Thales proposed water as the fundamental substance from "summary" of To Explain the World by Steven Weinberg
Thales, an ancient Greek philosopher from Miletus, put forth the radical idea that water was the fundamental substance from which everything else in the world was derived. This was a significant departure from the prevailing beliefs of the time, which often attributed the origins of the universe to mythical gods and supernatural forces. Thales believed that water was the source of all things because of its transformative properties - it could take on different forms, such as solid ice or gaseous steam, and could flow and change shape. Water was also essential for sustaining life, making it a natural choice as the basis for all existence. Thales's theory of water as the fundamental substance was an early attempt to explain the natural world through rational thought and observation. Instead of relying on religious or mystical explanations, he sought to understand the universe through logical reasoning and empirical evidence. Although Thales's theory may seem simplistic or even naive by modern standards, it was a groundbreaking step towards the scientific method. His emphasis on observation, experimentation, and logical deduction laid the foundation for the development of modern science. Thales's belief in water as the fundamental substance may have been flawed, but his approach to understanding the world set the stage for centuries of inquiry and discovery.
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