Anaximander’s philosophy

Anaximander, originally from Miletus in Ionia, was one of the first and most influential pre-Socratic philosophers, the First Cartographer, and identified the primary principle from which everything originated: the Apeiron, the “unlimited” or “indefinite.”

Living in the 6th century BCE, he is considered one of the founders of Western philosophy due to his innovative theories on the origin and nature of the universe.

The Apeiron: The Indeterminate Principle

One of Anaximander’s most original ideas is the concept of the apeiron. This Greek term, translatable as “unlimited” or “indefinite,” indicates, for Anaximander, the primordial principle from which everything originated. The apeiron is not a specific substance like water (as Thales believed) or air (as Anaximenes suggested) but rather a kind of primal matter, infinite and indeterminate, from which all things emerged.

Why the Apeiron? Observing nature, Anaximander realized that everything is born and everything dies, that there is a continuous cycle of becoming. To explain this cycle of birth and death, he proposed the existence of an eternal and immutable principle, the apeiron, from which everything originates and to which everything returns.

An Ever-Changing Universe

Anaximander believed in a constantly moving and transforming universe. Different elements and forms of life arise from the separation and differentiation of the apeiron. However, this process of differentiation inevitably generates conflicts and clashes. To restore balance, the prevailing elements must also perish, thus returning to the apeiron what they had borrowed.

Anaximander and Cartography

Besides being a philosopher, Anaximander was also an astronomer and geographer. He is thought to have been the first to draw a map of the known world, introducing the idea of a circular Earth surrounded by an ocean. This cartographic innovation was fundamental to the development of ancient geography.

Anaximander’s Influence

Anaximander’s ideas had a profound influence on subsequent philosophers. His conception of an indeterminate, primordial principle, from which everything originates and to which everything returns, anticipated many later theories in fields ranging from philosophy to modern physics.

Anaximander’s Conception of Time

Like many pre-Socratic philosophers, Anaximander was deeply interested in the nature of the cosmos and its transformations. His concept of time is closely related to the idea of the apeiron and the cosmic cycle.

• Cyclic Time: Anaximander viewed time as a continuous cycle of birth, death, and rebirth. Everything that exists emerges from the apeiron, differentiates, and then returns to the indeterminate principle. This cycle is infinite and eternally repeats.
• Cosmic Time: For Anaximander, time is not merely a sequence of moments but is intrinsically linked to the rhythms and cycles of nature. Celestial phenomena, such as the movement of planets and the cycle of seasons, were manifestations of cosmic time.

Anaximander’s Influence on Other Philosophers

Anaximander’s ideas had a profound influence on later philosophy.

• Anaximenes: A disciple of Anaximander, he adopted the idea of a primordial principle, though he identified it as air. However, his concept of time was still heavily influenced by his teacher.
• Parmenides: Although Parmenides developed a static and unchanging vision of reality, in contrast to the becoming of Heraclitus and Anaximander, his philosophy can be seen as a response to the complexity and dynamism of Anaximander’s cosmos.
• Aristotle: In his attempt to reconcile the plurality of the sensory world with the unity of being, Aristotle drew upon elements of Anaximander’s cosmology, such as the idea of a prime, indeterminate principle.

Contribution to the Birth of Science

Anaximander is regarded as one of the fathers of science for several reasons:

• Rational Method: Anaximander was among the first to seek explanations for natural phenomena through reason and observation rather than myths and legends.
• Cartography: As noted, Anaximander is considered the first cartographer in history, demonstrating a scientific approach to the study of geography.
• Cosmology: His theories on the origin and structure of the universe represent an initial attempt at creating a rational cosmology.

Comparing Anaximander’s, Heraclitus’s, and Parmenides’s Concepts of Time

The concept of time is a central theme in pre-Socratic philosophy, and these three philosophers offer radically different views.

