Introduction

The Presocratic philosophers were a group of thinkers who lived in ancient Greece before the time of Socrates (this is why they are called “pre-Socratics”). They were interested in understanding the natural world and the underlying principles that govern it. This article provides an overview of the Presocratic philosophers, including links to more specialised articles that discuss each one in more detail.

If you’d prefer to watch a video, our series “Western Philosophy in a Flash” includes one on the Ancient Greeks and Romans that also discusses the Presocratics. You can watch it right here:

Key Takeaways

• The Presocratic philosophers were interested in understanding the natural world and its underlying principles. Two of the best-known Presocratics are Thales of Miletus and Heraclitus.
• Thales of Miletus believed that water was the fundamental substance of the universe and successfully predicted a solar eclipse.
• Heraclitus believed that change was the only constant and was known for his cryptic writing style and reclusive nature.

Historical Context

The Presocratic philosophers lived in ancient Greece between the 6th and 5th centuries BCE, before Socrates. They were interested in understanding the nature of reality and the universe, and their ideas laid the foundation for Western philosophy as well as natural science.

During this time, Greece was undergoing significant changes, including the rise of city-states and the development of trade. These changes led to new ways of thinking about the world, and the Presocratics were at the forefront of this intellectual revolution.

Many of the Presocratic philosophers were also polymaths, studying a wide range of subjects including mathematics, astronomy, and natural science. 

Many of the Presocratic philosophers were also polymaths, studying a wide range of subjects including mathematics, astronomy, and natural science. They were often associated with different schools of thought, such as the Milesian School, the Pythagoreans, and the Eleatics.

• The Milesian school, named after the city Miletus in Ionia, was a significant force in the presocratic period of philosophy, with Thales, Anaximander, and Anaximenes as its principal proponents. The Milesians sought to provide naturalistic explanations for the world’s phenomena, abandoning mythological interpretations. They hypothesized that there was a single, fundamental substance underlying all things – water for Thales, the boundless or infinite for Anaximander, and air for Anaximenes.

• The Pythagoreans, on the other hand, were an influential …

Read the full article which is published on Daily Philosophy (external link)