The Lives of Greek Philosophers and their Contributions to Science

Speech Presentation: The Lives of Greek Philosophers and their Contributions to Science Author’s Name The Institutional Affiliation Course Number and Name Instructor Name Assignment Due Date Introduction Before the entry of the Greek Philosopher, the explanation of natural phenomena of the universe was ruled by myths and legends. The entry of curious minds into the realm of discussion led to rationalism in the society of Greece, which was dominated by folk tales. This discussion will dive into the captivating lives of the Greek philosopher and their contribution to science. For instance, Thales of Miletus described water as a fundamental element of the universe (Rossetti, 2022). He also described the concept of groundwater to people, bringing rationality to the thought of Greeks for the first time. Similarly, other philosophers such as Aristotle, who delved into the biological and metaphysical domains for the first time, led the foundation of some fundamental concepts of biology of contemporary times (Lennox, 2019). Another prominent philosopher, Plato, gave the idea of logic and reason that became the base of scientific thought in modern times. Thus, every philosopher had a fascinating life and contributed to developing a scientific inquiry that played a pivotal role in shaping the human understanding of the natural world. Thales of Miletus: Early Life and Contribution to Science Thales was born in the 6th century BCE in Miletus, modern-day Turkey. He was an enigmatic personality who was the first person to look at the world through rational views. The keen observation of his surroundings made him curious, and he started to learn more about the natural phenomena around him. His keen observation and inquisitive mind led him to successfully figure out the concept of solar eclipse (Mark & Rubens, 2023). Thales of Miletus explained how the celestial bodies move, forming a shadow on the other bodies. Owing to his early contributions, Aristotle is considered to be the first Western Philosopher and mathematician (Mark & Rubens, 2023). It is a tragedy for the world that none of his work survived; therefore, it is depicted in fragments in the work of other philosophers, such as Aristotle. Thales of Miletus has made a profound contribution to science. He was the first to raise the question of base. That means everything in the universe has something as the base of its structure. Later, he concludes that water is the base and first cause of the creation of almost everything in the universe (Rossetti, 2022). It may seem very ordinary in contemporary times. Still, it had a profound impact back then, as it was the first instance of departing from the mythological explanation of the natural world. Thus, Thales led the beginning of rational inquiry that became the future of scientific discourse. Anaximander: Early Life and Scientific Contribution Anaximander was the contemporary of Thales, lived in the 6th century BCE, and belonged to the Milesian school. He was one of the earliest Philosophers who laid the foundation of Western Philosophy and the student of Thales (Mark & Artist, 2024). Anaximander is best known for the concept of Apeiron, which can be translated as boundless. As Thales called water the first cause of creation, Anaximander differed on this with his master and called Apeiron the only cause of existence. He defined this concept as a cosmic force dispersing the matter (Mark & Artist, 2024). This concept of Anaximander is compared with the modern cosmological concept of Singularity, which is considered the point of origination of the whole universe. Anaximander has contributed to many scientific inquiries in modern days. From astronomy to zoology, he initiated my ideas that other philosophers later studied. He w...