anaxagoras
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Proper noun A pre-Socratic philosopher from ancient Athens. He proposed a cosmological theory that all things are composed of infinitesimally small particles (seeds or homoiomeries) and that a cosmic, non-material intelligence (Nous, or Mind) initiated and governs the order of the universe. He lived from approximately 500–428 BC.
Usage
The word "Anaxagoras" is used exclusively as a proper noun to refer to the historical figure, his philosophical doctrines, or the era associated with him.
Examples: * The philosophy of Anaxagoras introduced the concept of a cosmic ordering principle. * Anaxagoras was prosecuted for impiety in Athens for his scientific views. * Scholars compare the Nous of Anaxagoras to later concepts of a divine intellect.
Advanced Usage
- Anaxagorean (adjective): Pertaining to Anaxagoras or his philosophy.
- The theory has distinct Anaxagorean elements, particularly its focus on a supreme ordering intelligence.
- Used in academic contexts to denote a specific phase in early Greek philosophy focused on metaphysical causation.
- The transition from material monism to pluralist systems is evident in the work of Anaxagoras and Empedocles.
Variants and Related Words
- Anaxagorean (adj.): Of or relating to Anaxagoras.
- Nous: A central term in Anaxagoras's philosophy, meaning "Mind" or "Intellect."
- Homoiomereia (plural: homoiomeries): A term sometimes used for the fundamental "seeds" or particles in Anaxagoras's theory.
Synonyms
- Pre-Socratic philosopher
- Ionian philosopher (by tradition, though he was from Clazomenae and worked in Athens)
Related Concepts and Phrases
- Pre-Socratic philosophy: The collective term for early Greek philosophers before Socrates, including Anaxagoras.
- Pluralist philosophy: A school of Pre-Socratic thought, which includes Anaxagoras, Empedocles, and the Atomists, who argued reality is composed of multiple fundamental substances or elements.
- The Trial of Anaxagoras: A famous historical event referencing his prosecution in Athens.
Noun
- a presocratic Athenian philosopher who maintained that everything is composed of very small particles that were arranged by some eternal intelligence (500-428 BC)