Anaxagoras
He introduced the concept of 'Nous' (mind or intellect) as the ordering principle of the universe.
Most quoted
"When mind began to set things in motion, separation occurred from everything that was in motion, and however much mind set in motion, all this was dissociated; and as things were moving and dissociating, the revolution caused them to dissociate much more."
— from Fragments
"And mind set in order all things that were to be, and all things that were and are not now and that are, and this revolution in which now revolve the stars and the sun and the moon, and the air and the aether that are separated off."
— from Fragments
"And when mind began to move things, separating off took place from all that was moved, and all that mind moved was separated. And as things were moving and separating off, the revolution greatly increased this separating off."
— from Fragments
All quotes by Anaxagoras (149)
All things were in chaos, then Mind came and arranged them.
In everything there is a portion of everything.
Mind is infinite and self-ruled, and is mixed with nothing, but is alone, itself by itself.
The sun is a mass of incandescent metal, larger than the Peloponnese.
The moon has mountains and valleys like the earth.
There is no smallest part of what is small, but there is always a smaller; for it is impossible that what is should cease to be.
All things are in all things.
By the aid of Mind, all things were set in order.
The things that are in the one world are not separated from each other with an axe, neither are the hot from the cold nor the cold from the hot.
The seeds of all things are in all things.
Mind is the most subtle and the purest of all things.
Mind has power over all things that have life, both greater and smaller.
The Greeks are wrong in using the terms 'coming into being' and 'passing away'; for nothing comes into being nor passes away, but there is mixture and separation of things that are.
The things that are in the one world are not separated from each other with an axe.
Mind knows all things, both those that are mixed and those that are separated and those that are distinguished.
Mind ordered all things, whatsoever were to be, and whatsoever were and are now, and whatsoever shall be.
The primary constituents of matter are not the four elements, but an infinite number of 'seeds'.
There are many worlds, and in each of these worlds there is a sun and a moon and other heavenly bodies.
The stars are stones, and they are carried round by the revolution of the ether.
The earth is flat and floats on air.
Contemporaries of Anaxagoras
Other Philosophys born within 50 years of Anaxagoras (-500–-428).