Despite the fact that most people are not interested in philosophy as a science, it is a very important part of both individual and social life of a person. The emergence of philosophy is a long process, therefore, it is rather difficult to determine the origins of this science. After all, all the famous ancient scientists or sages were to some extent philosophers, but several hundred years ago they gave this word a completely different meaning.
The main prerequisites for the emergence of philosophy
As for the emergence of this science and its further development, disputes are still being held today, since each group of thinkers has its own opinion. It is believed that the first philosophical teachings originate in ancient mythology. It was ancient legends, parables, stories and legends that expressed the basic philosophical ideas.
Philosophy in translation means "love of knowledge." It was the desire to know the world that made possible the emergence of philosophy. In the ancient world, science and philosophy were inseparable parts of each other. To be a philosopher meant to strive for new knowledge, a solution to the unknown, continuous self-improvement.
The first impetus to the development of this science was the division of things into known and inexplicable. The second step is the desire to explain the unknown. And this concerned everything - the history of the creation of the world, the meaning of life, the laws of the universe, the structure of living organisms, etc. The emergence of philosophy became possible thanks to such social factors as the separation of physical and mental labor, the formation of different layers of society and free thinking.
The emergence of philosophy in ancient Greece
It is believed that ancient Greece was the center of development of philosophical science. Although in fact, different branches of philosophical doctrine were formed in ancient China, Japan, Egypt and other states.
The first mentions of philosophers date back to the seventh century BC. The ancient Greek scholar Thales is considered one of the first thinkers. By the way, it was he who created the Miletus School. This figure is known for his teaching on the beginning of the universe - water. He believed that every part of the universe, including living things, is formed from water and turns into water after death. It was this element that he endowed with divinity.
Socrates is another world- famous philosopher who has made a considerable contribution to the development of science. This thinker believed that a person should use all his knowledge for self-improvement, development of his mental abilities, understanding of internal abilities. Socrates believed that evil appears when a person does not realize his capabilities. This scientist had many followers, including Plato.
Aristotle is another scientist who is known not only for his philosophical works, but also for his scientific discoveries in the fields of physics, medicine and biology. It was Aristotle who gave rise to a science called “logic,” since he believed that the unknown should be comprehended and explained with the help of reason.
The emergence of philosophy and its development around the world
In fact, in ancient times, any scientist seeking to know the truth considered himself a philosopher. For example, Pythagoras was a famous mathematician and even founded his own school. His students sought to systematize and streamline social life, to create an ideal model of state and government. In addition, Pythagoras believed that the basis of the world is a number that "owns things."
Democritus is another famous scientist and thinker who founded and developed the materialistic theory of knowledge. He argued that every, even the most insignificant event in the world has its own reason and denied the existence of the supernatural. The philosopher explained all inexplicable incidents not by divine intervention, but by a simple ignorance of the cause.
In fact, studying the history of the emergence of philosophy, you can find many famous names. Newton, Einstein, Descartes - all of them were not philosophers, and each had his own view of the world and the nature of things. Indeed, it is practically impossible to separate the “love of truth” from the natural sciences.