Early Greek Philosophers

Before the Greeks Animism Anthropomorphism Early Greek Religion Dionysiac religion Orphic religion

First Philosophers –Thales (ca BC) Cosmology: universe consists of natural substances; does not reflect whims of the gods Searched for the physis—primary element Started “critical tradition”—invited criticism of his views –Anaximander –Heraclitus (ca BC) Fundamental element: fire (nature in state of flux) Raised epistemological question: “How can something be known with certainty if it is constantly changing?” –Later: psychologists claiming that there are permanent (thus, knowable) things about the universe have tended to be rationalists. Those saying that everything in the universe, incl. humans, is constantly changing and incapable of being known with certainty have tended to be empiricists

–Parmenedes Believed that all change is an illusion. Only one reality: it is finite, uniform, motionless, and fixed—and can be understood only through reason Sensory experience is mere illusion Point is: if one takes extreme view, either logic, mathematics, and reason are correct or information through the senses is. Parmenedes chose reason. Big mistake (e.g., Zeno’s paradox). Need combination of empiricism and rationalism—that combination happened much later (16 th century)

–Pythagoras Everything in universe can be explained by numbers World of numbers can only be known by reason Thus: a dualistic universe: –One part abstract, permanent, and intellectually knowable –One part empirical, changing, and known through the senses –Sensory experience can’t provide knowledge and should be avoided »Contempt for sensory experience and bodily pleasures) –Universe characterized by mathematial harmony and everything in nature is interrelated.