Anaximander

By Miguel Santiago

Anaximander, an influential figure in ancient Greek philosophy, was born in Miletus around 610 BCE. Regarded as one of the first cosmologists, he is known for his innovative theories on the origin and nature of the universe.

As a student of Thales, Anaximander built upon his mentor’s ideas while developing distinctive concepts of his own. His most notable work, “On Nature,” attempted to explain the fundamental principles underlying the cosmos.

Anaximander proposed that the universe emerged from an indefinite and boundless substance called the “Apeiron” This concept of the “unlimited” departed from Thales’ assertion that water was the primary element. Anaximander believed that the Apeiron contained the potential for all things to arise, and the processes of opposition and separation gave birth to the world as we know it.

Additionally, Anaximander introduced the concept of the celestial spheres, suggesting that the stars, sun, and moon were located at a certain distance from the Earth and revolved around it. While other theories later replaced this geocentric universe model, Anaximander’s exploration of celestial bodies laid the groundwork for future astronomical research.

Anaximander’s contributions extended beyond cosmology. He developed geographic maps, recognised as the oldest known maps in ancient Greek history. These maps depicted the Earth as a flat disk, with the Mediterranean Sea at its centre. Though imperfect by modern standards, his maps served as…