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While the Athenians were setting up a new constitution under Solon, the Milesians across the Aegean were busy inventing philosophy. Perhaps not philosophy as we usually think of it, but a search for rational principles to explain the natural world. In this episode, host Scott Emmons guides you through the bold — and sometimes bizarre — theories advanced by three philosophical pioneers: Thales, Anaximander, and Anaximenes.

 For a few visuals to illustrate this episode, check out Episode 22 at epicgreekhistory.substack.com.

Suggested Readings:

G.S. Kirk and J.E. Raven, The Presocratic Philosophers: A Critical History with a Selection of Texts

Jonathan Barnes, Early Greek Philosophy (Penguin Classics)

James Warren, Presocratics: Natural Philosophers Before Socrates

Edward Hussey, The Presocratics

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