Anaxagoras of Clazomenae - Greek Philosopher Who Was Truly Gifted

Anaxagoras of Clazomenae- Greek philosopher who was truly gifted

Anaxagoras has been described as the last major Greek philosopher. Anaxagoras was an Ionian. He was born in what today is Turkey. Not much is know of his early life. We know that he came form a rich family but gave up that wealth to devoe himself to science. Anaxagoras is considered to be the first to introduce philosophy to the Athenians when he moved there in about 480 BC. Pericles rose to power during Anaxagoras's stay in Athens. Pericles and Anaxagoras became friends. Many of Pericles political opponents set themselves against Anaxagoras this was one drawback to their friendship.

Said to be instigated by opponents of Pericles, Anaxagoras was thrown in jail for claiming that the Sun was not a god and that the Moon reflected the Sun's light. His doctrine of "nous" which means "mind" or "reason" showed remarkable insight. He believed that there was a solar system and showed understanding of centrifugal force. He believed that everything was together at one point and some vortex took apart that mass and rotated it and that is how we got the solar system. Also, he was the first to explain correctly the reason for the eclipses of the sun and moon.

Anaxagoras was rescued from prison by Pericles but had to leave Athens. He went back to Ionia and founded a school at Lampsacus. Anaxagoas died there and the anniversary of his death became a holiday for the school children.

Anaxagoras of Clazomenae- Greek philosopher who was truly gifted

Anaxagoras has been described as the last major Greek philosopher. Anaxagoras was an Ionian. He was born in what today is Turkey. Not much is know of his early life. We know that he came form a rich