pre-Socratic

Meanings

Adjective

• Existing in Ancient Greece before the flourishing of the philosopher Socrates (circa 469–399 BC).

Noun

• Any of the pre-Socratic philosophers, viz. Thales (circa 624–546 BC), Anaximander (circa 610–546 BC), Anaximenes (circa 585–525 BC), Pythagoras (circa 576–495 BC), Xenophanes (circa 570–480 BC), Heraclitus (circa 535–475 BC), Parmenides (early-5^th century BC), Anaxagoras (circa 500–428 BC), Empedocles (circa 490–430 BC), and Democritus (circa 460–370 BC).

Origin

• pre- + Socratic