Anaximander

[ uh-nak-suh-man-der ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

Anaximander

/ əˌnæksɪˈmændə /

Anaximander611 bc547 bcMGreekPHILOSOPHY: philosopherSCIENCE: astronomerSCIENCE: mathematician 611–547 bc , Greek philosopher, astronomer, and mathematician who believed the first principle of the world to be the Infinite

Anaxagoras came along about a century after the first Ionian philosophers, Thales of Miletus and his younger Milesian contemporary Anaximander.

No longer was lightning a sign of an angry Zeus, declared Anaximander — rather it flashed when clouds were disrupted by the wind.

It has done this many times throughout history, from Anaximander to Heisenberg and Einstein, and continues to do so.

Thus Anaximander, an original but vague thinker, prepared the way for Pythagoras.

Anaximander, the disciple of Thales, invented maps and globes; born about 610 B.C.

Anaximander, who lived six centuries before Christ, advocated the assumption.

Not merely Thales, but his followers and disciples, Anaximander and Anaximenes, were born there.

Anaximander also developed a striking theory about the origin and evolution of living beings.

April 17, 2024axolotl

[ak-suh-lot-l ]

Start each day with the Word of the Day in your inbox!

By clicking "Sign Up", you are accepting Dictionary.com Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policies.

Browse