contributions to philosophy by the presocratics?

Minh Lefrancois: Before Socrates, there was cosmology (where belong Thales, Anaximander, Zenon, etc) and anthropology that Socrates developed in real way, but before him that started sophists like Protagoras, Gorgias, etc.). Cosmology isn't pure philosophy, it had that name because there wasn't any science in that time (science in modern sense), there was only mythology and than philosophy. Those philosophers were the first ones who asked themselves a questions about nature, sky, etc., what element is in heart of everything, so they all have one "nickname" - physicians.Their contribution is in starting of philosophical way of thinking, starting "the ratio", they were the first who doubted in mythological stories about world, earth and sky, etc... They started whole philosophy in those ancient times (when I say this, I mean on philosophy of western world). because THEY STARTED THINKING.After that period, comes anthropology where in center of thinking isn't world anymore, b! ut human, e.g. morality. Sophists started it, than came Socrates who eclipsed them by opposing them, than after him Plato etc.Sophists are important because they started this new era, they put man in the center, and important because Socrates built his theory on opposing to them. Without sophists, there wouldn't be Socrates.I hope this helps.PS I don't know did I wrote all names of philosophers correct in english....Show more

Mel Crapo: I'm not sure about Western Philosophy, but Easter Philosophy held a solid foundation from about a thousand B.C. until present.

Dexter Dingus: principals of "Paydeia" (The Greek Philosophy)

Lady Laflin: Presocratics Like Anaximander, Parmenides and Heraklitus were not "philosophers" in the today's meaning of the term. Philosophy proper began with Socrates and Plato. The presocratics were Thinkers .i.e they were first to think Being. So in this respect they contributed nothing to philosophy. Philosophy is metaphysics and it d! oesn't ask the question of Being: 'What do we mean when we say! that something "IS"?" They were the First Beginning.