--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Anaximander (ca. 610 BC–ca. 546 BC), a…" description: "\"“Anaximander (ca. 610 BC–ca. 546 BC), a friend and possibly a student of Thales, argued that since human infants are helpless at birth, if the first hu..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/39d/stephen-hawking-389_biology_anaximander-ca-610-bc-ca-546-bc-a-friend_1635034.jpg" --- # Anaximander (ca. 610 BC–ca. 546 BC), a friend and possibly… ![“Anaximander (ca. 610 BC–ca. 546 BC), a friend and possibly a student of Thales, argued that since human infants are helpless at birth, if the first human had somehow appeared on earth as an infant, it would not have survived. In what may have been humanity’s first inkling of evolution,” quote by Stephen Hawking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/39d/stephen-hawking-389_biology_anaximander-ca-610-bc-ca-546-bc-a-friend_1635034.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/39d/stephen-hawking-389_biology_anaximander-ca-610-bc-ca-546-bc-a-friend_1635034.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/39d/stephen-hawking-389_biology_anaximander-ca-610-bc-ca-546-bc-a-friend_1635034.jpg) > ““Anaximander (ca. 610 BC–ca. 546 BC), a friend and possibly a student of Thales, argued that since human infants are helpless at birth, if the first human had somehow appeared on earth as an infant, it would not have survived. In what may have been humanity’s first inkling of evolution,”” [Stephen Hawking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-hawking/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Human infants' helplessness suggests early humans could not survive without care, hinting at evolutionary development. **In simple terms:** Infants need care; early humans likely needed it too. Key Takeaway Recognize the role of nurturing in evolution. Themes evolution human development survival care history Mood reflective thoughtful Type philosophical scientific When to use this quote - parenting - early human societies - medical care - education - social support Key Concepts biology anthropology evolutionary theory Questions to Reflect On - How does nurturing affect species survival? - What evidence supports early human dependency? A Different Perspective Assumes modern caregiving parallels ancient conditions. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Anaximander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/anaximander-518990/) [Anaximander Ca](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/anaximander-ca-518993/) [Biology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/biology/) [Birth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/birth/) [Birth Human](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/birth-human-472139/) [Friendship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/friendship/) [Human Infants](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human-infants-518992/) [Nature of man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature-of-man/) [Thales Argued](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thales-argued-518991/) ## Related quotes > [So far as this argument is concerned nonhuman animals and infants and retarded humans are in the same category; and if we use this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-singer/so-far-as-this-argument-is-concerned-nonhuman-animals-and-infants-and/) [Peter Singer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-singer/) > [“He argued that we are so helpless at birth that, if the first human infants had been put into the world on their own,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-sagan/he-argued-that-we-are-so-helpless-at-birth-that-if-the-first-human/) [Carl Sagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-sagan/) > [Anaximander says that men were first produced in fishes, and when they were grown up and able to help themselves were thrown up, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plutarch/anaximander-says-that-men-were-first-produced-in-fishes-and-when-they/) [Plutarch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plutarch/) > [Anaximander used to assert that the primary cause of all things was the Infinite,-not defining exactly whether he meant air or water or anything…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diogenes-laertius/anaximander-used-to-assert-that-the-primary-cause-of-all-things-was/) [Diogenes Laertius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diogenes-laertius/) > [“Human infants," writes psychologist Martin Seligman, "begin life more helpless than infants of any other species. 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