• Anaximander: As discussed, Anaximander proposes a cyclical concept of time, linked to the eternal return to the apeiron. Time is a continuous flow where everything is born, transforms, and returns to the primordial principle. It’s a dynamic but also cyclic and repetitive vision.
• Heraclitus: For Heraclitus, time is closely connected to becoming. Everything flows, nothing remains still. The river is never the same, and we cannot bathe in the same river twice. Time is an unstoppable flow, a continuous becoming without beginning or end.
• Parmenides: Unlike the other two, Parmenides denies becoming and therefore also time. For him, being is eternal, unchanging, and indivisible. Time, as we perceive it, is an illusion of the senses.

In Summary:

• Anaximander: Cyclic time, linked to the apeiron.
• Heraclitus: Time as continuous and unstoppable becoming.
• Parmenides: Denial of time; being is eternal and unchanging.

Anaximander’s Influence on Medieval and Modern Philosophy

Direct influence of Anaximander on medieval philosophy is difficult to trace, as patristic and scholastic philosophy was based mainly on the texts of Plato and Aristotle. However, the idea of a primordial and indeterminate principle, present in many medieval thinkers, can be indirectly traced back to Anaximander.

In the modern era, interest in the pre-Socratics, and thus Anaximander, was reignited, especially in the 19th century. His theories on cosmology and nature influenced philosophers and scientists such as Nietzsche and Whitehead, who sought to rethink traditional categories of time and space.

Anaximander’s Theories on Cosmology and Geography

• Cosmology:
  • Apeiron: As seen, the apeiron is the primordial principle from which everything originates.
  • Earth: Anaximander imagined the Earth as a cylinder suspended in space, needing no support.
  • Celestial Motion: According to Anaximander, celestial bodies move in perfect circles around the Earth.
• Geography:
  • World Map: Anaximander is considered the first to draw a map of the known world.
  • Circular Earth: Unlike the prevailing conception of the time, which saw the Earth as a flat disk, Anaximander proposed a spherical model.

Differences in the Concept of Matter between Anaximander and His Successors

Anaximander introduced an innovative concept of matter with the apeiron, an indeterminate and infinite principle from which everything originates. This conception differs from that of his predecessors (like Thales, who identified water as arché) and his successors (such as Anaximenes, who proposed air) in several ways:

• Abstraction: The apeiron is a more abstract and less sensory-bound concept than water or air. It is a sort of primal matter, a potential from which all things differentiate.
• Dynamism: The apeiron is a principle in constant motion, from which everything is born and to which everything returns. This dynamism is tied to the concept of cosmic justice, whereby everything that is born must also perish.
• Indeterminacy: The apeiron is indefinite and indeterminate, lacking the specific characteristics of sensory elements.

Anaximander’s successors, while retaining the idea of a primordial principle, tended to specify more clearly the nature of this principle, seeking to identify a sensory element as the foundation of all things.

The Apeiron in Relation to Other Eastern Philosophies

The concept of the apeiron, with its indeterminacy and infinity, presents affinities with certain concepts found in various Eastern philosophies:

• Taoism: The Tao, an indeterminate and primordial principle from which everything is born, shares similarities with the apeiron. Both are considered the source of all things and the organizing principle of the universe.
• Hinduism: The concept of Brahman, the absolute and indefinite, can be compared to the apeiron. Both represent a transcendent and immanent reality from which everything originates.
• Buddhism: Emptiness (shunyata) in Buddhism, though more complex, shares some affinities with the apeiron. Both indicate an ultimate reality, indeterminate and lacking an intrinsic essence.

It’s important to note that the similarities between the apeiron and these Eastern concepts are partial and require in-depth analysis of the different philosophical traditions.

Comparing Anaximander’s Maps to Other Ancient Cartographers

Unfortunately, we do not have an original map by Anaximander. Our knowledge of his cartography is based on indirect accounts and hypothetical reconstructions. However, we can make some general comparisons with other ancient cartographers:

• Shape of the Earth: Anaximander proposed a spherical model of the Earth, while many other ancient cartographers, influenced by biblical tradition, represented it as a flat disk.
• Circularity of the Earth: Unlike later cartographers who would draw the Earth as a flat disk, Anaximander conceived the Earth as circular, and this was a revolutionary idea in his time.

In summary, Anaximander, with his conception of the apeiron and his theories on cosmology, geography, and time, represents a milestone in the history of philosophy, paving the way for a rational and scientific approach to knowledge.