Terminology Pre-Socratic is a term adopted in the 19th century to refer to this group of philosophers. It was first used by the German philosopher J.A. Eberhard as "vorsokratische Philosophie''' in the late 18th century. In earlier literature they were referred to as physikoi ("physicists", after physis, "nature"), and their activity, as physiologoi (physical or natural philosophers), with this usage arising with Aristotle to differentiate them from theologoi (theologians) and mythologoi (storytellers and bards who conveyed Greek mythology), who attributed natural phenomena to the gods.
terminoLogy prE-sOCratic Is A tErm adoptEd in tHe 19Th CentURY To rEFeR To tHis gRouP OF philoSOphErS. It was first Used by the geRmAN phiLOsOpHer J.a. EbERHard AS "vorsokRAtiSchE phiLosoPHIe''' in thE laTe 18TH ceNtury. in eArlieR litEratuRe They were referREd To As pHysikoi ("physIcists", aFteR PhysIs, "NATure"), aNd Their activiTY, As PhysiOloGoi (physIcAL or nAturaL phiLoSopherS), witH thiS usagE arisIng WiTH AristoTle TO dIffeREntIAte them fRoM theoLoGOi (tHeoloGians) anD mYthOlogOi (stoRytellers ANd barDs who conVeyeD gReeK myThoLogy), wHO aTtRibutED natural pHENOmena tO The GOds.