1. Epochs

Greek philosophy was developing from the sixth century b.c. to the first century a.d. Within this period we may distinguish the archaic or preclassical, classical, and postclassical epochs.

The archaic period is essentially characterized by questions that the so-called pre-Socratics (thinkers preceding Socrates and his followers) posed in the sphere of the philosophy of nature. These questions served the interests of rational explanation an…