(Originally Written August 30, 2006 in History I)
Classics of Philosophy, Louis Pojman
Thales:
1. Thales is the originator of the theory that all stuffs in the world come from an original substance. He founded monism. This original substance is constantly changing yet remains its original self at some foundational level. For Thales, this substance is water and water is essential for everything's growth. -Aristotle on Thales
2. Thales is one of the Seven Wise Men. He was the first to pursue natural philosophy. Water was the beginning and the end of the world. Water is the causal agent of all things occurring naturally. Water, the causal agent is the impersonal force called God. God or water is eternal. In addition to being the first to pursue natural philosopher, he was the father of Greek astronomy. - Hippolytus on Thales
3. Thales believed the soul to be a cause of motion. He held that all things are full of gods. Since water is the God and also the primary substance of all things all things are gods or a manifestation of God. Souls are the cause of motion. Thus, water formed as soul in a special type of the God in all things. -Aristotle on Thales
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