Greek philosophers
Anaximenes
Anaximenes of Miletus was a Greek philosopher who belonged to the so-called Miletus school.
Virtually nothing is known about Anaximenes' life, although we do learn more about his philosophy.
His teacher was Anaximandros, and in agreement with him, Anaximenes considered air to be the origin of all things. This precipitate he called Apeiros Aér (the infinite, all-encompassing air). Anaximenes identified air as this precipitate because it is all around him. He explained that when the air is condensed, it gives rise to wind, clouds, water, earth and stones, etc. The reverse process, on the other hand, thins the substances and the air becomes fire.
Anaximenes also argued that the earth is shaped like a table top or that the sun is flat like a leaf.
Interestingly, the crater Anaximenes on the inverted side of the moon was named after Anaximenes.