How Philosophy Came Into Existence

Pre-Socratic philosopher s were Greek philosophers that lived before Socrates during the sixth century B.C.E. The thinking of these early philosophers has had a profound effect on today’s living world. Within this period of time a change in perspective came about that ultimately made possible a deep understanding of the natural world. Metaphysics, the branch of philosophy concerned with the nature of being or existence, became a development in thought. Many philosophers in the pre-Socratic period are credited for helping to introduce new and important ideas into Western Thought. For example, Thales, the first Western philosopher, is known for helping to introduce a nonmythological way of looking at the world. Many pre- Socratic philosophers believed that the world we experience is merely a manifestation of a more fundamental, underlying reality (Moore & Bruder 2011). The desire to comprehend led pre-Socratic philosophers to different paths of inquiry.

As Western civilization developed in fifth century B.C.E., Socrates came into existence. Moral philosophy began. Socrates changed commonly held views upheld by many individuals of the time period. With his bright mind he discovered the essential nature of knowledge, justice, beauty, traits of character. Ultimately he developed what is still used in modern time, The Socratic Method. This development made an individual more skilled at detecting misconceptions of what is true by asking the right questions. Plato’s metaphysics introduced to society the Theory of Forms and Dialogues. According to Plato’s Theory of Forms, “what is truly real is not the object we encounter sensory experience but, rather, Forms, and these can only be grasped intellectually” (Moore & Bruder, 2011).

Plato’s most distinguished pupil, Aristotle, on whom Plato had a tremendous influence (Moore & Brooder). What we call metaphysics Aristotle called “first philosophy”. First philosophy considered the most basic...