# Thales — The Lives and Opinions of Eminent Philosophers character guide

> Thales in The Lives and Opinions of Eminent Philosophers by Diogenes Laërtius.

**Role:** major

**Also known as:** O Thales

**First appearance:** 0004-thales

## Snapshot

Miletus's first philosopher, who measured the pyramids by their shadows and fell into a well while gazing at the stars.

## Who they are

Thales stands at the head of Diogenes Laërtius's whole enterprise, the Ionian founder from whom the entire Greek philosophical succession is traced, counted among the Seven Sages and credited with predicting an eclipse. He is the archetype of the distracted thinker, so absorbed in the heavens that he tumbled into a well, yet shrewd enough to corner the olive-press market when he foresaw a bumper harvest. His insistence that all things originate in water sets the terms for every argument that follows, making him the indispensable opening act of the Lives.

## In the story

### [The Lives and Opinions of Eminent Philosophers](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_lives_and_opinions_of_eminent_philosophers_se/chapters/the-lives-and-opinions-of-eminent-philosophers)

Founder of the Ionian school, known for his natural philosophy and prediction of the eclipse.

### [Book I: The Origins and Divisions of Philosophy](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_lives_and_opinions_of_eminent_philosophers_se/chapters/book-i)

Thales is introduced as the first to be called 'Wise,' a founder of natural philosophy, and a key figure in the early philosophical tradition.

### [Thales](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_lives_and_opinions_of_eminent_philosophers_se/chapters/thales)

The central figure of the chapter, described as the first to be called wise, a founder of natural philosophy, astronomer, and political advisor.

### [Myson](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_lives_and_opinions_of_eminent_philosophers_se/chapters/myson)

Referenced in connection with the oracle's answer about Chilo.

### [Pherecydes](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_lives_and_opinions_of_eminent_philosophers_se/chapters/pherecydes)

Recipient of a letter from Pherecydes, in which Pherecydes entrusts his book to Thales for publication or safekeeping.

### [Anaximenes](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_lives_and_opinions_of_eminent_philosophers_se/chapters/anaximenes)

Mentioned in Anaximenes' letter recounting his accidental death while stargazing.

### [Xenophanes](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_lives_and_opinions_of_eminent_philosophers_se/chapters/xenophanes)

Xenophanes argued against the opinions of Thales.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_lives_and_opinions_of_eminent_philosophers_se/characters/thales
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_lives_and_opinions_of_eminent_philosophers_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_lives_and_opinions_of_eminent_philosophers_se/characters