Miletus and Western Philosophical Thought - Essay Example

Miletus was said to be where western philosophical thought could have originated because philosophical records show the existence of the Miletianphilosophers that have sought answers to questions out of the mythological concept but on the rational. This consideration can be attributed to Thales who was a native of Miletus and is said to be the father of philosophy. The best evidence of Thales being an observant philosopher is that he is famous for predicting an eclipse. Thales is said to have thought to the Greeks the science of geometry and many geometrical thermo are attributed to him. During then these group of thinkers, now known as philosophers began to engage in an extended exploration of the speculative issues. Anaximander, another Miletian philosopher and is said to be the first writer of philosophy, was said to be the first to draw a map and have speculated that the earth is not flat but spherical floating in air. The first scientific idea on the evolution of man is said to have be Anaximander’s first ideas out of his curiosity. 2. Part 1. For Anaximander the earth is cylindrical in shape; curved and round like a drum with flat surfaces and stays in equilibrium at the center of the cosmos. The heavenly bodies are according to him ‘breathing holes’ in the air. By this Anaximander is trying to explain the existence of the earth the sun and other elements in the sky. It is included in the history of philosophy because philosophy seeks to define what is real the same way Anaximander tries to relate the earth and the cosmos in a cyclical manner of things—why the sun, the moon and the stars are present in a cyclical pattern (Stamatellos,2006). Part 2. For Anaximander the earth never moves because in his cosmos the earth floats in the center and remains there by the forces surrounding it. Three of his astronomical speculations are: (1) that the celestial bodies make full circles and pass also beneath the earth, (2) that the earth floats free and unsupported in space, and (3) that the celestial bodies lie behind one another. Thus in his cosmos the earth is unmoved and everything else revolves around it (Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy, 2012). 3. Anaximenes’ grand theory talks about the air as major predecessors of things. He pointed out that the moisture from the earth has formed other heavenly bodies. Although Anaximenes’ belief is that the planets, sun and stars including the earth are flat disks, his assumption that these are above an “all-encompassing air” is one that is closely associated to modern thought of his time (Lawson, 2004). Anaximenes has his own way of explaining the difference between the planet and the stars; that the planets are moving in connection with air while the stars are fixed on its positions. These ways of thinking are one of the closest founding theories of his time. Anaximenes also imparted the significance of hot and cold on the formation of existing bodies. His works became a global inspiration on the discovery of atomic properties of matter. Anaximenes’ beliefs centered on air as the primary ingredient in the formation of the universe. In comparison, Thales believed that water is the main predecessor, while Anaximander held on to the theory of the constant and limitless source of life. 4. a. Draw and label all of the parts of the Square of Opposition. (Image source: International Encyclopedia of Philosophy) b. Suppose that the proposition “Some* are* joggers*” is false*. For each one of the corresponding propositions, state whether it may be immediately inferred to be true or false. Provide a succinct explanation of how you reached one of your immediately inferred conclusions. A. All are joggers- universal affirmative E. Not all are joggers- universal negation I. Some are joggers- particular affirmative O. some are not joggers- particular negation Proposition A is false because not all people are joggers some can be swimmers and other kinds of athletes. While proposition E states true that some people are joggers indeed. Propositions I and O states true of the conclusions that some are joggers and some are not joggers because not everyone are joggers. c. Suppose that the proposition “No*gods* are* flat-nosed* beings*” is true*. For each one of the corresponding propositions, state whether it may be immediately inferred to be true or false. Provide a succinct explanation of how you reached one of your immediately inferred conclusions. A. No gods are flat-nosed beings- universal affirmative E. All gods are flat-nosed beings- universal negation I. some gods are flat-nosed beings- particular affirmative O. some gods are not flat-nosed beings- particular negation If proposition A is inferred as true then proposition E is false because gods are described to be supreme beings with images attributed to physical beauty only. Therefore propositions I and O are false. 5. Give an example of one sound syllogism that meets all of the following requirements: a. all humans have soul b. no human has a no soul c. Therefore, no human has no soul d. No soul is to no human 6. Xenophanes is a philosopher who believed that there is a single divine power over everything. He focused on the infinite existence of one God, regardless of appearance. The description of other thinkers and poets regarding God is useless according to Xenophanes (Vamvacas, 2009). His reason depended on appearance and ethos emphasizing that the conventional image of God is merely patterned from that of humans and is invented by races according to what suits their imagination. He also is one of the pioneers in rejecting the idea of the existence of many Gods due to the fact that this will invalidate the gloriousness of divinity. Furthermore, stories that Gods were born are, for Xenophanes, a nullification of the immortality and power of God. This is the modern approach that Xenophanes launched against the traditional depiction of Gods. Xenophanes utilized rationalization to present the conditions that make the idea of divinity unholy. It is a bold representation of the biasness of the human mind regarding their own imagination on the appearance of God and a divine power. References International Encyclopedia of Philosophy (2012) Anaximander. Retrieved from: http://www.iep.utm.edu/anaximan/#H5 Lawson, R. (2004). Science in the ancient world: An Encyclopedia. Sta Barbara, CA: ABC-CLIO. Stamatellos G. (2006) Anaximander of Melitus. Retrieved from: http://www.philosophy.gr/presocratics/anaximander.htm) Vamvacas, C. (2009). The founders of western thought – the presocratics: A diachronic parallelism between presocratic thought and philosophy and the natural science. New York, NY: Springer. Read More