pre-Socratic

(historical) Existing in Ancient Greece before the flourishing of the philosopher Socrates (circa 469–399 BCE).

(historical) Any of the pre-Socratic philosophers, viz. Thales (circa 624–546 BCE), Anaximander (circa 610–546 BCE), Anaximenes (circa 585–525 BCE), Pythagoras (circa 576–495 BCE), Xenophanes (circa 570–480 BCE), Heraclitus (circa 535–475 BCE), Parmenides (early-5ᵗʰ century BCE), Anaxagoras (circa 500–428 BCE), Empedocles (circa 490–430 BCE), and Democritus (circa 460–370 BCE).