Picture of Thales Courtesy of The Bettmann Archive. From engraving by A. Tardieu from sculpture found at Tivoli.

Thales was a Greek philosopher who lived between 624-546 BC. Although none of his writings survive, we have learned of his work through the writings of others.

Thales is considered the father of Greek science, mathematics, and philosophy. He is the first person to have asked questions about the nature of the universe and considered the answers without thinking of gods or demons.