Pre-Socratics (1 gen 600 anni a. C. – 1 gen 450 anni a. C.)

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Pre-Socratics develop ideas about the nature of the universe

"These Greek thinkers, based in Ionia, are called the Pre-Socratics because their rational efforts preceded those of the Athenians. They took individual facts and wove them into general theories that led them to conclude that, despite appearances, the universe is actually simple and subject to natural laws. The Pre-Socratics began an intellectual revolution with their idea that nature was predictable, creating what we now call philosophy and science."

"Drawing on their observations, the Pre-Socratics speculated about the basic building blocks of the universe. Thales (THAY-leez) (ca. 600 B.C.E.) thought the basic element of the universe was water, and Heraclitus (hehr-uh-KLIE-tuhs) (ca. 500 B.C.E.) thought it was fire. Democritus (dih-MAH-kruh-tuhs) (ca. 460 B.C.E.) broke this down further and created the atomic theory, the idea that the universe is made up of invisible, indestructible particles. The culmination of Pre-Socratic thought was the theory that four simple substances make up the universe: fire, air, earth, and water."

"The Sophists (SOF-ihsts), a group of thinkers in fifth-century-B.C.E. Athens, applied philosophical speculation to politics and language, questioning the beliefs and laws of the polis to understand their origin. They believed that excellence in both politics and language could be taught, and they provided lessons for the young men of Athens who wished to learn how to persuade others. Their later opponents criticized them for charging fees and also accused them of using rhetoric to deceive people instead of presenting the truth. (Today the word sophist is usually used in this sense, describing someone who deceives people with clever-sounding but false arguments.)"

"[Socrates] seemed, to many Athenians, to be a Sophist because he also questioned Athenian traditions, although he never charged fees. His approach when exploring ethical issues and defining concepts was to start with a general topic or problem and to narrow the matter to its essentials. He did so by continuously questioning participants in a discussion or argument through which they developed critical-thinking skills, a process known as the Socratic method.
Socrates was viewed with suspicion by many because he challenged the traditional beliefs and values of Athens, including its democracy."

"Charges were brought against Socrates for corrupting the youth of the city and for impiety, that is, for not believing in the gods honored in the city. Thus, he was essentially charged with being unpatriotic because he criticized the traditions of the city and the decisions of government leaders. He was tried and imprisoned, and though he had several opportunities to escape, in 399 B.C.E., he drank the poison ordered as his method of execution and died."

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