The Pre-Socratics

The Pre-Socratics were early Greek philosophers who, before Socrates, sought to understand the natural world and its fundamental substance. They moved away from mythological explanations and aimed to find logical, observable principles underlying reality. Thinkers like Thales believed water was the basic element, while Heraclitus emphasized change and fire, and Parmenides argued that true reality is unchanging. Their work laid the groundwork for scientific and philosophical inquiry, promoting reason and observation as tools to explore existence. Overall, the Pre-Socratics focused on understanding the universe’s fundamental nature through rational thought.