Lesson 1.5: Pre-Socratic Philosophers

Question 1

the first to ask “what is the basic stuff of the universe?”

Answer 1

thales of miletus

Question 2

what does “what is the basic stuff of the universe?” imply

Answer 2

what was the first cause of existence and from what element or force did everything else proceed

Question 3

thales claimed that the underlying element of creation was

Answer 3

water

Question 4

why did thales think that water is the first cause

Answer 4

because the first cause had to be a part of everything that ollowed

Question 5

when water is heated it becomes

Answer 5

air (vapor)

Question 6

when water is cooled it becomes

Answer 6

solid (ice)

Question 7

when water is added to earth it becomes

Answer 7

mud

Question 8

when mud (water) becomes dry, it becomes

Answer 8

solid again

Question 9

under pressure, mud (water) could

Answer 9

move rocks

Question 10

water at rest could

Answer 10

provide a habitat for other living things and was essential to life

Question 11

an eternal
creative force bringing things into existence according to a natural, set pattern, destroying them and
recreating them in new forms.

Answer 11

apeiron

Question 12

what does apeiron mean

Answer 12

“the the unlimited, indeterminate, and indefinite (ground/origin/principle)”

Question 13

who developed apeiron

Answer 13

anaximander

Question 14

what did anaximander think the underlying element/first cause was

Answer 14

nothing because all natural elements must have originated from an earlier source

Question 15

who proposed air as the basic world principle

Answer 15

anaximenes

Question 16

what did anaximenes believe the basic world principle was

Answer 16

air

Question 17

what did anaximenes’ theory/thesis seem like at first

Answer 17

a step backwards from the more comprehensive (anaximander’s limitless) to the less comprehensive particular (thales’ water)

Question 18

why did Anaximenes believe air was the basic world principle

Answer 18

air can be observed in many things and that many observable qualitative differences (fire, wind, water, earth) are the result of quantitative changes (how densely packed)

Question 19

by rarefaction, air becomes

Answer 19

fire

Question 20

by condensation, air becomes

Answer 20

successively wind, water, and earth

Question 21

he stated that the underlying principle of truth is numbers and mathematics

Answer 21

pythagoras

Question 22

what is the underlying principle of truth according to pythagoras

Answer 22

numbers and mathematics

Question 23

pythagoras is known for teh

Answer 23

pythagorean theorem

Question 24

why did pythagoras think numbers and maths are the underlying principle of truth

Answer 24

because numbers have no beginning or ended and neither does creation nor destruction

Question 25

this concept is central to pythagorean vision

Answer 25

concept of transformation

Question 26

what does the concept of transformation state

Answer 26

the human soul is immortal, passing through many incarnations, life after life, as it acquires new knowledge of the world as experienced in different forms

Question 27

Transmigration of Souls means

Answer 27

reincarnation

Question 28

what did Transmigration of Souls do to plato

Answer 28

it greatly influenced plato's belief regarding immortality

Question 29

who states that everything is made up of fire

Answer 29

Heraclitus of Ephesus

Question 30

what did Heraclitus of Ephesus think everything was made up of

Answer 30

fire

Question 31

what is Heraclitus of Ephesus most known for

Answer 31

the phrase "Panta Rhei"

Question 32

what does Panta Rei mean

Answer 32

the only thing that cannot be changed is change itself

Question 33

what else did heraclitus of ephesus say

Answer 33

“One can never step into the same river twice”

Question 34

to heraclitus, how was existence brought into being and sustained

Answer 34

through a clash of opposites which continually encouraged transformation (e.g. day and night, seasons, etc)

Question 35

according to heraclitus, everything is always in

Answer 35

continual motion and state of perpetual change

Question 36

according to heraclitus, what are some necessary aspects of life in that they embodied the concept of transformative change

Answer 36

strife and war

Question 37

according to heraclitus, to resist change means to

Answer 37

resist life

Question 38

according to heraclitus, to accept change means to

Answer 38

encourage a peaceful and untroubled life

Question 39

the idea of Monism is related to

Answer 39

change

Question 40

he rejected the concept of change

Answer 40

parmenides

Question 41

according to parmenides, all of observable reality is just

Answer 41

of one substance, uncreated and indestructible

Question 42

according to parmenides, change is an

Answer 42

illusion

Question 43

why does parmenides state that change is an illusion?

Answer 43

appearances change, but not the essence of reality which is shared by every human being.

Question 44

according to parmenides, why can one not trust their senses to interpret the reality that suggests change

Answer 44

because the senses are unreliable

Question 45

what does parmenides suggest instead of recognizing change

Answer 45

“there is a way which is and a way which is not”

Question 46

what should we recognize according to parmenides

Answer 46

the essential oneness of material existence which does not differentiate | humans grow and develop and die just as animals and plants do.

Question 47

according to parmenides, what people see as differences between themselves and others are only

Answer 47

minor details