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Thales Of Miletus

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Thales ()
Pre-Socratic philosopher
Antiquity
Thales.jpg
Birth around 625 BC. AD ( Milet )
Deaths around 547 BC. AD (Milet)
School / tradition Milesian school
Main interests Astronomy , Physics , Mathematics , Geometry , Politics
Notable ideas Water as a primary substance, Thales' theorem
Influenced by Egyptian Homer
Influenced Milesian school , Pythagoras
change Consult the documentation of the model

Thales of Miletus Thales commonly called (in ancient Greek / was a philosopher and scientist born in Greek Miletus around 625 BC. AD and died around the year 547 BC. AD It was one of the Seven Sages of Greece and the alleged founder of the Milesian school.

Summary

Biography

Thales is considered the first philosopher , scientist and mathematician Greek. It is also seen as a politician, taking into account its contribution to the group of " Seven Sages ". He had a first wife named Clfitis, then a second woman appointed Apolide.

The fall time is difficult even if one takes into account the date of the solar eclipse that is supposed to have predicted .

Thales' life has obviously undergone a process of idealization, and what we know of this thinker, like other Presocratics , tells us mostly about the kind of common wisdom in Greece. Pertaining to the statements of Herodotus , Diogenes is said that Thales was the son of Examios, a merchant, and Cleobulina . We sometimes hear it descended from the family Thlides , mythical kings of Phoenicia in the line of Agenor and Cadmus. Several other sources said however that he was perhaps the original Boeotian and probably Phoenician or a contemporary of Solon and Croesus , and he had settled in Miletus in the company of his friend Neiles. He is not sure either Milesian Thales, although a common tradition makes him a descendant of a wealthy family of Miletus. However, we must emphasize that the most reliable sources and come complete Diogenes Laertius and Herodotus.

Yet he began his life as a simple merchant and then turned to a career in politics and economics.

Regarding his political career, this is what relates Diogenes Laertius: "There also appears to have been a prominent political adviser. Thus he marked his opposition, when Croesus sent an embassy to propose Milesians to commit to his side since then the victory of Cyrus, that refusal will ensure the survival of the city. "This reputation enabled him to convince the city-states (or polite ) to Ionia to come together as a federation . Thales scientist should not overshadow another Thales, skilled in business and quick to disparage his own discoveries and its acquired assets. He knew his reputation first as a military adviser and as an engineer. During the war between the Persians and the Lydians , he diverted the river Halys to get the army of Croesus .

He sailed one day to Naucratis in Egypt , a city renowned for its scientific culture. He studied mathematics , especially geometry , where he had already discovered some . He was one of the creators of physics, geometry and astronomy.

They say he had a passion for gymnastics and we would have found him in the stands, death by dehydration during a competition in which he attended. Diogenes Laertius tells us of his death, poignantly:

"Thales Wise died while attending a sports event because of hunger, thirst, and weakness of the age." Is etched on his tombstone:

"Small is the tomb, but the sky is his glory.
Look, this is one of Thales, great spirit. "

We ourselves have made the following epigram on him, published the first book of Epigrams and our various meters:

"As he stared a fight sport
Solar Zeus, you have outside the stadium, delighted
Thales, whose wisdom had the reputation.
I praise you for reminding near you,
Because it was very old, and since this land,
He lacked the strength to observe the stars. "

Wisdom

The interest in Thales for the study of stars is reported by Diogenes Laertius and taken up by Plato in the Theaetetus (174):

Socrates: The example of Thales will understand you, Theodore. He watched the stars and, as his eyes to heaven, he fell into a well. A servant of Thrace, fine and spiritual, scoffed, they say, saying he was struggling to know what was happening in the sky, and he paid no attention to what was before him and his feet. The same joke applies to all those who spend their life philosophy. It is certain, indeed, that such a man knows neither close nor neighbor does not know what they do, hardly knows whether they are men or creatures of another species, but that is what may be the man and what such a nature to do or support that distinguishes it from other beings, that's what he wants and makes it difficult to discover. You see, I think, Theodore, do not you understand ?

