At the heart of this essay lies an exploration of the intricate relationship between mythology and conventional religion and pre-Socratic philosophers and Sophists in ancient Greece. The Greeks believed in a complex pantheon of gods and goddesses who held immense power and influence over every aspect of human life and the natural world. This pantheon of deities shaped the beliefs, values, and cultural identity of Greek society. While pre-Socratic philosophers like Thales, Anaximander, and Anaximenes rejected traditional religious explanations and offered theories based on reason and observation, Sophists viewed religion and mythology as powerful tools for persuasion and argumentation to support their own beliefs and sway their audiences. Pre-Socratic …show more content…
He rejected traditional religious explanations for the creation of the world and instead proposed his own theories based on natural causes (DK 12A9). Anaximander believed in the existence of an infinite and indeterminate substance called the "apeiron," which he considered eternal and limitless, and the source of all life and matter in the world. He viewed the world as a series of opposing elements that arose from the interactions of the apeiron, leading to a constant state of change in the …show more content…
They also held that morality was subjective, and that different cities had different moral codes that depended on their beliefs and traditions. While some cities believed it was always moral to tell the truth, others thought it was acceptable to lie to protect someone's well-being. Socrates, however, believed that these moral codes were based on the beliefs and traditions of each city's people, and that there was no objective standard that applied to everyone. The Sophists viewed religion and mythology as a way to support their beliefs, rather than as absolute