The first person to propose the concept of the universe was the ancient Greek philosopher Thales. He believed that the universe was composed of "water". Later, philosophers such as Anaximander, Anaximenes, Plato, and Aristotle continued to refine and expand this concept. Modern cosmology believes that the universe is a vast space that is constantly expanding and evolving, containing trillions of galaxies.
The first person to propose the concept of the universe
The concept of the universe can be traced back to the ancient Greek philosopher Thales.
Thales
- 625-546 BC
- Ancient Greek Milesian, known as the father of Western philosophy
- He believed that the world was composed of a single substance "water", and classified this Matter is called "universe"
The meaning of universe
- In Greek, "universe" (κόσμος) means "order" or "world"
- Thales believed that the entire world is an orderly, A harmonious whole, composed of a basic material element
Development of the concept of the universe
After Thales proposed the concept of the universe, this concept was continuously improved and expanded by later Greek philosophers:
- Anaxius Mander: believed that the universe is composed of "infinity" and is the source of all matter and power
- Anaximenes: believed that the universe is composed of "qi", an invisible and invisible entity
- Plato: the universe Seen as a spiritual realm composed of "ideas"
- Aristotle: proposed that the universe is composed of the four elements of earth, water, air, and fire, and divided it into two parts: "super-lunar" and "under-lunar" area
Modern cosmology
After the 16th century, with the arrival of the scientific revolution, the concept of the universe ushered in major changes:
- Copernicus: Proposed the heliocentric theory and believed that the earth revolves around the sun
- Galileo : Used a telescope to observe the sky and discovered Jupiter's satellites and sunspots
- Newton: Proposed the law of universal gravitation, explaining the movement of celestial bodies
- 20th century: Einstein proposed the special theory of relativity and general relativity, which completely changed people's understanding of the universe
Modern cosmology believes that the universe is a vast space that is constantly expanding and evolving, containing trillions of galaxies.
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