Book 1: Chapter 8, Anaxagoras Summary and Analysis

Anaxagoras was an important philosopher, although less important than Pythagoras, Heraclitus, or Parmenides. He was born in Ionia at Clazomenae, about 500 BC, and carried its tradition. He lived in Athens from 462 to 432 BC and introduced philosophy to the Athenians. According to him, mind caused changes.

Anaxagoras influenced both Eurypides and Pericles who was impressed with his science. The Athenians, like other cultures at various times displayed hostility when dealing with higher cultures. They introduced laws under which they could prosecute those who practiced and taught not in accordance with religion. They were able in this way to prosecute Anaxagoras for teaching that the sun is a red-hot stone while moon is the earth, and later Socrates.

Anaxagoras claimed that everything could be divided indefinitely while the smallest portions retained other elements. Things were what they contained the...