When1: -600
When2: -500
Who: Milesian or Ionian
What: philosophic school
Where: Miletus, Ionia
Detail: School included Thales, Anaximander, and Anaximenes.
Metaphysics
All things arise from one unified cosmic matter or element, air or water or unperceived material, which is imperishable, inexhaustible, indestructible, infinite, and eternal. Such matter always moves of itself, without cause, and so is alive. Objects can change into each other, because all things are element transformations. Matter temperature changes cause changes. A succession of universes has arisen and then collapsed, through temperature effects. Their unifying element can be divine but not like persons.
Alternatively, substances can be unmoving and finite, like solid crystal spheres. The four elements are earth, water, air, and fire, in order of rarefication. God is one substance and is reason and perfection. Justice or fate is a world law.
Social Sciences>Philosophy>History>Metaphysics
6-Philosophy-History-Metaphysics
Outline of Knowledge Database Home Page
Description of Outline of Knowledge Database
Date Modified: 2022.0224