Final answer:
The statement that Thales did not rely on gods to explain the nature of things is true. He proposed natural and material explanations such as water being the fundamental principle of all things. His rational approach to nature fundamentally shaped future scientific and philosophical thought.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question addresses whether Thales' exploration of natural phenomena presupposed any reliance on the gods to explain nature. The statement to evaluate is: "Thales' question did not presuppose any reliance on the gods to explain the nature of things." This statement is true. Thales, a pre-Socratic philosopher from Miletus, sought explanations for natural phenomena in material principles rather than in divine forces. He is known for positing water as the fundamental principle or 'physis' of all things. Unlike his contemporaries who might have attributed natural occurrences to the will of the gods, Thales proposed that events such as earthquakes were due to natural causes, for example, the Earth floating in an ocean. An example of his rational rather than mythological approach to understanding nature is his prediction of a solar eclipse.
Thales' influence and that of the Pre-Socratics lies in their method of seeking rational, material explanations for the natural world, which is a cornerstone of scientific inquiry. Although Thales' belief that water is the most basic reality is no longer accepted, his approach to understanding the world through reason and observation significantly contributed to the development of philosophy and metaphysics. Thus, these early thinkers set the foundation for later scientific and philosophical advancements despite the eventual dismissal of their specific metaphysical claims.