Theories

Cosmology

Thales is the first thinker known to history. His philosophy of nature because of the water the explanatory principle of the universe , from which are other elements , air , fire and earth. Giving vitality to this area unique and universal, he believes that water is the principle of all things, that the Earth is only the condensed water, air, water rarefied, and that last analysis to solve any water:

"Thales, the founder of this way of philosophizing, takes water to principle, and that is why he claimed that the earth rested on the water, probably led to this opinion because he had observed that the wet food of all beings, and that heat itself comes from the wet and lives, yet what are the things is principle. From there he took out his doctrine, and also that the germs of all things are by nature wet and that water is the principle of moist things. Many believe that since the earliest times, long before our era, the early theologians have had the same opinion about the nature, for they had the Tethys Ocean and authors of all phenomena of this world, and they show the gods cursing by water as the poets call the Styx. Indeed, what is oldest is what is most holy and what is most sacred is the oath. Is there really a physical system in this old and ancient opinion? That is what one might doubt. But Thales is said that such was his doctrine . "

- Aristotle , Metaphysics, A, III, 983, trans. Victor Cousin , 1838

This primitive element is of uncertain origin, possibly Phoenician :

"The design of Thales: a floating ground, like a hard wood, water, and a universe filled with primordial matter, that is to say considered as a liquid mass, agrees, as does see Tannery For the history of science Hellene, p. 70 ff., to some extent with the Egyptian idea of the primordial water Nun, divided into two separate masses. The ancient Babylonians likewise admitted an Ocean upper and lower ocean cf. Fritz Hommel, Der Ursprung der babylonische aegyptischen Kultur, Munich 1892, p. 8. We can also compare with the book of Genesis, I 7. The concordance between the fundamental doctrine of Thales and of the Jewish sect mid Sampsens remains quite obscure, cf. Hilgenfeld, Judentum und Judenchristentum, p. 98, from Epiphan. Haeres, 19, 1, cf. also Plutarch, the Syrians, Quaest. Guest., VIII, 8, 4 (Mor., 891, 7 ff., Dubna). The current trend is to consider Thales as a simple intermediary between foreigners and Greeks, and this trend has yet against it the way the best authority, Eudemus, op. cit., discusses the geometric work of Thales and the report in which they find themselves with Egyptian mathematics. "

- Theodor Gomperz thinkers of Greece History of Ancient Philosophy, Volume I, Book I, Chapter 1, II

The reason for this choice for water probably comes from the importance of it in growth and nutrition of living things, its central role in the lives of Milesians and comments that he claims made in Egypt about the importance of the Nile and other rivers that were the object of worship. But the originality of Thales is to make this mythological explanation a need to know physics and metaphysics , in effect, the unity of the water element is also the unity of the world: "Thales and his school: the world is a " Aetius.

This thesis is a great innovation, because it involves the assertion of truths, not from some unusual objects, as was the case before him to the Egyptians or the Babylonians, but for an infinite number of objects in the world and the world itself. It therefore sets of truths about a whole class of beings. Thus, according to the Hellenistic German Zeller ( XIX century ), the major contribution of Thales is conceptualized to have generalized and observations, to be received by the concept of one without getting lost in the accumulation of observations disparate. That is the fundamental thesis of this philosopher which we know nothing with certainty. Sometimes attributed to Thales a conception of the universe quite attractive: it would be a kind of air bubble formed by the hemispherical concavity of Heaven and the flat surface of the Earth itself that floats on water. The movement of water on Earth would explain earthquakes .

He knew also benefit from his observations. Aristotle says that Thales, providing an abundant harvest of olives, would have monopolized presses for better monetize their services and he wanted to show that the sage is able to make money but that he does not care, preferring contemplation, scientific research and honest life.

Mathematics

Thales' theorem: \ Textstyle \ frac {OF} {BC} = \ frac {EI} {AC} = \ frac {AD} {AB}

Diogenes Laertius , in Lives, awards and Doctrines of Eminent Philosophers , vol. 1, states that Hieronymus said that Thales measured the pyramids of Egypt by the ratio between their shadow and that of our body. The anecdote relates that Pharaoh Amasis would put his knowledge to the test by saying that nobody was able to know what was the height of the Great Pyramid .

