The 14 best sentences of Anaximander of Miletus
Anaximander of Miletus (610 BC - 545 BC) was a philosopher and geographer of special importance in Hellenic thought.
Like his teacher Tales, Anaximander was born in the city of Mileto, and he shared teachings and reflections with Anaximenes, who was his disciple. The main contribution of Anaximander refers to the arché, The beginning of all things.
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Famous quotes of Anaximander
He only transcended one of his works, the interesting one About Nature, book that was lost but whose teachings were retrieved through doxographic commentaries of later scholars. His work in astronomy and geography had a special significance, being the first human being to measure the solstices and equinoxes, as well as being a pioneer in affirming that the Earth is cylindrical, although he erred in assuring that he occupied a central position in the universe.
In today's article we are going to compile the best Anaximander phrases , to understand a little better the thoughts and ideas of this outstanding Greek philosopher.
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1. Water is the arché (principle) of the universe.
Certainly, without water there is no life. Another thing is to think that it is an essential element for the material itself, but Anaximander said so.
2. Nature is eternal and does not age.
One of those Anaximander phrases in which he reinforces his theory of immutable matter.
3. All beings are derived from other older beings by successive transformations.
A first stone towards the understanding of human evolution.
4. Things are full of Gods.
On the omnipotence of the divine being.
4. There are many worlds and many systems of Universes that exist all at the same time, all of them perishable.
His astronomical vision had a great impact and follow-up in his time.
5. The indefinite is innate and incorruptible, for what begins necessarily has an end; and all corruption has a term.
His philosophy of matter had this fundamental premise.
6. The unlimited has no beginning then, in such a case, it would be limited.
A truism that synthesizes several notions about his thinking.
7. Immortal and indestructible, surrounds everything and destroys everything.
Sentence of Anaximander for posterity.
8. The indefinite is divine, for it is immortal and imperishable.
Another reflection about the lack of definition.
9. Nature is eternal and does not age.
A description of mother nature and its peculiarities.
10. The earth is cylindrical, three times as wide as its depth and only the upper part is inhabited. But this earth is isolated in space and the sky is a complete sphere in the center of which, without support, our cylinder, the earth, is located at the same distance from all points of the sky.
These astronomical principles caused great impact on the knowledge of the Greek era.
10. The original principle of things is the aperirón. That is where they arise, it is where they later perish because of necessity.
About the aperirón and its qualities.
11. Things originate from the separation of opposites.
On the transformation of matter.
12. The age of humans is not explained without their predecessors.
Another phrase about the evolution of the species.
13. The principle and element of things is the indefinite.
In this thought he describes the origin of his metaphysical philosophy.
14. Anaximander of Miletus affirmed that the infinite is the first principle, and that all things are generated from it, and are corrupted through it. The infinite is nothing but matter. (Plutarch)
The Greek philosopher Plutarch thus summarized some of Anaximander's ideas.
