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Contradicting the view of a flat earth, Anaximander proposed that the Earth floats freely in space without falling, and that the universe is boundless. This was groundbreaking in an era where the Earth was perceived as a flat, stable entity at the center of the universe.

Anaximander introduced the concept of the Apeiron, an infinite and indefinite substance that is the source of all things. It was a significant step in the conceptual move from mythological explanations of the world to rational, philosophical inquiry, influencing the idea of an underlying principle behind the cosmos.

Anaximander is credited with the creation of one of the earliest maps of the world, contributing to the field of geography and expanding the Greek understanding of the world's layout, including Europe, Asia, and Libya (Africa).

Anaximander was one of the first philosophers to offer a cosmological framework that challenged the traditional mythological views. He proposed mechanisms for the evolution of the cosmos without reliance on supernatural causation, contributing to the development of natural philosophy.

Anaximander speculated on the origin of humans, suggesting that they emerged from other life forms, specifically aquatic beings. This idea, while not evolutionary in the modern sense, foreshadows the concept of species transformation over time.

Anaximander proposed the revolutionary idea that the Earth remains stable because it is equidistant from all other things in the cosmos, remaining in a sort of equilibrium. This idea explored the concept of balance in nature and marked an advancement in thinking about the physical laws governing the universe.

Anaximander explained celestial phenomena using his theory that the Earth was shaped like a cylinder and heavenly bodies were rings of fire encased by mist. His engagement with physical explanations for the heavenly bodies laid groundwork for future astronomical inquiry.