Western Civilization I / Unit 4 WC1 0311 short lesson, about 20 seconds
Thales, Anaximander, and Inquiry Without Gods
Captions available
The idea
Science and philosophy were one enterprise, explaining the universe on its own terms. Thales of Miletus thought earthquakes came from an earth floating on water and reputedly predicted the eclipse of five eighty-five. Anaximander drew the first distance map.
In practice
The spirit of inquiry matters, not the conclusions.
Where people slip
Thales and Anaximander rest on the anchor alone. The eclipse date is witnessed.
Your place on the trail
Every lesson rests on earlier ones and opens later ones. Tap any to jump.
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