Ionian school, pre-Socratic group of Greek philosophers of the 6th and 5th cent. B.C.; most of them were born in Ionia. Its members were primarily concerned with the origins of the universe—the forces that shaped it and the materials of which it is composed. Thales Thales (thā`lēz), c.636–c.546 B.C.
..... Click the link for more information. , his successor Anaximander Anaximander (ənăk'sĭmăn`dər), c.611–c.547 B.C., Greek philosopher, b. Miletus; pupil of Thales .
..... Click the link for more information. , and Anaximenes Anaximenes (ăn'əksĭm`ĭnēz), Greek philosopher, 6th cent. B.C., last of the Milesian school founded by Thales .
..... Click the link for more information. were all from Miletus. Other prominent members included Anaxagoras Anaxagoras (ăn'əksăg`ərəs), c.500–428 B.C., Greek philosopher of Clazomenae.
..... Click the link for more information. , Diogenes of Apollonia Diogenes of Apollonia (dīŏj`ənēz ăpəlō`nēə), 5th cent. B.C., Greek philosopher.
..... Click the link for more information. , and Archelaus. It is also known as the Milesian school.

Ionian school

School of Greek philosophers of the 6th–5th century BC, including Thales, Anaximander, Anaximenes, Heracleitus, Anaxagoras, Diogenes of Apollonia, Archelaus, and Hippon. Though Ionia was the original center of their activity, they differed so greatly from one another in their conclusions that they cannot truly be said to represent a specific school of philosophy, but their common concern to explain phenomena in terms of matter or physical forces distinguished them from later thinkers.