Greek philosophers

Philolaus

Philolaus was a Greek philosopher who was born in 470 BC and died in 399 BC. He is considered the first Pythagorean to write for the public.

The writings of Philolaus "On Nature" were used by Plato in writing his cosmological dialogue called "Timaios".

In cosmology, Philolaus considered the centre of the universe to be the "central fire" around which the sphere of stars, the Earth, the Moon, the Sun and the other planets move. Among the planets he is said to have counted the unobservable Anti-Earth (Antichthon). He is also said to have floated the idea that the Earth rotates on its axis.

A crater on the Moon is named Philolaus after Philolaus.