Anaximander or Anaximandros was an ancient Greek philosopher and scientist who lived between 610 and 546 BC. In contrast to Thales, he did not consider water to be the fundamental substance, and argued that if one of the elements (water, fire, air, and earth) were primary, it would dominate the others. These elements are opposites: air is cold, water is wet, earth is dry, and fire is hot; therefore, the fundamental substance must be neutral, not one of these elements. Anaximander was born in 610 BC in Miletus (located in modern-day Turkey). He traveled extensively and was a disciple of Thales, becoming famous around 560 BC. Anaximander died in 546 BC.
Anaximander is known as the first person to draw a geographical map. He completed his sea maps with guides and observations about the tribes that sailors might encounter. He was also the inventor of a type of sundial. Anaximander continued the teachings of his master (or according to Theophrastus, his assistant) Thales at the Miletus school. He accepted Thales’ idea that unity must be the foundation of the multiplicity of nature, but he saw flaws in Thales’ assumption that water is the first element and the root of nature. According to Anaximander, the duality that is manifested in opposing pairs such as dryness and wetness, coldness and hotness, and so on, cannot be summarized in one of the opposites. Because if one of the opposites is emphasized as the primary, it inevitably dominates the others and disrupts the balance of nature. In fact, he believed that Thales had placed too much emphasis on the element of water.
According to Anaximander, it was more reasonable to think that wetness and dryness had emerged from a common substance. He called this substance “apeiron”. In Anaximander’s thought, apeiron is an infinite and indeterminate substance from which all other elements have emerged. He explained the permanent existence of opposites through a kind of compensation and reconciliation. If an element expands beyond its own realm, a kind of natural justice, with the help of its opposite, compensates for this expansion to maintain the balance of nature. Anaximander wrote a prose work on his philosophical theories, which was available during the time of Theophrastus. We owe our valuable knowledge of Anaximander’s ideas to this book. Like Thales, Anaximander was in search of the first and final element of all things. However, he believed that it could not be a specific type of matter, such as water, because water or moisture is one of the “opposites,” which requires explanation of their conflict, interaction, and intersection. Therefore, Anaximander came to the idea that the first element, the substance, is unknown.
This first element is prior to the opposites, from which the opposites arise and dissolve into it. Anaximander called this first element (in Greek) “arche” and named it the material cause. According to Theophrastus, he was the first to call it that. “This element is neither water nor any of the other elements, but a nature that is contrary to them and infinite, from which all heavens and worlds within them arise. This infinite substance (in Greek: “apeiron”) is the essence of the limitless. “It is eternal and timeless” and “embraces all worlds.” Life arises from the sea, and in the current form, animals have emerged due to adaptation to the environment. He made an intelligent guess about the origin of humans. Moreover, he said that initially humans were born from another type of animal because while other animals quickly find their food, only humans need a long period of breastfeeding. If he had been like he is now at the beginning, he could never have survived and remained alive. Anaximander was a member of the Miletus School and one of the first philosophers who tried to achieve knowledge through logical and scientific thinking.
Anaximander’s philosophical theories can be summarized as follows:
1. The concept of Arche: Anaximander believed that everything has a primary source or “arche” that is used to produce other things. For him, the arche was an infinite and shapeless being from which everything arises.
2. The place of humans: Anaximander saw humans as a part of nature and believed that humans must harmonize with the natural world to attain peace and happiness.
3. Theory of the universe: For Anaximander, the universe was an infinite being with its own system and laws. He believed that the universe was circular, with the earth at its center, and concluded that the universe is in a constant state of change and evolution.
4. Justice: For Anaximander, justice meant harmony between humans and nature. He believed that one must behave appropriately with their environment to achieve justice.
Anaximander was in search of fundamental and foundational knowledge for philosophy and science, and he believed that only through logical and rational thinking could acceptable knowledge be obtained. He also delved into ethical issues, believing that ethics should not only be based on human laws but should also be harmonious with the natural environment. In other words, Anaximander believed that ethics should take into account the environment and the natural world and should be appropriately aligned with them. Anaximander addressed justice and equality and believed that humans must behave appropriately with their environment to achieve justice. He believed that humans should strive for a peaceful and happy life and should reach this goal through cooperation and coordination with others. Anaximander was seeking a cognitive approach to knowledge and ethics, and he believed that humans must behave appropriately with their environment to achieve justice and happiness. He also addressed social interactions and human relationships, believing that to achieve a peaceful and stable happiness, humans must respect others and behave appropriately with them.
For example, Anaximander emphasized justice and equality and believed that humans must respect others and refrain from any discrimination or racism. He believed that we should help others and achieve happiness and peace through cooperation and coordination with others. Anaximander also believed that we should respect others and refrain from any violence and anger. For him, establishing peaceful and responsible relationships with others is essential for achieving peace and happiness. Anaximander sought to find a solution to achieve human happiness and tranquility, and believed that we should respect others and work together and collaborate with them to achieve this goal. Anaximander also addressed ethical issues. He believed that ethics should not only be based on human laws but should also be harmonious with the natural environment. In other words, Anaximander believed that ethics should pay attention to the environment and the natural world and should be appropriately coordinated with them.
