more on this theme     |     more from this thinker     |     more from this text

---

Single Idea 1597

[filed under theme 1. Philosophy / B. History of Ideas / 2. Ancient Thought ]

Full Idea

Thales was the first thinker in the west to believe that the arché (the basis of things) was intelligible.

Clarification

The 'arché' is the source or basis of everything

Gist of Idea

Thales was the first western thinker to believe the arché was intelligible

Source

comment on Thales (fragments/reports [c.585 BCE]) by David Roochnik - The Tragedy of Reason p.138

Book Ref

Roochnik,David: 'The Tragedy of Reason: the Platonic logos' [Routledge 1990], p.138