Anaximander is a hero in the development of scientific thinking
The polymath demonstrated the utility of challenging perceived wisdom, argues Carlo Rovelli
Of the three men usually credited with founding the disciplines of philosophy and natural science, Anaximander comes second, sandwiched between his teacher, Thales, and his student, Anaximenes. Being second, it turns out, was crucial. Though the polymath (who was born around 610BC) admired his teacher, he wasn’t afraid to challenge him. Thales sought the origin of all things in water; Anaximander preferred as his first principle the less tangible apeiron, the “indefinite” or “infinite”.
This article appeared in the Culture section of the print edition under the headline “Great minds do not think alike”
Culture February 11th 2023
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