anaximander's book. 287 



questions which in their development eventuate in metaphysics or 

 ■ontology/°^ and determine the history of philosophy, as they shape 

 the doxographic tradition. The latter, though dominated Ijy alien 

 interests, depends perforce on the historico-geographic tradition for 

 the necessary data regarding the beginnings of Ionian science, since 

 Aristotle clearly did not possess a copy of a book by Thales, if such a 

 book ever existed. Regarding Anaximander's book Aristotle seems 

 to have known little or nothing at first hand: his opinions regarding 

 the Infinite and the reason why the earth keeps its central position he 

 dearl}' did not understand, and in the latter case he certainly attrib- 

 uted to the Milesian an explanation utterly alien to his thought. ^°* 

 That Theophrastus perpetuated the blunder is certain and significant. 

 Meanwhile the central interest of the early ^lilesians was ruled out as 

 not germane to philosophy, and the best record of their thought 

 derives from other branches of the tradition. 



In conclusion let us attempt to frame a picture of this ancient book. 

 In compass it cannot have been large, if the statement of Diogenes 

 Laertius,^^^ which in this particular is probably drawn from either 

 ApoUodorus or Posidonius, is true; for he reports that Anaximander 

 gave "a summary exposition of bis opinions." In spirit and intention 

 it was historical, purporting to sketch the life-history of the cosmos 

 from the moment of its emergence from infinitude to the author's own 

 time, and looking forward to the death and dissolution not only of 

 the earth and its inhabitants but also of this and all particular worlds. 

 This being so the exposition naturally followed the order of chrono- 

 logical sequence, recounting first the origin of the world and of the 

 earth, proceeding with the origin of life and the evolution of species 

 capable of living on land as the once all engulfing sea gradually al- 

 lowed dry land to appear, the origin of human life, probably in Egypt, 

 and the spread of the race and its civilization. Heroic genealogies 

 bridged the interval between the beginnings and the disposition of 

 the peoples and their habitats in Anaximander's time, which were, 

 however briefly, sketched in his book as well as figured on his chart. 

 In tliis portion of his treatise, presumably, occurred some at least of 

 the explanations which he gave of certain outstanding natural phe- 



103 This is a thesis which I have long maintained and hope sometime to 

 ■develop, that metaphysics begins with Pythagoras, Herachtus and Par- 

 menides. Its roots in mathematics and in the conception of the soul, which 

 finds expression in the kvicXos yevkaecos, I have at various times pointed out, but 

 not at length. 



104 Aristotle, thinking in Pythagorean terms, speaks of spheres, whereas 

 Anaximander's cosmographv operates whoUj' with circles. 



105 F3 I. 14, 11. 



