Introduction to Philosophy and Ancient Greek Thinkers

Vocabulary flashcards covering the etymology of philosophy, characteristics of Western thought, and the theories of the Milesian philosophers.

Philosophia

A Greek word derived from 'Philo' meaning love and 'Sophia' meaning wisdom, translated as 'love of wisdom'.

Pythagoras

The individual traditionally associated with being the first to use the term 'philosophia'.

Philosophy

The pursuit of knowledge, truth, and understanding through reason and critical thinking.

Mythological Thinking

A way of explaining natural phenomena, such as thunder, earthquakes, and stars, through myths and gods.

Natural Philosophy

A branch of study that once included natural sciences such as physics, astronomy, and biology.

Western Philosophy Characteristics

Distinguished by logic, reason, debate, individual thinking, and scientific inquiry.

The Milesians

A group of the first philosophers, including Thales, Anaximander, and Anaximenes, who asked 'What is everything made of?'.

Thales

One of the Seven Sages of Ancient Greece who believed everything came from water and assumed the Earth was flat.

Anaximander

A philosopher who believed everything came from the Apeiron and proposed that the Earth floats freely in space.

Apeiron

A term used by Anaximander meaning 'the Infinite'.

Anaximenes

A philosopher who believed everything came from air and that the Earth floats like a saucer.

6th Century BCE

The time period in Ancient Greece during which central natural sciences were considered branches of natural philosophy and the shift from myths to reason began.