Thales was a native of Miletus, in Asia Minor. He is known as the father of philosophy as well as the 1st Greek scientist and mathematician. He was the 1st philosopher of Milesian School who was an Empiricist and tried to explain everything using material things that he saw around him. He is said to be one of the Seven Wise men of Greece.
Thales’s idea of natural and supernatural are given below:
Natural:
It was the common term for the practice of studying nature. Mainly the pre-Socratic philosophers started to explain everything with natural perspective, such as Thales who first started this practice. Basically, it was the concept of ‘science’. Natural philosophy was the philosophical study of nature that was dominant before the development of modern science.
Natural philosophers who are known as Empiricists mainly looked at scientific phenomena. For example, Thales always tried to explain the things which he saw in the world around him. Thales thought that natural phenomena- including the heavens- could be discussed as processes governed by natural laws, rather than relying on supernatural explanations. However, he always tried to explain everything using material things that means physical things.
Natural philosophy was used by the pre-Socratic philosopher but the later philosopher did not use this term. It was mainly non-teleological and gave importance on self-existence as Thales never mention anything about God.
Supernatural:
It was the common term for the practice of studying religion. Mainly the philosophers who came after Milesian School started to use this term such as Heraclitus though he did not mention anything directly about God, he mentioned ‘Logos’ or ‘oneness. Basically, it was the concept of ‘God or creator’.
Supernatural philosophers who are known as Dualists mainly looked at God or religious perspective. For example, Plato about ‘Form’ by which he meant perfection where the other forms are the reflection of that Form. Dualists thought that everything could be discussed as processes governed by supernatural laws, rather than relying on natural explanations. However, they always tried to explain everything using metaphysics that means non-physical things.
Supernatural philosophy is still exists rather than disappeared as natural philosophy. It is mainly teleological and gave importance on God or creator.