Pre-Socratic Philosopher
Individual Short Essay:
Pre-Socratic Philosopher
James Dean Johnson
PHI/105
March 16, 2014
Michael Giacchino
Pre-Socratic Philosophers
PHI/105
March 16th, 2014
James Dean Johnson
The primary motivation of philosophers in the Pre-Socratic era was to bring knowledge
and a since of reason to the world, despite the repercussions it brought to their personal
lives such as how they were viewed by the religious orders and governing bodies of the
communities in which they lived. As I read about the different philosophers from the Pre-
Socratic era I found myself strangely drawn to Anaxagoras because I found him too be the
most compelling and most interesting of all of the Pre-Socratic philosophers that we read
about.
He was a teacher of metaphysics who lived during the era of (c. 500 – c. 428 B.C.E.),
(Moore & Bruder, 2008, p. 29). I found his distinctions and views between matter and
mind to be very interesting to say the least. Many of his ideas about change and particles
still hold true to this day. Anaxagoras believed that every different type of mass consists of
a make-up of its own particles and particles from all others (Moore & Bruder, 2008, p.
29). Even though the particles that he spoke of could not be considered “atoms”, his ideas
are still closely related to modern-day science. Considering the era in which he lived in, the
concepts that he communicated were definitely far advanced considering the time in which
he lived in even to other philosophers. Although both Aristotle and Plato highly
disapproved of Anaxagoras perceptions of the differences between mind and matter,
Anaxagoras may have separated himself from the most brilliant philosophers of his time
with his belief in the pure and infinite power of mind (Moore & Bruder, 2008, p. 30).
As I read of Anaxagoras’ theories, I found myself amazed and stunned with the fact
Pre-Socratic Philosopher
James Dean Johnson
PHI/105
March 16, 2014
Michael Giacchino
Pre-Socratic Philosophers
PHI/105
March 16th, 2014
James Dean Johnson
The primary motivation of philosophers in the Pre-Socratic era was to bring knowledge
and a since of reason to the world, despite the repercussions it brought to their personal
lives such as how they were viewed by the religious orders and governing bodies of the
communities in which they lived. As I read about the different philosophers from the Pre-
Socratic era I found myself strangely drawn to Anaxagoras because I found him too be the
most compelling and most interesting of all of the Pre-Socratic philosophers that we read
about.
He was a teacher of metaphysics who lived during the era of (c. 500 – c. 428 B.C.E.),
(Moore & Bruder, 2008, p. 29). I found his distinctions and views between matter and
mind to be very interesting to say the least. Many of his ideas about change and particles
still hold true to this day. Anaxagoras believed that every different type of mass consists of
a make-up of its own particles and particles from all others (Moore & Bruder, 2008, p.
29). Even though the particles that he spoke of could not be considered “atoms”, his ideas
are still closely related to modern-day science. Considering the era in which he lived in, the
concepts that he communicated were definitely far advanced considering the time in which
he lived in even to other philosophers. Although both Aristotle and Plato highly
disapproved of Anaxagoras perceptions of the differences between mind and matter,
Anaxagoras may have separated himself from the most brilliant philosophers of his time
with his belief in the pure and infinite power of mind (Moore & Bruder, 2008, p. 30).
As I read of Anaxagoras’ theories, I found myself amazed and stunned with the fact
References: Moore, B. N., & Bruder, K. (2008). The Power of Ideas (7th Ed.). New York, NY: McGraw Hill.