By abstract thought he meant serious philosophical ideas about humans and their world. As creator God is the principle which makes things go and organizes them. The medium is still myth. Pre-Socratics eliminate myth .
Reality is based on concrete elements and inanimate principles of organization.
Conclusions are reached by pure reason and logic . Here abstract thought means use of reason, not senses. Sparta, a military oligarchy, challenged the growth of Athenian power. There was a sense of disillusionment marked by the failure of the old values and anger at newfangled ideas which could be blamed for many ills. A new group of intellectuals in the late 5 th century were Sophists , professional teachers who instructed young Athenians how to succeed.