The concept of philosophy has ancient origins, and it is challenging to pinpoint a specific individual as the "first philosopher" because philosophical ideas emerged independently in various ancient civilizations. However, one of the earliest known figures often credited as the "first philosopher" in the Western tradition is Thales of Miletus.
Thales lived in the 6th century BCE in the Greek city of Miletus, located in present-day Turkey. He was a prominent pre-Socratic philosopher and is considered one of the Seven Sages of Greece. Thales sought to explain the natural world through rational inquiry rather than resorting to mythology or religious explanations. He is known for his interest in astronomy, mathematics, and geometry.
One of Thales' most famous beliefs was that water is the fundamental substance from which everything else arises. He believed that water was the basic element that underlies all matter. This idea marked a shift from mythical explanations of the world's origins to a more rational and naturalistic approach.
While Thales is often regarded as the first philosopher in the Western tradition due to his focus on the natural world and his emphasis on reason and inquiry, it's important to acknowledge that philosophical thought was present in other ancient civilizations as well, such as in ancient Egypt, Mesopotamia, and India, where thinkers also pondered questions about existence, ethics, and the nature of reality. The history of philosophy is rich and diverse, with contributions from various cultures and eras.