It just assumes that at a certain time of day, the shadow of any object is equal to its height. It only remained to determine the exact time. It should also take account of this that the sun should be perpendicular with one of its sides, which only occurs twice a year (November 21 and January 20) . The reason for this is that the pyramid of Cheops at Giza is located (30 latitude in the northern hemisphere) and the shadow is equal to the object, we need the sun's rays are inclined at 45 degrees. In addition, for the shadow is perpendicular to the base, it must be oriented north-south. Subsequently, Thales used his own size as the unit of measurement. He obtained the following results: 18 Thales for shade, and then measured the side of the base divided by two and he won 67 Thales, the pyramid of Khufu then 85 extent Thales. Now in local measurement, the Thales worth 3.25 Egyptian cubits, making a total of 276.25 cubits. We now know that the height of the pyramid of Cheops is 280 cubits or 147 feet. Like what, the extent of Thales was already fairly clear. Impressed by this calculation, the priests gave him access to the library where he could see many works on astronomy.

His name is famous by the famous theorem of Thales (he did not know), which gives relations between the ratios of distances of triangles. The first proof of this theorem is attributed to Euclid which presents in its elements , in Book VI (Proposal 2) - it demonstrates the proportionality of areas of triangles of equal height.

Historians ascribe although five theorems of elementary geometry:

  1. A circle is divided into two equal parts by any diameter.
  2. The base angles of an isosceles triangle are equal.
  3. The opposite angles are equal at the top.
  4. Two triangles are equal if they have two angles and the included side equal.
  5. An angle inscribed in a semicircle is right.

Astronomy

Total eclipse of the sun.

His interest in astronomy led him to make many observations on the constellations. It was the first to travel the sun between the tropics. It also establishes that some stars were not all fixed relative to the others and called them " planets ", which means wandering body. It is even said that he succeeded in listing the ephemeris. He was also the first to note that the year does not count 365 days, but 365 and a quarter.

It is reported that predicts the solar eclipse of 27 May 584 BC. BC But this assertion is certainly the legend . Indeed, at that time, the prediction of lunar eclipses was relatively well known because they are repeated on a cycle of nineteen years (Saros). A lunar eclipse is visible from any part of the Earth facing the moon. But it is different to the predictions of solar eclipses that are visible only for a few minutes on a small portion of the globe, Thales and lacked the knowledge needed to make such predictions. This requires not only powerful but also geometric means of complex trigonometric calculations as well as tables elaborately constructed from ' ephemeris old. All these means will only be available to astronomers by Hipparchus (190-120 BC. JC) thanks to his theory of epicycles. The Babylonians had ephemeris certainly dating back at least the eighth century, but the other items they needed. Anyway, when the eclipse occurred, the Medes and the Lydians were at war then took a panic as they concluded a peace agreement.

It was the time that his knowledge of electricity since it already knew that Amber had the property of attracting light materials. Following these experiments, the word "electricity" ( , elektron in Greek ) is given in reference to the amber. He is considered one of the creators of physics, geometry and astronomy: he described the Big Dipper and advised sailors to use them to guide themselves, calculated the length of the year intervals and solstices equinoxes, the apparent diameter evaluation from the sun and the relative magnitudes of this star and the moon.

The school of Miletus

Location of Miletus in Asia Minor in the ancient Greek world.

Return to Miletus , he founded the Milesian School. We know that Anaximander and Anaximenes were his successors. But we have no written of him, and we do not even know if he ever wrote. It is difficult to specify his ideas and to be assured of some of his scientific discoveries. We know that in this school, he delivered the now famous formula: "Know thyself. "

The school of Miletus made two major advances founders:

  • The first is the distinction between natural and supernatural. Loydd writes that "the Milesians let the gods at the door." More accurately, they do not hunt the divine knowledge of the world, but the mythology , seeking natural causes for phenomena. This change in attitude is the successor to the naturalistic explanation divine classical explanation.
  • The second follows naturally by the search for truth: the Milesians set up the discussion of the arguments made. Accept the scientific discussion is a need for advanced scientific and quality of rationality.

