Mathematician:Thales of Miletus

Mathematician
Greek mathematician, scientist, philosopher and astronomer, who (amongst other things) predicted a solar eclipse in 585 BCE. An early source of the emergent philosophy of rationality.

Apparently the first Greek astronomer.

Visited Egypt and the Near East, where much knowledge was exchanged. Brought back to Miletus knowledge of Babylonian astronomy and Egyptian geometry.

Supposedly:
 * Made a huge profit on renting out olive-presses because his meteorological studies gave him foreknowledge of a bumper harvest.
 * The first on record to remark upon the electrostatic properties of amber
 * Diverted the course of the so that  could pass more easily.
 * Trained a mule out of suboptimal behaviour by an ingenious trick.
 * Fell into a ditch while gazing at the stars when out walking.

Much of our knowledge of comes from the writings of  and.

Nationality
Greek

History

 * Born: c. 625 BCE, Miletus, Asia Minor (now Turkey)
 * 585 BCE: Predicted the solar eclipse of 28th May
 * Died: c. 547 BCE, Miletus, Asia Minor (now Turkey)

Theorems and Definitions
The following are attributed to Thales:
 * Circle is Bisected by Diameter
 * Isosceles Triangle has Two Equal Angles
 * Two Straight Lines make Equal Opposite Angles
 * A triangle is completely determined if two angles and the included side are given
 * Thales' Theorem: An angle inscribed in a semicircle is a right angle

All of the above are found in.

Notable Quotes

 * All things are water.
 * -- reported by

Critical View

 * How do you expect to understand what's happening up in the sky, when you can't even see what's under your own feet?
 * -- Thracian maidservant, pulling him out of the ditch he had fallen into


 * Thales, who had traveled to Egypt, was the first to introduce this science to Greece.