Considered one of the seven wise men of Greece, and known as the founder of Western philosophy, Thales was the earliest known Greek to have taken a scientific interest in mathematics, and the union of astronomy, geometry and number theory. Somewhat of a "jack-of-all-trades," Thales was a merchant in his early days; and a statesman in mid-life; a mathematician, astronomer and philosopher in his later years. Very little is known of Thales' personal life, and most of what is known comes from the later writings of Proclus (410"-485 a.d..) and Aristotle. Thales was born at Miletus, in Ionia, Greece. In his early days he traveled widely, visiting the trading ports of Egypt, Crete and Asia. A man of great ingenuity and practical knowledge, Thales became offended when his peers ridiculed him, asking him why, if he was so wise, why was he not rich as well. Using...