The Beginning Of Western Philosophy : Interpret... Today

Often called the first philosopher, Thales famously claimed that "all is water." While it sounds simple today, it was revolutionary because it suggested a single, material explanation for the world's complexity, rather than attributing everything to the whims of gods like Poseidon or Zeus.

The belief that human reason is capable of uncovering that order. The beginning of western philosophy : interpret...

Before Socrates focused on human ethics, the earliest philosophers (the Pre-Socratics) were obsessed with the natural world. They sought the —the fundamental "stuff" or first principle of the universe. Often called the first philosopher, Thales famously claimed