Quotes / Sayings

  • "Hard to know yourself. "
  • "What is certain is what happened, nobody knows what will happen. "
  • "Surround yourself capable people. "
  • "The need is strong, it conquers all. "
  • "Better be envied than pitied. "
  • "The time is wise, he reveals all. "
  • "Do not say that you intend to do something because if you fail, everyone will laugh at you. "
  • "Who is happy: the man healthy, wealthy, educated and courageous. "
Sponde, Prst NOXA is; Amicorum praesentium and absentium memento; not ornato faciem, sed studiis honestas ornatissimus esto; Noli male ditescere; Cave sermo tuus invisum faciat iis that you interpositive earundem fide rerum sunt socii; parentibus blandiri not doubtful; Maleficium not admitt; Qualia parentibus praemia dedere talia ipse senex has liberis Exspect tuis; Difficult is noscere bonum; suavissimum is optative potiri; Desidia res molesta; Malum intemperantia; Ignorantia incommoded is; Doce Disce ac meliora; Noli otiari, etiamsi dives sis; Res secunda this invidiae declinandae causa; Fac ISAF does miserabile; Modum Adhibit; Cave omnibus creds; quum Macs, rege te ipsum.

Bibliography

Sources

  • Herodotus , Histories ; "

    Fragments and testimonies

    • Giorgio Colli , Greek Wisdom: Epimenides, Pherecydes, Thales, Anaximander, Volume 2, eds Shine, 1992 ( ISBN 2905372532 ).
    • Jean-Paul Dumont, The Presocratics, Gallimard, coll. Bibliotheque de la Pleiade, 1988 ( ISBN 2070111393 ).
    • trad. John Burnet online [1]

    Studies

    • P. Tannery, Thales and its borrowings from Egypt [ read online ].
    • Theodor Gomperz thinkers of Greece History of Ancient Philosophy [ read online ] (Volume I, Book I, Chapter 1, II).
    • Robert Lahaye, Ionian Philosophy. The School of Miletus, ed. Cedar, Paris, 1966.
    • Geoffrey Lloyd, The Beginnings of Greek science - From Thales to Aristotle, La Dcouverte, 1990 ( ISBN 2707119431 ).

