Thales
1
9.6
- proper noun
- /ˈθeɪliz/
- According to the philosopher Thales, water is the originating principle of all matter.
- Thales the philosopher
- Greek philosopher Thales
Examples
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Aristotle, philosopher in the unqualified sense, is interested in principles and causes, while Thales sought to explain the world in terms of a natural phenomenon, namely water, rather than in terms of the mythological being, Oceanus.
Academic text (2017) -
Many believe that Thales was the first to predict a solar eclipse in ancient history.
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According to Thales, there is but one world which demonstrates the construction of God.
Fiction book (1991) -
In one way, Homer and Thales are alike in that they describe the world in concrete material terms.
Academic text (2017) -
The world of Thales and Xenophanes could be explained in purely material terms.
Academic text (2017) -
The method of analysis developed here in relation to Thales and Xenophanes can be applied to other early Greek philosophers.
Academic text (2017) -
The teachings of Thales laid the groundwork for future studies in physical science and astronomy.
Synonyms
1
9.7
An early Greek thinker who studied nature and stars and said everything came from water
Surface Forms
Etymology
Thales was an ancient Greek thinker who said that 'water' was the basic substance of everything and who watched the stars and nature; he even predicted a solar eclipse. So the name Thales now reminds us of one of the first scientists or philosophers who tried to explain the world by observation.