Thales of Miletus - Icon Profile | Alexandria
Thales of Miletus (c. 624-546 BCE) stands as the first recorded philosopher in the Western tradition, a figure who bridges the mythological worldview of ancient Greece with the emergence of rational inquiry. Known as one of the Seven Sages of Greece and often called the "Father of Science," Thales represents a pivotal moment when human understanding began to shift from divine explanation to natural observation.
The earliest substantial accounts of Thales come from Aristotle's writings, nearly two centuries after his death, though fragments of his influence appear in various Greek texts. Living in the prosperous trading port of Miletus during the Archaic period, Thales emerged at a time when Greek civilization was experiencing unprecedented cultural and intellectual growth, coinciding with the rise of the polis and expanding Mediterranean trade networks.
According to ancient sources, including Herodotus, Thales successfully predicted a solar eclipse in 585 BCE, though modern scholars debate the precision of this claim. His revolutionary proposition that water was the fundamental substance of all things marked the first recorded attempt to explain natural phenomena without reference to supernatural forces. Beyond philosophy, Thales demonstrated remarkable practical wisdom: Aristotle recounts how he once cornered the olive press market, proving that philosophers could be shrewd businessmen if they chose. His mathematical innovations, including the calculation of the height of pyramids by measuring their shadows, showcased an early application of geometric principles that would later influence Pythagoras and Euclid.
Thales's legacy extends far beyond his specific theories or achievements. His methodological approach – seeking rational explanations for natural phenomena – laid the groundwork for all subsequent Western scientific and philosophical inquiry. Modern scholars continue to debate the extent of his contributions, particularly given the scarcity of primary sources, yet his symbolic importance as the first person to ask "What is the basic stuff of the universe?" remains undimmed. In an age of rapid scientific advancement, Thales's fundamental questions about the nature of reality and his integration of practical and theoretical wisdom remain remarkably relevant, challenging us to consider how our own assumptions about the world might be revolutionized by asking the right questions.