innovative search for a

universality in the disciplines of

mathematics astronomy and philosophy

have earned him the label the first

scientist tales was born in the Greek

city of Meletis on the Ionian coast of

modern-day Turkey in about 624 or 625 BC

the third century AD historian died

genus lesser Eaters reported that his

parents were eczemas and

Leo ballina of the noble million family

of LED and descended from agna or Cadmus

of ancient Thebes Greece details of his

life are sketchy and often contradictory

some reports suggest that he married and

had a son

SCI business some anecdotes suggest that

tails was involved in business and

politics and at one point bought up all

the olive presses in Meletis after

predicting a good harvest for a

particular year his involvement in local

politics is also rather anecdotal in

nature but tails apparently impressed

both sides of the ongoing conflict

between the Lydians Medes and Persians

over the fate of the region of Ionia

when he predicted an eclipse of the Sun

which brought fighting to a standstill

he was also reportedly involved in the

negotiations which followed the

hostilities and managed to obtain

favorable terms for Meletis tails is

said to have died of dehydration while

watching a gymnastics contest in 546 BC

at the age of 78 the writings of things

in retrospect it is difficult to

separate history from legend but he is

usually considered one of the seven

sages or seven wise men of ancient

Greece a group of seventh and early 6th

century bc philosophers statesmen and

law givers who became renowned in the

following centuries for their wisdom the

aphorism know thyself has been

attributed to tales much of what we know

of tales philosophy has come down to us

from Aristotle and so may be somewhat

distorted by Aristotle's own views some

sources say that he left no writing

others say that he wrote at least two

works on the Solstice and on the equinox

tales try to define the substance or

substances of which

all material objects were composed as

new modern scientists even today

hence tales is sometimes described as

the first scientist he searched for the

physics of objects and caused them to

behave in their characteristic way he

was one of the first Western

philosophers who attempted to find

naturalistic explanations of the world

without reference to supernatural or

mythological explanations such as the

Greek anthropomorphic gods and heroes

he explained earthquakes for example by

hypothesizing that the earth floats on

water and that earthquakes occur when

the earth is rocked by waves his most

famous belief was his cosmological

doctrine that water was the first

principle it is roughly equivalent to an

X a means later idea that everything in

the world was composed of air he claimed

that water was the origin of all things

that from which all things emerge and to

which they return and moreover that all

things ultimately are water

he probably drew this conclusion from

seeing moist substances turn into air

slime and earth and he clearly viewed

the earth as solidifying from the water

on which it floated and which surrounded

it while considering the effects of

magnetism and static electricity he

concluded that the power to move other

things without the mover itself changing

was a characteristic of life so that a

magnet and Amber must therefore be alive

in some way in that they have animation

or the power to act if so he argued

there is no difference between the

living and the dead if all things were

alive they must also have souls or

divinities and the end result of this

argument was an almost total removal of

mind from substance opening the door to

an innovative non Divine Principle

of Acts

fales recognized a single transcendental

god Manas in' who has neither beginning

nor end but who expresses himself

through other gods polytheism his idea

of justice included both the letter of

the law and the spirit of the law

for example adultery and perjury about

it in code are equally bad he had some

common sense moral advice that we should

expect the same support from our

children that we give to our parents

that we should not let talk influence us

against those we have come to trust and

that we should not do ourselves that for

which we blame others

he believed that a happy man was one who

was healthy in body resourceful in soul

and of a readily teachable nature his

political views were generally in favor

of a benign tyranny rather than

democracy

he believed that men were naturally

better than women and that Greeks were

better than barbarians non-greeks tails

was known for his theoretical and

practical understanding and innovative

views of geometry specially triangles he

established what has become known as

tails theorem way by if a triangle is

drawn within a circle with the long side

as a diameter of the circle then the

opposite angle will always be a right

angle as well as some other related

properties derived from this he was also

an important innovator in astronomy and

he had an effective theory of the path

of the Sun from solstice to solstice and

supposedly correctly predicted a solar

eclipse some sources have attributed him

with the discovery of the seasons of the

year and the 365 day year his

questioning approach to the

understanding of heavenly phenomena

arguably marked the real beginning of

Greek astronomy fails us

marry principal Aristotle defined wisdom

as knowledge of certain principles and

casas he commenced his investigation of

the wisdom of the philosophers who

preceded him tails is considered as the

founder of natural philosophy for tales

this nature was a single material

substance water despite the more

advanced terminology which Aristotle and

Plato had created

Aristotle recorded the doctrines of

Thales in terms which were available to

tales in the sixth century BC Aristotle

made a definite statement and presented

it with confidence it was only when

Aristotle attempted to provide the

reasons for the opinions that tales held

and for the theories that he proposed

that he sometimes displayed caution the

problem of the nature of matter and its

transformation into the myriad things of

which the universe is made engaged the