Anaximander also focused on justice and equality and believed that humans should behave appropriately with their environment to achieve justice. He believed that humans should seek a peaceful and happy life and achieve this goal through cooperation and coordination with others. He was looking for a cognitive method for knowledge and ethics and believed that we should behave appropriately with our environment to achieve justice and happiness. Additionally, he also addressed social interactions and human relationships. He believed that to achieve a peaceful and stable happiness, humans should respect others and behave appropriately with them. For example, Anaximander addressed justice and equality and believed that humans should respect others and refrain from any discrimination and racism. Additionally, he believed that we should help others and achieve happiness and tranquility through cooperation and coordination with them.
Anaximander also believed that establishing peaceful and responsible relationships with others is essential for achieving peace and happiness. He sought to find a solution to achieve human happiness and tranquility and believed that we should respect others and work together and collaborate with them to achieve this goal. Anaximander addressed family and familial relationships, but he did not give them more importance than social or human relationships. He believed that humans should respect others and responsibly contribute to the welfare and happiness of their families. He believed that the family is a very important social unit and should be improved and strengthened through proper recognition and evaluation of its worth. He also believed that the family should provide a calm and stable environment for its members and should be improved and strengthened through cooperation and coordination with other members of society.
Anaximander was searching for a solution to achieve human happiness and tranquility, and according to him, the family should be considered as one of the important factors in achieving this goal. He also emphasized the importance of education and upbringing of children. He believed that the education and upbringing of children are very important and should be taken seriously. According to Anaximander, the upbringing of children should be based on moral and human values and should help them progress towards peace and happiness. Anaximander believed that we should respect children and consider them as valuable human beings. He also believed that children should be taught to respect others and refrain from any violence or anger. He believed that the education and upbringing of children should be based on moral and human values and should help them progress towards peace and happiness. He also believed that the upbringing of children is not only the responsibility of the family but the responsibility of the entire community, and it should be taken seriously.
For Anaximander, both individual and social education are very important, and both should be given simultaneous attention. According to him, individual education is crucial for achieving personal peace and happiness and should help with the individual’s self-development and personal strength. He also believed that social education is vital for achieving human happiness and tranquility and should help with cooperation and coordination with others, learning social skills, and improving human relationships. Anaximander was searching for a solution to achieve human happiness and tranquility, and according to him, individual and social education should be combined and integrated to achieve this goal.
Anaximander provided solutions for combining individual and social education. He believed that the combination of individual and social education should be based on human values and ethics. He believed that individual education should help with the individual’s self-development and personal growth, and social education should help with the development of social skills and the improvement of human relationships. To combine individual and social education, he suggested that individuals should have an understanding of themselves and their identity to begin improving and developing their personalities. Then, we should focus on teaching social skills and improving human relationships to cooperate and establish healthy social relationships with others. Anaximander also believed that the family should be provided as a calm and stable environment for its members, and with cooperation and coordination with other members of society, we should ensure the improvement and strengthening of the family. He also believed that active citizenship and participation in social affairs can help strengthen human relationships and social education.
Anaximander emphasizes the importance of combining individual and social education based on human values and ethics. According to his theories, individual and social education should be given simultaneous and integrated attention to achieve human happiness and tranquility. He provided solutions for moral education and believed that moral education should be considered as a part of comprehensive and holistic education, and it should be given simultaneously with individual and social education. Anaximander believed that moral education should be based on human values and ethics such as ethical behavior, respect for others, empathy, fairness, honesty, and courage. He also believed that moral education should help strengthen and establish the values that exist within individuals and help create and strengthen healthy and righteous human relationships.
Anaximander suggests that moral education should focus on strengthening and consolidating ethical values through education, culture, and practical exercises. Additionally, it is essential to assist in developing the individual’s personality power and social skills to enable them to behave ethically in society. He places great importance on moral education and provides solutions for moral education based on human values and ethics. According to him, moral education must be considered as a part of comprehensive and holistic education and must be given simultaneously with individual and social education to help achieve human happiness and tranquility. Anaximander was one of the individuals who had views on the economy in his time. He believed that the economy should be considered as a part of human life and designed to help improve the living conditions of individuals and society. He paid attention to the economy as one of the social and political issues and addressed some of the issues related to it. He believed that wealth should be distributed equally and fairly among individuals, and no individual has the right to benefit from wealth and abundance beyond their needs. In other words, Anaximander paid attention to the fair distribution of wealth and financial power in society.
Anaximander believed that trade and exchange of goods and services between people should be conducted based on ethical and human values. He believed that trade should be considered as one of the ways of economic development and improving the living conditions of individuals, but it must be done while respecting ethical and human values. He paid attention to the economy as one of the social and political issues and addressed some of the issues related to it. He believed that fair distribution of wealth and financial power should be taken into account to improve the living conditions of individuals and trade while preserving ethical and human values.
