Sign In
Subscribe
By Natural Philosopher Michael Alan Prestwood
By Natural Philosopher Michael Alan Prestwood
Sign In
Subscribe
Science    Philosophy  •  Critical Thinking  •  History    Politics  •  RW  •  AI  •  Physics  •  Evolution  •  Astronomy

TIMELINE STORY

Anaxagoras (circa 500-428 BCE)

From Year 0 (BCE/CE): -500
TAKE-AWAY: By 450 BCE, Anaxagoras and others understood that the moon was not a god but a rock like Earth. They knew the moon reflected the Sun’s light and the true nature of eclipses and lunar phases.
Share :
Email
Print

Anaxagoras (circa 500-428 BCE)

Anaxagoras (circa 500-428 BCE)

By 450 BCE, some were trying to convince humanity of the true nature of the solar system. They understood and promoted the idea that the moon was not a deity but a physical body. Anaxagoras was one of the earliest known proponents of this view. He deduced that the moon is made of solid rock like the Earth and reflects the light of the Sun. He also accurately described the lunar phases and eclipses.

Share this on...

More Timeline Stories...

WWB Season 7 — Returning 2026!

I’m taking this time to catch up with the paired videos for recent WWB editions, and to restructure the WWB into seasions of 10 weeks: four 1-Minute Hot Topics. Each week featureing a tidbit in science, philosophy, critical, thinking, and history. Follow the TST YouTube channel to catch all new videos. –Mike

Weekly Wisdom Builder 
December 3, 2025 Edition
February 26, 2025 Edition
Time Left: 

Subscribe!

It’s Free! No ads! No catches! One email each Thursday.

Exactly what the world needs RIGHT NOW!
Wisdom at the crossroads of knowledge.

Wisdom emerges from the consistent exploration of the intersections of philosophy, science, critical thinking, and history.

NEW BOOK! NOW AVAILABLE!!

30 Philosophers: A New Look at Timeless Ideas

by Michael Alan Prestwood
The story of the history of our best ideas!
Scroll to Top