natural philosophers commencing with

tales for his hypothesis to be credible

it was essential that he could explain

how all things could come into being

from water and return ultimately to the

originating material it is inherent in

tales hypothesis that water had the

potentiality to change to the myriad

things of which the universe is made the

botanical physiological material aaja

chol and geological status in Timaeus 49

BC Plato had Timaeus relate a cyclic

process the passage commences with that

which we now call water and describes a

theory which was possibly that of tales

tales would have recognized evaporation

and have been familiar with traditional

views such as the nutritive capacity of

mists and ancient theories about

spontaneous generation phenomena which

he may have observed simple metallurgy

had been practiced long before tales

presented his hypothesis so tales knew

that he could return metals into a

liquid state water exhibits sensible

changes

obviously than any of the other

so-called elements and can readily be

observed in the three states of liquid

vapor and ice the understanding that

water could generate into earth is basic

to Thales watery thesis and Meletis it

could readily be observed that water had

the capacity to thicken into earth

Malita stood on the gulf of laid through

which the meander River emptied its

waters within living memory all the

Malaysians had witnessed the island of

Leyte increasing in size within the Gulf

and the riverbanks encroaching into the

river to such an extent that at prime

across the gulf from Meletis the

warehouses had to be rebuilt closer to

the water's edge the ruins of the once

prosperous city port of Meletis are now

ten kilometres distant from the coast

and the island of Leyte now forms part

of the rich agricultural plain there

would have been opportunity to observe

other areas where earth generated from

water for example the Delta's of the

highlights the esta about which he

co-wrote Theogony 341 now called the

Danube the tigris-euphrates and almost

certainly the nine thus coming into

being of land would have provided

substantiation of tales doctrine to

tales water held the potentialities for

the nourishment and generation of the

entire cosmos ashes attributed to tales

the concept that even the very fire of

the Sun and the stars and indeed the

cosmos itself is nourished by

evaporation of the waters it is not

known how Thales explained his watery

thesis but Aristotle believed that the

reasons he proposed we're probably the

persuasive factors entails

considerations tales gave no role to the

Olympian gods belief in generation of

Earth from water was not proven to be

wrong until ad 1769 following

experiments of Antonin level

and spontaneous generation was not

disproved until the 19th century as a

result of the work of Louis Pasteur

tales ideas about the earth tales

proposed answers to a number of

questions about the earth the question

of its support its shape its size and

the cause of earthquakes the dates of

the Solstice the size of the Sun and

Moon in decassle Oh Aristotle wrote the

opinion and the earth west on water is

the most ancient explanation which has

come down to us and is attributed to

Thales of Miletus he explained his

theory by adding the analogy that the

earth is addressed because it is of the

nature of wood and similar substances

which have the capacity to float on

water although not on air in metaphysics

Aristotle stated quite unequivocally

tales declared that the earth rests on

water this concept does appear to be at

odds with natural expectations and

Aristotle expressed his difficulty with

tales theory tales anticipated problems

with acceptance because he explained

that it floated because of a particular

quality a quality of buoyancy similar to

that of wood at the busy city port of

Meletis Thales had unlimited opportunity

to observe the arrival and departure of

ships with their heavier than water

cargoes and recognized an analogy to

floating logs tales may have an visage

some quality common to ships and earth a

quality of floatiness or buoyancy it

seems that tales hypotheses were

substantiated by sound observation and

recent considerations indeed Seneca

reported that tales had land supported

by water and carried along like a boat

Aristotle's lines in metaphysics

indicate his understanding that tales

believed that because water was the

permanent entity the earth floats on

water tales may have reasoned that as a

modification of water earth must be the

lighter substance and floating islands

do exist Herodotus was impressed

when he saw shimmers a floating island

about 38 kilometers northeast of Noah

cratis the Egyptian trading concession

which stains probably visited Seneca

described floating islands in Lydia

there are many light pumas like stones

of which islands are composed namely

those which float in Libya Pliny

describes several floating islands the

most relevant being the reed islands in

Libya and Pliny described a circular

floating island its buoyancy and the way

it moved tails could have visited the

nearby reed islands he might have

considered such readily visible examples

to be models of his theory and he could

well have claimed that the observation

that certain islands had the capacity to

float substantiated his hypothesis that

water has the capacity to support earth

Malaysian school the Malaysian school

was a school of thought founded in the

6th century BC the ideas associated with

it are exemplified by three philosophers

from the irony in town of Meletis on the

Aegean coast of Anatolia tales in acts

Amanda and nxe means tales was the

founder of this new school of philosophy

his two fellow Malaysians who also

engaged in the new questioning approach

to the understanding of the universe

where Anaximander his disciple and nxe

means who was the disciple of

Anaximander an ex amantha was about 10

years younger than tales but survived

him by only a year dying in about 5:45

BC nxe means was born in 585 BC and

in about 528 BC their lives all

overlapped through their association

they comprised the Malaysian school they

all worked on similar problems the

nature of matter and the nature of

change but they each proposed a

