Final answer:
Anaximander, a pre-Socratic Greek philosopher and student of Thales, was one of the first to provide a naturalistic explanation for the Universe. He theorized the Earth was suspended in space by a symmetrical balance of forces and produced the first known world map. The correct option is c.
Step-by-step explanation:
Anaximander was one of the first Greeks to construct an explanation of the Universe using solely naturalistic explanations. Thales of Miletus, known for being the first known Greek scientist, influenced Anaximander and others by seeking to understand natural forces without mentioning the gods.
Anaximander, a student of Thales, posited that the Earth was held suspended in space through a balance of forces, rejecting his teacher's idea that it floated on water. He also made significant contributions by creating the first known map of the world and by discussing the principles of balance and motion that influenced later natural philosophy.
While other figures like Aristotle, Pythagoras, Socrates, and their associates offered significant philosophical contributions, it was Anaximander who stands out in this context for his early and rationalist approach to explaining the cosmos without resorting to mythological elements.
His ideas paved the way for a more scientific understanding of the world, influencing subsequent thinkers who further developed the concept of natural philosophy, which would eventually evolve into various specialized scientific disciplines. The correct option is c.