Thales of Miletus: The First Greek Philosopher
Ep. 100

Thales of Miletus: The First Greek Philosopher

Episode description

Come discover the fascinating world of Thales of Miletus (c. 624‑546 BC), the man widely regarded as the father of Western philosophy and one of the earliest scientists. In this video we explore how Thales broke from mythological thinking, proposed water as the fundamental substance of the cosmos, and laid the groundwork for geometry, astronomy, and practical reasoning.

What you’ll learn: • Who Thales was and why Miletus mattered • His revolutionary claim that a single natural principle underlies everything • Key contributions to geometry (the circle‑bisecting theorem) and astronomy (predicting a solar eclipse) • Famous anecdotes—measuring the pyramids by their shadows, the olive‑oil speculation, and the “first recorded experiment” • How later thinkers—from Anaximander to Aristotle—built on his ideas • Why Thales’ legacy still resonates in modern science and philosophy

Whether you’re a teacher, student, or lifelong learner, this short‑form deep‑dive shows how curiosity turned into a systematic quest for knowledge that still inspires us today.

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