Posted: February 7th, 2023
Discuss what makes Thales’ method of knowing distinctly philosophical as opposed to mythology and religion. Also, why do you feel his approach may have been seen as radical?
SOLUTION
Thales of Miletus was a pre-Socratic philosopher who lived in ancient Greece in the 6th century BCE. He was one of the first philosophers to ask questions about the nature of the world and the principles that govern it, rather than relying on mythological or religious explanations. Thales believed that the universe could be explained by a single, underlying principle, which he referred to as water. This idea marked a departure from the traditional mythological and religious beliefs of the time, and was seen as radical because it challenged the dominant ways of thinking.
Thales’ approach to knowledge was empirical and rational, as he sought to explain the world based on observation and reasoning, rather than relying on divine revelation or myth. He believed that the world could be understood through the use of reason and argument, and that knowledge could be acquired through observation and experience. This approach was seen as radical because it challenged the prevailing belief that the gods controlled the world and that knowledge could only be acquired through divine revelation or religious rituals.
In conclusion, Thales’ method of knowing was philosophical in nature because it emphasized the use of reason, observation, and argument to understand the world, rather than relying on myth or religious belief. This approach was seen as radical because it challenged the dominant beliefs of the time and represented a new way of thinking about the world and knowledge.
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