Socrates Material Monism

By definition, material monism is the philosophical belief that proclaims that the physical world is filled with all matter derived from one single element. Material monism is Pre-Socratic, which means that it originated prior to the teachings of Socrates. This belief system was developed by three famous Milesian philosophers, who are commonly known as Thales, Anaximander, and Anaximenes. As stated in the text, “Three philosophers from the city of Miletus in Ionia, Thales, Anaximander, and Anaximenes, make up the Milesian ‘school.’ Thales is reported to have been the teacher of Anaximander, who was, in turn, the teacher of Anaximenes. The three agree that the cosmos began as a single stuff that changed to become the universe as we see it today” (9). With that being said, this quote helps outline the beliefs of the three Milesian men. As a result, Thales, Anaximander, and Anaximenes each had their own theories that supported the philosophical belief of
As described in class, air helps to explain why we see motion everywhere. In addition, he even believed that the earth floats on air. In the text, it states, “Anaximenes… like Anaximander, declares that the underlying nature is one and boundless, but not indeterminate as Anaximander held, but definite, saying that it is air” (13). This quote helps illustrate Anaximenes’s beliefs and assert that he was in partial agreement with his teacher, Anaximander. Anaximenes’s, like his predecessor, believed that the universe was in material motion. Despite this idea, he also believed that one could feel and see air. As examined in class, hot air could be felt on skin and cold air can be seen as it is exhaled from the mouth. These ideas suggest that air is a distinguishable element that is recognizable in the physical world. This material monist belief helps pinpoint important ideas that were unknown at this