different material as the primary

principle which indicates that there was

no necessity to follow the Masters

teachings or attribute their discoveries

to him each proposed a different support

for the earth tales was held in high

regard for his wisdom being acclaimed as

the most eminent of the wise men of

ancient Greece but he was not regarded

as a God as Pythagoras was Anaximander

and nxe means were free to persuade

their own ideas and to express them in

writing this surely suggests that they

engaged in critical discussion of the

theories of each other the Greeks are a

sociable people and their willingness to

converse broad rewards in knowledge

gained as Plato remarked critical

discussion implies more than familiarity

with other views and more than mere

disagreement with other theories it is

the adoption or in this case the

development of a new style of discussion

it is a procedure which engages

questioning debate explanation

justification and criticism there was a

unique relationship between the three

Malaysians and it is highly probable

that the critical method developed in

the Malaysian school under the

leadership of things tails on

mathematics the practical skill of land

measurement was invented in Egypt

because of the necessity frequently to

re measure plots of land after

destructive inundations the phenomena is

well described by Herodotus Egypt was

believed to be the source of much wisdom

and reports tell us that many Greeks

including tails Pythagoras Solon

Herodotus Plato Democritus

and Euclid visited that ancient land to

see the wonders for themselves the

Egyptians had little to offer in the way

of abstract thought the surveyors were

able to measure and to calculate and

they had outstanding practical skills in

Egypt tales would have observed the land

surveyors those who had a noted chord to

make their measurements and they known

as rope stretches Egyptian mathematics

had already reached its Hyde's when the

rint mathematical papyrus was written in

about 1800 BC more than a thousand years

later tales would have washed the

surveyors as they went about their work

in the same manner measuring the land

with the aid of a noted rope which they

stretched to measure lengths and to form

angles the development of geometry is

preserved in a work of Proclus a

commentary on the first book of Euclid's

elements proculus provide a remarkable

amount of intriguing information

geometry originated in Egypt where it

developed out of necessity it was

adopted by Thales who had visited Egypt

and was introduced into Greece by him

the commentary of Proclus indicates that

he had access to the work of Euclid and

also the history of geometry which was

written by you Dumas of Rhodes a pupil

of Aristotle but which is no longer

extant his wording makes it clear that

he was familiar with the views of those

writers who had earlier written about

the origin of geometry he affirmed the

earlier views that the rudiments of

geometry developed in Egypt because of

the need to redefine the boundaries just

as Herodotus stated five euclidean

theorems have been explicitly attributed

to tales and the testimony is that tales

successfully applied to theorems to the

solution of practical problems tales did

not formulate proves in the formal sense

what tales did was to put forward

certain propositions which it seems

he could have proven by induction he

observed the similar results of his

calculations he showed by repeated

experiment that his propositions and

theorems were correct and if none of his

calculations resulted in contrary

outcomes he probably felt justified in

accepting his results as proof he lien

proof was often really inductive

demonstration the process tails used was

the method of exhaustion this seems to

be the evidence from proculus who

declared that tails attacked some

problems in a general way and others

more empirically let us summarize what

we have discussed so far tails is the

first person about whom we know to

propose explanations of natural

phenomena which were materialistic

rather than methodological or

theological his theories were new bold

exciting comprehensible and possible of

explanation he did not speak in riddles

as did Heraclitus and had no need to

invent an undefined non substance as an

ex Amanda did because he gave no role to

mythical beings tales theories could be

refuted arguments could be put forward

in attempts to discredit them tales

hypothesis were rational and scientific

Aristotle acknowledged tales as the

first philosopher and criticized his

hypothesis in a scientific manner the

most outstanding aspects of tales

heritage are the search for knowledge

for its own sake the development of the

scientific method

the adoption of practical methods and

the development into general principles

his curiosity and conjectural approach

to the questions of natural phenomena in

the sixth century BC tales asked the

question what is the basic material of

the cosmos the answer is yet to be

discovered

now we can try to answer the questions

given here

why tales labeled as the first scientist

discuss the practical contribution

tails's philosophy explain the

mathematical features of Thales

philosophy

what is the cosmological doctrine of

tales who wear the Malaysians and what

they teach what are the contributions of

tales to ancient Greek philosophy now

you may go through the reference books

given here for further reading

pre-socratic philosophy essays in honor

of Alexander moral lattice written by DW

Graham and V Caston in 2002 published by

Ashgate the Oxford Handbook of

pre-socratic philosophy written by DW

Graham and P Kurt in 2008 published by

Oxford University Press Oxford cosmic

problems written by DJ Furley in 1989

published by Cambridge University Press

Cambridge the Cambridge companion to

early Greek philosophy written by a a

along in 1999 published by Cambridge

University Press Cambridge the

pre-socratics written by a moral lattice

in 1974 published by Anka Garden City a

history of Greek philosophy written by W

Casey go 3 1962 published by Cambridge

University Press Cambridge hope that you

have enjoyed the session we can meet

again with another topic thank you

[Music]

[Music]

[Music]

you