Final answer:
The pre-Socratic philosophers differed from their predecessors by focusing on rational inquiry and seeking fundamental principles. Thales and Anaximander are two examples of pre-Socratic philosophers who exemplify this shift.
Step-by-step explanation:
The pre-Socratic philosophers were distinguished from their predecessors by their shift in focus from traditional myths and beliefs to a more rational and speculative inquiry into the nature of the universe.
They sought to find the fundamental principles or causes behind the existence of things, moving away from reliance on the gods for explanations. Two specific pre-Socratic philosophers who exemplify this shift are Thales and Anaximander.