The roots of Western philosophy (as opposed to Eastern, i.e., Indian and Chinese) are to be found in the pre-Socratic philosophers, beginning in the sixth century BCE. These philosophers lived, as the term implies, before Socrates, so that they obviously did not consider themselves as pre-Socratics; this is a term that was imposed upon them by later generations. The fact the they are called "pre-Socratics" implies that ancient Greek philosophy should be organized around Socrates and Plato. This implies that all pre-Socratic philosophers were preliminary to or preparatory of Socrates and Plato. That this is true is, however, a presupposition that should not necessarily be accepted as fact. Most of the so-called pre-Socratics came from the eastern or western parts of the Greek world; Athens would only later enter the philosophical fray.
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