Editing Anaximander (section)

=== Scientific method ===

Rovelli credits Anaximander with pioneering the "first great scientific revolution in history" by introducing the [[naturalism (philosophy)|naturalistic]] approach to understanding the universe, according to which the universe operates by inviolable laws, without recourse to supernatural explanations. According to Rovelli, Anaximander not only paved the way for modern science, but revolutionized the process for how we form our worldview, by constantly questioning and rejecting certainty. Rovelli further states that Anaximander has not been given his due credit, largely because his naturalistic approach was strongly opposed in antiquity (among others by Aristotle) and had yet to yield the tangible benefits it has today.{{sfn|Rovelli|2023|pp=xii–xiii, 38–39, 120, 130}}

{| class="wikitable" style="margin: 1em auto;"
|+ Anaximander's transformation of method{{sfn|Rovelli|2023|pp=77, 80–81}}
|-
! Situation || Practice
|-
| Earlier method<br/>Different school || Unqualified criticism 
|-
| Earlier method<br/>Same school || Unqualified acceptance
|-
| Anaximander's method || Detailed appreciation of teaching<br/>Then, teaching is questioned and improved
|-
| Example || Thales: "World is made of water"<br/> &nbsp; &nbsp;– Anaximander: "Not so"<br/>Thales: "Earth floats on water"<br/> &nbsp; &nbsp;– Anaximander: "Earth floats in the infinite"<br/>Thales: "Earthquakes due to wobbles in Ocean"<br/> &nbsp; &nbsp;– Anaximander: "No, due to Earth splitting open"
|}