    Notes and references

    1. according to Herodotus , I, 74.
      "Cyaxares them again. On his refusal, the war broke out between two princes. For five years it lasted, the Medes and the Lydians were alternately frequent benefits, and the sixth there was a kind of night fighting for, after a fortune equal sides, having fought, the day was changed suddenly into night, while the two armies were in the hands. Thales of Miletus had foretold to the Ionians that change, and he had fixed the time of year when it took place. The Lydians and Medes saw that night had taken the place of the day, stopped the fight, and never were more than eager to make peace. Syennsis king of Cilicia, and Labynte, king of Babylon, were the mediators, they hastened to the Treaty, and assured him by marriage. Convinced that the treaties can have a powerful strength, without bond, they engaged Alyattes to give his daughter Astyages Aryan, son of Cyaxares. These nations in their treaties observe the same ceremonies as the Greeks, but they are still minor cuts to his arms, and lick each other the blood that results. "
    2. Diogenes Laertius: Book I, 37-38 (Life of Thales)
    3. I, 22:
      "Thales, according to Herodotus, Douris and Democritus, was the son of Examios and Cleobulina and member of the family Thlides, Phoenicians descendant of Agenor and Cadmus, if we believe Plato. "
    4. Herodotus , I, 170:
      " , , , : [2] , , : . [3] , , , , , : . "
      "Although filled with mischief, the Ionians were assembling it does not at least Panionium. Bias of Priene gave them, as I learned a very great council, which would have rendered the happiest of all Greeks, if they wished to follow. He urged them to embark together on the same fleet, travel to Sardinia, and to found a single city for all the Ionians. He showed them that by this means they come out of slavery, they get richer and the largest inhabitant of the islands, others fall into their power, whereas, if left in Ionia, he saw no hope for them to regain their freedom. Such was the advice to the Ionians gave Bias, after they had been enslaved, but before that their country had been subjugated, Thales of Miletus, whose ancestors came from Phoenicia, gave them also which was excellent. It was established in Teos, in the center of Ionia, a general council for the whole nation, without prejudice to the government of other cities, which would still have followed their particular purposes as if they had been so many townships different. "
    5. According to Herodotus , I, 75.
      "Cyrus was thus Astyages prisoner, his maternal grandfather, whom he had dethroned for reasons I will later in this story. Croesus, irritated about it cons Cyrus, sent to consult the oracle whether he should make war with the Persians. He had come to Delphi an ambiguous answer, he thought favorable, and there on he was determined to enter upon the land of the Persians. When he arrived on the banks of the Halys, he did, what I believe, go to his army on the bridges we can see now, but if we are to believe most Greeks, Thales of Miletus it opened in the passage. Croesus, they say, are embarrassed to cross the Halys his army, because the bridges are now on the river did not exist yet in that time, Thales, who was at the camp, passed to the right of the army the river, which flowed to the left. Here's how he did it. He dug, starting above the camp, a deep canal crescent-shaped, so the army could have him back in the position where it was. The river has been diverted from the old to the new channel, again skirted the army, and went below its former bed. He was no sooner split into two arms, it also became fordable in one and another. Some even say that the old canal was made completely dry, but I can not endorse this sentiment. How indeed Croesus and the Lydians could they cross the river on their return? "
    6. According to Aetius , Opinions, I, III, I.
    7. , , , , , ' . [174b] . , , ' : ' , ' . , : ;
    8. , , , , .
    9. Seneca , Natural Questions [ read online ], III:
      "[14.1] Quae sequitur Thaletis sententia is inept. Ait enim terrarum ORBEM sustineri aqua and more uehi nauigii mobilitateque fluctuare eius tunc, cum dicitur tremere: ergo non est mirum, if abundat Umor flumina profundenda ad, cum totus mundus sit in umore. "
    10. Policy I, XI, 1259 a 6.
      "I will quote what is said of Thales of Miletus, it is a profitable speculation, which he was particularly honored, probably because of his wisdom, but everyone is capable. His knowledge of astronomy he had assumed, from the winter following the harvest of olives is abundant and, in order to answer some criticisms on his poverty, which could not guarantee it a useless philosophy, he employed the little money he had to provide a deposit for the rental of all the presses of Miletus and Chios, he was cheap, in the absence of any other bidder. But when the time came, the presses are in demand all at once by a crowd of farmers, he sublet the price he wanted. The gain was considerable, and Thales proved by this clever speculation that the philosophers, when they want, know get rich easily, although this is not the object of their care.
      We give this for a great example of skill on the part of Thales, but again, this speculation usually belongs to all who are in a position to create a monopoly. There are even states in need of money, are using this resource, and give themselves a general monopoly of all sales.
      An individual, Sicily, employed the deposits to buy the home of all the iron mills, and then, when traders came from various markets, it was only to sell them, and without unduly increasing prices, he won a hundred talents to fifty.
      Dionysius was so informed, and while allowing the trader to take his fortune, he banished him from Syracuse to have imagined a transaction detrimental to the prince. This speculation, however, is basically the same as Thales had both managed to make a monopoly. The expedients of this kind are useful to know, even for heads of states. Many governments require, such as families, to employ these means to get rich, and one might even say that this is only part of the government that many leaders believe they must deal. "
    11. Plutarch , The Banquet of the Seven Sages, 2:
      "So you, Thales, the king of Egypt admire you very much, and, among other things, he was, beyond what can be said, delighted at how you measured the pyramid without the slightest embarrassment and without needing any instrument. After preparing your stick on the end of the shadow projected by the pyramid, you construistes two triangles by the tangency of a ray, and you part testified that he had the same proportion between the height of the stick and height the pyramid between the length of the two shadows. "
    12. Denis Guedj, The Parrot's Theorem, The Point, P. 66.
    13. The manual eclipses. From Paris Observatory , Institute of Celestial Mechanics and Ephemeris Calculation. Page 12 (Paris - 2005)
    14. Commedia, Inf. IV, 137 (original) - Trad. Lamennais

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