¿Quiénes fueron los primeros filósofos? | Historia de la filosofía | I. Presocráticos 3 | T01 E03
Introduction to Presocratic Philosophy
Overview of Presocratic Philosophers
- Alejandro introduces himself as a doctor in philosophy and discusses the beginnings of Greek philosophy, focusing on the Presocratics who predate Socrates.
- The term 'Presocratic' is modern; these philosophers were known as naturalists in antiquity, primarily concerned with studying nature and the universe's origins.
Transition from Myth to Reason
- The era of the Presocratics spans two centuries (6th to 4th century BC), marking a transition from mythological explanations to rational philosophical inquiry (logos).
- They sought natural explanations for phenomena traditionally attributed to divine actions, exemplified by Thales of Miletus predicting an eclipse through mathematical calculations.
Significance of Thales and Schools of Thought
Birth of Science
- Isaac Asimov proposed that Thales’ successful prediction of an eclipse on May 28, 585 BC marks the birth of science due to its reliance on empirical observation and reasoning.
Grouping of Philosophers into Schools
- Presocratic thinkers are categorized into schools based on shared ideas:
- Ionians: Believed reality consists of a single material element (e.g., water for Thales).
- Pythagoreans: Argued that the universe is structured by mathematical language and numbers.
- Eleatics: Focused on logical concepts like being as true reality.
Diverse Perspectives Among Presocratics
Additional Schools and Their Views
- Other notable schools include:
- Heraclitus: Emphasized constant change in reality.
- Pluralists: Advocated for multiple elements constituting reality.
- Atomists: Proposed that all matter is made up of indivisible particles called atoms.
- Sophists: Suggested that arguments are subjective, lacking a singular objective truth.
Materialism in Presocratic Thought
Understanding Materialism
- Many presocratics held materialistic views—though they did not use this term—believing all reality consists solely of matter observable in space with weight.