Did Plato ruin philosophy

define the definition of "define"

Define the definition of the definition of "define"

ok google

> it's an ad absurdum thread

...

He switched its focus from proto-science to ethics, so in a way, yes.

>presocratics were proto-science

wew lad

Aiming to understand the workings of the world through observation and rational thought instead of mythological narrative can aptly be called proto-science, yes.

A better word would be proto-metaphysics or proto-ontology although even that is kind of narrow. Parmenides is basically the early version of Spinoza, Heraclitus's Logos is also a thing, Anaxamander laid the ground work for the idea of forms.

Ethics are also just a derivative of metaphysics. For instance Heraclitus's views on war and violence are derivative of the theory of strife.

The thing is the Pre-Socratics basically did everything at a time when not only did the concept of a scientist not exist but neither did the concept of a philosopher or really any formal specialized study. They were basically polymaths that layed the foundation for everything in the Western cannon.

this desu

I'd pin "ruined philosophy" on Hegel tbf