The Birth of Philosophy: Thales of Miletus

What happened

Thales of Miletus sought to explain the natural world through reason rather than myth, proposing that water was the fundamental substance of all things. Aristotle later called him the 'first philosopher.'

Why it matters

Thales launched the tradition of rational inquiry — the Pre-Socratic philosophers — that gave rise to Western philosophy and science.

Sources

• World History Encyclopedia. Thales of Miletus · Reputable source