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At a time when there appeared no sign of decay in the old beliefs save the attempt of the Orphic poets to systematise them, Miletus produced in ANAXIMENES yet another great thinker who followed in the steps of Thales. The independent spirit of Miletus, and the direct influence of Thales, may explain the fact that for a long time the new philosophy was thus associated with a single city. Afterwards it became needful to flee westward from theocratic influences, and take refuge in the colonies of the South Italian and Sicilian coasts. In some respects Anaximenes stands nearer in thought to Thales than to his immediate predecessor, Anaximander. He saw less difficulty in believing that all things have a common element, and therefore that they are transmutable, than in assuming a number of elements of which our senses can tell us nothing. The theory of universal transmutability did indeed transcend experience, yet experience pointed in that direction. Anaximenes held that the common element is Air, a substance more simple and more pervading than Water. Not only is it essential to life -- it seems to be life itself. For did not the Greek word for "soul" mean breath? And what is true of man appeared to Anaximenes true of the whole universe, which he conceived as a living organism. "Just as we," he said, "are dependent on the soul, which is air, so is the whole universe pervaded by breath and air." What, then, could experience tell of the developing force? Air, as he said, is never at rest, and as it fills all space it must by motion be here condensed, and there rarified. Clouds, therefore, and water, the sun, the moon, and the earth are but forms of air in various stages of condensation. Still resting upon known facts, he made one step more towards simplicity of origin by including within his theory those qualities of things which Anaximander accepted as primary. Moist and dry express degrees of condensation, while heat is caused by rapidity of motion, the fire of the sun being thus due to its swift movement through the heavens.
The ancient mythology was still alive when Anaximenes held these views; yet are they among the most striking anticipations of the results of modern science. It may be added that Anaximenes, like Anaximander, devoted much attention to Astronomy.
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| This biography is
reprinted from The New Calendar of Great Men. Ed. Frederic
Harrison. London: Macmillan and Co., 1920. |
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