Thales (HINDI/हिंदी में)

Thales of Miletus is often called the "Father of Western Philosophy."

He lived around the 6th century BC in Miletus, a Greek city known for trade and intellectual exchange.

Thales was among the first thinkers who tried to understand the natural world using logic and observation instead of relying on gods or supernatural explanations. This approach was revolutionary for his time, as people back then mostly believed that natural events like rain or storms were caused by the will of gods.

Thales believed that everything in the world could be explained through natural processes. He was curious about how the world worked and wanted to find logical reasons for natural phenomena. He is famous for his idea that water is the basic substance that makes up everything in the universe. Though modern science has since disproved this theory, his method of using observation and reasoning to explain the world was groundbreaking.

Thales taught people that instead of attributing events to supernatural forces, we should try to understand them using our own observations and thoughts. This method laid the foundation for modern science and philosophy.

Born in Miletus, which is now part of Turkey, Thales grew up in a rich and intellectually stimulating environment. Miletus was a hub for trade and culture, allowing Thales to interact with different people and ideas.


His travels to places like Egypt and Babylon greatly influenced his thinking. In Egypt, he learned about geometry by studying the pyramids. Thales used shadows and geometric principles to measure the height of the pyramids, showcasing his practical use of mathematics.

In Babylon, he studied astronomy and learned to observe the movements of the stars and planets. This knowledge helped him predict a solar eclipse in 585 BC, a significant achievement that earned him great respect.

Thales’ major contribution to philosophy was his belief in "First Principles." He thought that the world could be understood through a basic, primary substance, which he identified as water.

He observed that all living things need water, and he noticed how water could change forms—becoming solid as ice, liquid as water, and gas as vapor. This led him to believe that water was the source of all life and matter. Although this idea is incorrect by modern standards, it was a bold step toward scientific thinking.

Thales was also a pioneer in geometry. His most famous contribution is known as Thales’ Theorem, which deals with angles in a circle. He discovered that if you draw a triangle within a circle where one side is the diameter, the angle opposite the diameter will always be a right angle (90 degrees).

This theorem is still taught in geometry classes today. Thales applied these mathematical concepts to solve real-world problems, such as calculating the height of the pyramids in Egypt by comparing the length of shadows.

Thales was deeply interested in astronomy. He used his observations of the stars and planets to understand their movements. He learned from Babylonian astronomers, who were skilled at tracking the stars.

Thales was able to predict a solar eclipse by using logical thinking and the knowledge he had gathered. This achievement showed that natural events could be predicted through careful study and observation, rather than being seen as the unpredictable actions of gods.

One of Thales’ key ideas was the separation of natural events from divine influence. While people at that time believed that natural disasters like earthquakes were caused by angry gods, Thales suggested that such events could have natural explanations.

He thought that the earth floated on water, and earthquakes occurred when the water underneath was disturbed. Although this explanation was not scientifically accurate, it was a step toward understanding the natural world through observation rather than superstition.

Thales' influence extended far beyond his lifetime. His students, such as Anaximander and Anaximenes, built upon his ideas, proposing that other substances, like air, might be the primary element instead of water.

Later philosophers like Plato and Aristotle were also influenced by Thales' approach. Aristotle, in particular, praised Thales for being one of the first thinkers to move away from mythological explanations and toward logical reasoning.

Thales' method of thinking—based on observation, logic, and deduction—laid the groundwork for the scientific method that we use today. His focus on natural explanations for the world’s phenomena helped shift human thought from relying on myths to seeking logical answers.

Even though his specific theories may not have been correct, his approach to understanding the world through reason continues to influence science and philosophy to this day.

Thales' legacy is a reminder of how the pursuit of knowledge through rational inquiry can lead to significant discoveries and a deeper understanding of the world around us.