Ancient Philosophy

The Cosmocentric Nature of Ancient Philosophy

The emergence of philosophy marked the advent of a fundamentally new, scientific approach to the world, although the ancient Greek conception of true knowledge and truth significantly differs from contemporary notions of scientific knowledge. The Greeks established a scientific principle of engaging with the world that transcended mythological and religious perspectives, focusing on the quest for causes and the inner essence of phenomena hidden behind what is immediately evident. However, the aims of ancient Greek philosophers in their pursuit of knowledge diverge from those of modern science; their attention was not directed toward understanding the myriad objects and phenomena of the world but rather toward grasping the universe as a whole, perceiving it as a singular and perfect cosmos. Ancient Greek philosophical thought is fundamentally cosmocentric, as philosophers believed that only by comprehending the mysteries of the cosmos and its laws could one approach the truth.

This does not imply that ancient Greek philosophers were wholly indifferent to particular scientific knowledge. They were among the most educated individuals of their time, embodying a broader scientific understanding rather than merely philosophical insight. Diogenes Laertius notes that Thales was the first to predict a solar eclipse, divided the year into 365 days, and discovered the Little Bear constellation. Anaximander is credited with sketching the outlines of land and sea and creating a celestial globe. Pythagoras is renowned for his mathematical discoveries. Many ancient Greek philosophers actively participated in the civic life of their states, earning the respect and admiration of their fellow citizens. Nevertheless, they regarded true knowledge as that of the universal, the holistic, and the fundamental essence, rather than knowledge of the partial, specific objects and phenomena.

Heraclitus' assertion that "a multitude of knowledge does not teach the mind" underscores this perspective, as he believed that "there is one wisdom—to understand the knowledge that governs all things through all things." Knowledge of the general, the singular, and the unchanging foundation underlying the diversity of the sensory world was considered true knowledge. Such knowledge pertains to the perfect, unified cosmos that generates everything and absorbs all. According to ancient Greek thinkers, the cosmos is the basis of all, the source of creation and destruction, and thus understanding the very foundations of the cosmos constitutes genuine knowledge. Consequently, ancient philosophers emphasized the comprehension of this singular, indivisible, unchanging, and perfect cosmos, rather than the transitory and temporally finite objects and phenomena.

For Thales, "the cosmos is more beautiful than all," while Heraclitus speaks of a "beautiful cosmos." Anaxagoras suggests it is better to be born "to behold the sky and the structure of the entire cosmos." For Plato, the cosmos is a "living being endowed with soul and reason," a "single whole composed of complete parts, perfect, impervious to aging and disease." Aristotle, too, asserts that "this Heaven (in this case referring to the Cosmos, the Universe) is one, unique, and perfect in its entirety." In form, the cosmos is spherical, for the sphere is the most perfect geometric figure.