Anaximander had views on politics and politicians of his time. He believed that politicians should serve the public as public servants and help improve the living conditions of people and society. From his political viewpoint, he was loyal to a government that would exist in an organized and legal manner to improve the living conditions of people for all individuals. He believed that the government should serve the people as a public organization and pay attention to justice and equality in the distribution of resources and social opportunities. In the view of Anaximander, politicians should serve the public as servants and strive to improve people’s lives and society. He believed that politicians should focus on justice and equality in the distribution of resources and social opportunities and work to improve people’s living conditions. In other words, Anaximander looked at politics as a means to improve people’s living conditions and emphasized the importance of ethical and human values in this regard. He was also seeking to develop a fair and optimal political system to improve people’s living conditions.
Anaximander was not seeking to develop a specific political system. In theory, he was seeking to develop a fair and optimal political system to improve people’s living conditions. He believed that the government should serve the people as a public organization and pay attention to justice and equality in the distribution of resources and social opportunities. In Anaximander’s view, the political system should be developed based on the principles of justice and equality and pay attention to human rights, personal freedom, and improving people’s living conditions. He was seeking to develop a political system that would focus on social and economic equality and for this reason, he paid attention to the fair distribution of wealth and financial power among individuals.
Anaximander sought to develop a fair and optimal political system to improve people’s living conditions and tried to ensure that ethical and human values had a proper place in the political system. However, he did not promote a specific political system and was seeking to develop a fair and optimal political system to improve people’s living conditions. Anaximander also paid attention to cultural development. As a philosopher, he sought to develop a cultural and human-centered society by emphasizing ethical and human values. He believed that in a better political system, individuals should be encouraged to adhere to ethical and human values and should strive for the cultural development and progress of society. He emphasized the cohesiveness and solidarity between individuals and communities culturally and sought to promote cultural values such as harmony, empathy, and solidarity in society.
In Anaximander’s view, cultural development and the promotion of ethical and human values in society help to improve living conditions and contribute to the foundations of a just and optimal society. He was attentive to cultural development and human values in society, and this issue was an important foundation for him in developing a fair and optimal political system to improve people’s living conditions. Anaximander did not have a perspective on cultural development in other societies, as he, as a Greek philosopher, only thought about the history and culture of Greek society. He believed that he should focus on cultural development in his own society and aim to improve the living conditions of people in his own community.
However, Anaximander’s views on human and ethical values and their role in societal development seem to be generally useful for other societies as well. Values such as justice, equality, freedom, solidarity, and individual development are applicable to any society and can help improve living conditions and promote development in other communities as well. Therefore, within a certain framework, Anaximander’s views and values can also be useful for cultural development in other societies. Anaximander was familiar with and paid attention to the theories of other Greek philosophers. As one of the most respected philosophers of ancient Greece, he was influenced by the theories of philosophers such as Pythagoras, Heraclitus, Parmenides, Plato, and Aristotle. For example, Anaximander was influenced by Heraclitus’ theories about change and transformation in the world and believed that the world is constantly changing and evolving. He also used Pythagoras’ theories about mathematics and its relationship to the world and is recognized as one of the first philosophers to use the concept of infinity.
Regarding Aristotle, Anaximander was influenced by his theories on ethics and justice. Additionally, he used Parmenides’ theories about “being” and “non-being” and believed that everything that exists is derived from one or more other things. Anaximander paid attention to the theories of other Greek philosophers and used them to shape and develop his own views and philosophy. There is no information about the influence of Anaximander on the theories of philosophers who came after him. However, it is likely that Anaximander’s influence on later philosophers such as Plato and Aristotle exists unintentionally through the ideas and concepts used in Western philosophy. For example, Plato was influenced by Anaximander’s theories about infinity and cosmology, and Aristotle was influenced by Anaximander’s theories about justice and equality in society.
It can be said that Anaximander provided the foundations for the development of Western philosophy by presenting new and different theories. Therefore, Anaximander’s influence on the theories of later philosophers probably existed through the ideas he proposed in philosophy.
As one of the pioneering philosophers of ancient Greece, Anaximander did not pay much direct attention to religious and divine issues. He focused more on examining philosophical and scientific issues such as existence, non-existence, infinity, and cultural and ethical development of society.
However, Anaximander’s views on “existence” and “non-existence” may have had an impact on religious and theological thinking. For example, he believed that nothing can come into existence from nothing, and everything that exists is derived from one or more other things. This concept can be used in examining the existence of a creator and their relationship with the material world.
Anaximander believed that the world is uniform and infinite. This concept can be used in examining religious and divine issues. For example, one of the religious principles of some religions is the existence of an infinite God who created the world. Although Anaximander did not directly focus on religious and divine issues, his views and ideas can be used in examining religious and theological issues. However, it is important to note that even though Anaximander’s views on God and religion may have been used later, it does not necessarily mean that he himself held beliefs or thoughts on these topics.