Donald Robertson

Well, the two main philosophical traditions that preceded him, and there were others, so it's a little bit more complex, but the ones that are most relevant to him is the first philosopher at Athens was a guy called Anaxagoras, who came from the Greek colonies, which would be in Ionia, which would be on the coast of Turkey, basically.

Well, the two main philosophical traditions that preceded him, and there were others, so it's a little bit more complex, but the ones that are most relevant to him is the first philosopher at Athens was a guy called Anaxagoras, who came from the Greek colonies, which would be in Ionia, which would be on the coast of Turkey, basically.

Well, the two main philosophical traditions that preceded him, and there were others, so it's a little bit more complex, but the ones that are most relevant to him is the first philosopher at Athens was a guy called Anaxagoras, who came from the Greek colonies, which would be in Ionia, which would be on the coast of Turkey, basically.

So when we talk about Greek philosophers, we're often a bit confused about where they came from. They didn't all come from Athens. Many of them came from Greek colonies that were much further afield. So, Anaxagoras was what we call a natural philosopher. The famous thing about Socrates is we refer to everyone that came before him as pre-Socratic. That's how influential he was.

So when we talk about Greek philosophers, we're often a bit confused about where they came from. They didn't all come from Athens. Many of them came from Greek colonies that were much further afield. So, Anaxagoras was what we call a natural philosopher. The famous thing about Socrates is we refer to everyone that came before him as pre-Socratic. That's how influential he was.

So when we talk about Greek philosophers, we're often a bit confused about where they came from. They didn't all come from Athens. Many of them came from Greek colonies that were much further afield. So, Anaxagoras was what we call a natural philosopher. The famous thing about Socrates is we refer to everyone that came before him as pre-Socratic. That's how influential he was.

Yeah, he's the before Christ. He's the before Christ of philosophy. Yeah. So the natural philosophers are kind of, in many ways, precursors of modern science. They try to explain things, broadly speaking, using physical descriptions. They were very interested in astronomy, very interested in physiology. And that was a great thing for Athenian culture and Greek culture.

Yeah, he's the before Christ. He's the before Christ of philosophy. Yeah. So the natural philosophers are kind of, in many ways, precursors of modern science. They try to explain things, broadly speaking, using physical descriptions. They were very interested in astronomy, very interested in physiology. And that was a great thing for Athenian culture and Greek culture.

Yeah, he's the before Christ. He's the before Christ of philosophy. Yeah. So the natural philosophers are kind of, in many ways, precursors of modern science. They try to explain things, broadly speaking, using physical descriptions. They were very interested in astronomy, very interested in physiology. And that was a great thing for Athenian culture and Greek culture.

It was also very controversial because they challenged traditional superstitions. So people would think that thunder and lightning was caused by Zeus and the natural philosopher said, we reckon it's caused by clouds rubbing together or something like that. You know, earthquakes are just a natural phenomenon and things. And that had a surprisingly big impact on society.

It was also very controversial because they challenged traditional superstitions. So people would think that thunder and lightning was caused by Zeus and the natural philosopher said, we reckon it's caused by clouds rubbing together or something like that. You know, earthquakes are just a natural phenomenon and things. And that had a surprisingly big impact on society.

It was also very controversial because they challenged traditional superstitions. So people would think that thunder and lightning was caused by Zeus and the natural philosopher said, we reckon it's caused by clouds rubbing together or something like that. You know, earthquakes are just a natural phenomenon and things. And that had a surprisingly big impact on society.

Just as an aside, there's a famous anecdote about how Pericles, the most influential, most powerful Athenian statesman at this time, was about to set sail with his fleet on a military campaign. And there was an eclipse and his crew were cowering in fear and they refused to do it.

Just as an aside, there's a famous anecdote about how Pericles, the most influential, most powerful Athenian statesman at this time, was about to set sail with his fleet on a military campaign. And there was an eclipse and his crew were cowering in fear and they refused to do it.

Just as an aside, there's a famous anecdote about how Pericles, the most influential, most powerful Athenian statesman at this time, was about to set sail with his fleet on a military campaign. And there was an eclipse and his crew were cowering in fear and they refused to do it.

It's very often the Greeks would abandon, particularly the Spartans were known for this, by the way, they would abandon battles because they were concerned about bad omens and so on. And Pericles supposedly explained the natural philosophy that he'd been taught by Anaxagoras.

It's very often the Greeks would abandon, particularly the Spartans were known for this, by the way, they would abandon battles because they were concerned about bad omens and so on. And Pericles supposedly explained the natural philosophy that he'd been taught by Anaxagoras.

It's very often the Greeks would abandon, particularly the Spartans were known for this, by the way, they would abandon battles because they were concerned about bad omens and so on. And Pericles supposedly explained the natural philosophy that he'd been taught by Anaxagoras.

And he said, look, this is just something passing in front of the sun as if I put my cloak in front of your eyes, but it's further away and much bigger. And he convinced, by giving this down-to-earth naturalistic explanation, he managed to convince his troops to set sail. And so it changed the outcome of battles. Basically, that's how dramatic it was.

And he said, look, this is just something passing in front of the sun as if I put my cloak in front of your eyes, but it's further away and much bigger. And he convinced, by giving this down-to-earth naturalistic explanation, he managed to convince his troops to set sail. And so it changed the outcome of battles. Basically, that's how dramatic it was.