Column Science & Society

2,500 years ago, the philosopher Anaxagoras brought science’s spirit to Athens

Tom Siegfried

By Tom Siegfried

Contributing Correspondent

statue of Anaxagoras

The philosopher Anaxagoras introduced "the scientific spirit" to Athens 2,500 years ago, planting the seeds of a philosophical tradition that led to Socrates, Plato and Aristotle.

Yulia Kupeli/Alamy Stock Photo

It doesn’t appear that anybody has noticed yet, but 2021 marks a rather important anniversary in the history of science and western civilization. It was 2,500 years ago this year that a philosopher named Anaxagoras arrived in Athens, Greece.