Lives and Opinions of Eminent Philosophers

...if they lack a consistent connection in their doctrines, it can no longer be called a school school: original "αἵρεσις" (hairesis), meaning a "choice" or a system of principles that one chooses to follow; for it would possess no settled teachings. These, then, are the origins and successions, the various parts, and the many schools of philosophy. Quite recently, an Eclectic school was also introduced by Potamo of Alexandria, who selected those doctrines that pleased him from each of the existing schools.

He holds (as he says in his Elementary Instruction) that there are two criteria of truth: first, that by which the judgment is made—namely, the "ruling faculty" original: "ἡγεμονικόν" (hegemonikon) — the central, governing part of the soul or mind according to ancient psychology; and second, that through which the judgment is made—such as the most accurate perception. He identifies the principles of the universe as matter, quality, the active power, and place (answering the questions: out of what, by what agent, of what kind, and in what location). The ultimate goal goal: original "τέλος" (telos), the final end or purpose of human life toward which everything is directed is a life made perfect by every virtue, which includes the natural needs of the body and external goods.

We must now speak of the men themselves, beginning first with Thales.

T H A L E S

Thales, then—according to Herodotus, Duris, and Democritus—was the son of Examyas and Cleobuline, of the family of the Thelidae. These were Phoenicians, the most noble of the descendants of Cadmus and Agenor, as Plato also confirms. He was the first person to be called "Wise" during the year Damasias was archon A high-ranking magistrate in Athens at Athens, the same period when the group known as the Seven Sages was named, as Demetrius of Phalerum records in his List of Archons. He was enrolled as a citizen in Miletus A powerful Greek city on the coast of modern-day Turkey when he arrived there with Neleus, who had been expelled from Phoenicia. However, most writers claim he was a native-born Milesian of a distinguished family.

After his involvement in politics, he devoted himself to the study of nature. According to some authorities, he left no written work behind; for the Nautical Astronomy often attributed to him is said to be the work of Phocus of Samos. (Callimachus, however, recognizes him as the discoverer of the Little Bear The constellation Ursa Minor, used for navigation, writing in his Iambics as follows: