Anaxagoras Biography
| Occup. | Philosopher |
| From | Greece |
| Born | 500 BC
Clazomenae, Ionia (now in modern-day Turkey) |
| Died | 428 BC
Lampsacus, Ionia (now in modern-day Turkey) |
Anaxagoras was a pre-Socratic philosopher born in Clazomenae, a Greek city in modern-day Turkey, around -500. He was the son of Hegesibulus, a wealthy family of substance, and received an education in mathematics, astronomy, and natural philosophy.
As a young man,
Anaxagoras moved to Athens, where he became a prominent figure in the world of philosophy. His teachings focused on the concept of Nous, or Mind, as the ultimate cause of the universe. According to
Anaxagoras, Mind is the ordering principle that governs all things, and everything in the universe contains a portion of it.
Anaxagoras also argued that the universe is infinite and eternal, and that it is made up of an infinite number of small particles or seeds, each of which contains a unique combination of qualities. For example, he believed that white is a mixture of light and darkness, and that hot is a mixture of heat and cold.
Anaxagoras' unconventional views and scientific approach to philosophy attracted a following among the intellectual elite of Athens, including
Pericles, the powerful statesman, and
Euripides, the playwright.
However, the philosopher's ideas also attracted the attention of the conservative religious authorities, who accused him of impiety for denying the gods and for his naturalistic explanations of the world. In -450,
Anaxagoras was charged with blasphemy and sentenced to death. However, he was able to escape to Lampsacus, a city in Asia Minor, where he spent the rest of his life.
In Lampsacus,
Anaxagoras continued to study and teach philosophy until his death around -428. Despite his exile, his ideas continued to be influential, and he is regarded as one of the founders of western philosophy. His work helped to advance scientific inquiry and to undermine superstition, contributing to the development of modern science and philosophy.
Our collection contains 5 quotes who is written / told by Anaxagoras.
Related authors: Democritus (Philosopher), Euripides (Poet), Pericles (Statesman), Philo (Philosopher)
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