MONISM PLURALISM
Reality is One Reality is Many
* Thales
* Anaximander * Empedocles
* Anaximenes * Anaxagoras
* Pythagoras * Democritus
* Xenophanes
* Heraclitus
* Parmenides
* Zeno of Elea
Monism
The first philosopher. The Key Points
founder of the Milesian School.
He believed that the ultimate Water
composition of all things is Arche
water. He believes there is a Milesian School
unifying principle called “Arche”
Thales of Miletus
Key Points The first known metaphysicist and a student
of Thales. He believed that the unifying
Apeiron or Boundless element is not water. He called it Apeiron or
Proto-Evolution boundless. He believed that the planet
moves the way he observed the sun and
moon. He invested in the study of proto-
evolutionary human anthropology.
Anaximander
Key Points The student of Anaximander. He believed
that the source of all things is Air. This belief
Rarefaction & Condensation laid the groundwork for rarefaction and
Cycle of Air condensation.
Air
Anaximenes
Fire < Smoke < Steam < Air > Mist > Water > Mud > Dirt > Stone
A mathematician of Samos who was
Key Points obsessed with numbers. He even ascribed
special meaning to numbers. Applied
Numbers numbers to music. Founder of the
Pythagorean Theorem Pythagorean Theorem. He believed that
Music totality of reality can be explained by
mathematical laws.
Pythagoras
He doesn’t believe in anthropomorphism.
He believed that there is only one God, Key Points
which was identified with the ultimate basic
stuff that was self-moving, imperishable, Anthropomorphism
and the rational basis of the universe. One God
Xenophanes
The enigmatic and the dark philosopher. He
Key Points believed that fire is the single original
element. He proposed that everything that
Logos exists is based on a higher order or plan,
Fire which he called logos.
Heraclitus
Reality is always changing
He believed that it is impossible to create a
concept if it is nothing. He believed that the Key Points
empty space of Arche is nothing.
Illusion
Nothing
Parmenides
The reality is an illusion
The loyal defender of Parmenides that time
and motion is illusion. He proposed the Key Points
paradox of motion which is link to his
teacher belief about the reality. Paradox of Motion
Illusion
Zeno of Elea
Pluralism
He stated that everything was composed of
four elements known as “four roots.”
The changes and movement in the universe
have two forces, namely Love and Hate.
Empedocles
The first philosopher to be connected to
Athens. He replaced four roots with “Infinite
Seeds.”
In everything that exist there is a seed of
everything else.
Anaxagoras
The Atomist who contradicted the idea of
Parmenides that empty space of Arche is
real and has a motion
He saw the world as composed of groups of
“Atoms” the Greek word which means
“indivisible”
Democritus
Making Meaning
Realize the value of doing
philosophy in obtaining a
broad perspective on life.
How did exploring these different
elements help you see that there
can be many ways to explain or
understand the world?
