Abstract

This paper explores the foundational ideas of Pre-Socratic philosophers, tracing their contributions to metaphysics, cosmology, and rational inquiry. Beginning with Thales' assertion that water is the fundamental principle of existence, the paper examines Anaximander's concept of the 'Apeiron,' Anaximenes' air theory, and the Pythagorean belief in numerical harmony. Heraclitus' doctrine of perpetual change is contrasted with Parmenides' claim that change is an illusion, while Empedocles' theory of four root elements and Anaxagoras' concept of 'Nous' are analyzed for their influence on later scientific thought. The paper concludes with Democritus' atomic theory and Zeno's paradoxes, which challenge conventional understandings of motion and infinity. By connecting these ideas, this paper demonstrates how Pre-Socratic thinkers laid the groundwork for Western philosophical traditions, emphasizing their profound impact on logic, metaphysics, and scientific reasoning.