In the city of Argos, and initially in the Ionian colonies and later in the Greek cities of southern Italy, the transition from “myth to reason” will take place, replacing the mythological way of thinking that characterizes archaic poetry by correct reason of philosophy and science
From Theophrastus, the student of Aristotle , begins the widespread conviction in the ancient world that the three philosophical philosophers are linked to each other by a learning relationship. Anaximander student of Thales de Mileto and Anaximenes student of Anaximander.
Birth of philosophy
Very soon, therefore, the image of philosophy is formed that will dominate all ancient thought: philosophy was born in Ionia in the 6th century when a group of thinkers adopted a new rational way of explaining physical reality, when a first school was created. of philosophy. Philosophy is closely linked to teaching, developed through the common search of teachers and students.
Particular seems to be the role of Thales of Miletus in this theoretical revolution. It is he who, as Aristotle tells us, “founded this philosophy”, when he considered that behind the ever-changing phenomena there is a “principle” (a nature , an essence) “from which all the things from which they first came and in which that will eventually end their wear and tear ”( After Physical Exam A 983 b 6-27).
Thales of Miletus the first philosopher
According to Thales, the constant, eternal and unaltered substance is water. If Aristotle’s testimony is correct, Thales is rightly considered the first philosopher. Philosophy is born when people are convinced that behind the apparent conflicts of events, there is a hidden class, a class derived from impersonal powers. Thales’ water is such an impersonal power that it transforms it into the first philosophical concept.
Sadly, Thales’ thought, like all early philosophers, is known only secondhand. Thales’ own texts did not reach our hands; it is highly unlikely that Thales wrote anything, as few Greeks could read in his day. So we must reconsider our thinking from much later, and not always reliable, sources.
Plato, for example, tells us an anecdote in which Thales appears as the typical abstract philosopher: “They say that Thales once managed to fall into a well while walking observing the stars, then a trusted servant tells him:“ I wanted to know what was happening. happening in the sky and ignored what was happening in your legs. In a story by Aristotle, Thales anticipates from the stars a great harvest of olives and stops all the mills of Miletus and Chios in time, wanting to show those who despised him about their poverty that philosophers could easily get rich if they wanted to, but that was not its purpose ( Policy 1259 a9).
One of the seven sages
Along with the image of the first philosopher, a multitude of testimonies bring us a different Tales, down to earth, practical and inventive. For the Greeks of century V a. C. Thales is a symbol of wit and wisdom, he is one of the Seven Sages of ancient Greece. It is not entirely clear to us what these seven personalities shared. Most were politically active, some were legislators, others were poets. However, it is that of seven, only Thales claims the title of philosopher.
“The wise man precedes the philosopher, as wisdom is before philosophy.” Homer characterizes the “wisdom” of the art of shipbuilding inspired by Athena ( Iliad O 411) and Solon the poetic art inspired by the Muses ( cf. In the meeting of Croesus with Solon , described by Herodotus, Croesus wonders what is the Solon’s source of wisdom and is quick to link it immediately with his many travels and desire to see new things ( Stories 1.30).
The “wisdom” of the archaic period, which at the same time is inspired by the gods of practical skill, manipulation of poetic discourse and field research ( history ), will eventually lead to “philosophy.” Thales seems to symbolize precisely this transition. Therefore, it is worth trying to answer the question of whether we should classify Thales as wise or philosophical.
