Philosophy

Philosophers Through Time

By HollySparkles
  • 624 BCE

    Ancient Philosopher 1: Thales

    Ancient Philosopher 1: Thales
    1. Pre-Socratic – c. 624-546 B.C. Greek a. Thales
    i. Mathematician, philosopher, Astronomer
    ii. First well known Philosopher
    iii. First principle of all things was water
    iv. Matter formed from air by condensation
    1. “The most difficult thing in life is to know yourself.”
  • 469 BCE

    Ancient Philosopher 2: Socrates

    Ancient Philosopher 2: Socrates
    1. Socratic- c. 469-399 B.C a. Socrates i. This period was named in honour of him ii. Focused on how people should behave
    2. Ethics iii. Created what is known as the Socratic method or “Elenchus”
    3. A form of a debate or argument that was used to stimulate critical thinking about a certain presumption
      a. “The only true wisdom is in knowing you know nothing.”
  • 341 BCE

    Ancient Philosopher 3: Epicurus

    Ancient Philosopher 3: Epicurus
    1. Hellenistic- 341 – 270 B.C a. Epicurus i. Founder of the school of Epicureanism ii. The main goal of this philosopher was to obtain a happy and tranquil life, which had no fear, pain, and was filled with friendship and freedom.
    2. “Death does not concern us, because as long as we exist, death is not here. And when it does come, we no longer exist.”
  • 55

    Ancient Philosopher 4: Epictetus

    Ancient Philosopher 4: Epictetus
    1. Roman/ Hellenistic- c. A.D 55- 135 a. Epictetus i. Overcame obstacles in his life: developed from a crippled Roman slave to a famous philosopher
    2. One of the biggest of his time ii. Taught in the school of Stoicism
    3. Considered one of the greatest Stoics a. “It’s not what happens to you, but how you react to it that matters.”
  • 430

    Ancient Philosopher 5: St. Augustine of Hippo

    Ancient Philosopher 5: St. Augustine of Hippo
    1. Late Roman- A.D 354 – 430 C.E a. St. Augustine of Hippo i. Was a very important person/ philosopher within the development of the Western Christianity.
    2. He brought “Christianity to dominance in the previously pagan Roman Empire.” ii. This philosopher developed and believed a particular system involving elements from Plato and Neo-Platonism, while supporting Christian orthodoxy.
    3. “Pray as though everything depended on God. Work as though everything depended on you.”
  • 980

    Medieval/ Renaissance Philosopher 1: a. Avicenna or, “ Ibn Sina or Ibn Seena or, in full, Abu Ali al-Hussain Ibn Abdallah Ibn Sina”

    Medieval/ Renaissance Philosopher 1: a. Avicenna or, “ Ibn Sina or Ibn Seena or, in full, Abu Ali al-Hussain Ibn Abdallah Ibn Sina”
    1. Medieval- 980-1037- Islam’s Golden Age a. Avicenna
      i. This philosopher was one of the “most learned men of his time”.
    2. So much so, that he is indeed seen as the “father of early modern medicine” ii. Focused on Aristotelianism, Neo-Platonism, and Islamic Theology iii. Founded the school of Avicennism
    3. “There are no incurable diseases – only lack of will. There are no worthless herbs – only the lack of knowledge.”
  • 1126

    Medieval/ Renaissance Philosopher 2: Averroës or, “Ibn Rushd or Ibn Roschd or, in full, Abu al-Walid Muhammad ibn Ahmad ibn Rushd”

    Medieval/ Renaissance Philosopher 2: Averroës or, “Ibn Rushd or Ibn Roschd or, in full, Abu al-Walid Muhammad ibn Ahmad ibn Rushd”
    1. Medieval – 1126-1198 i. Spanish/Arabic Philosopher, physician, lawyer and polymath ii. A movement done in his honour after his death based off of his teachings impacted the development of Western Europe’s Scholasticism
    2. “Two truths cannot contradict one another.”
  • 1200

    Medieval/ Renaissance Philosopher 3: Albertus Magnus or, “St. Albert the Great or Albert of Cologne”

    Medieval/ Renaissance Philosopher 3: Albertus Magnus or, “St. Albert the Great or Albert of Cologne”
    1. c. 1200 – 1280 a. Albertus Magnus
      i. 13th century German
    2. Philosopher, theologian, and scientist ii. Influence was huge. Particularly within the scholastic portion of philosophy during his time period. iii. His inclusion of Aristotelianism within his teachings within the Christian West.
    3. Known as an advocate for peace between science and religion a. “The greater and more persistent your confidence in God, the more abundantly you will receive all that you ask.”
  • 1469

    Medieval/ Renaissance Philosopher 4: Niccolò di Bernardo dei Machiavelli

    Medieval/ Renaissance Philosopher 4: Niccolò di Bernardo dei Machiavelli
    1469 – 1527
    a. Niccolò di Bernardo dei Machiavelli
    i. Italian philosopher, political theorist, diplomat, musician, and writer: didn’t see himself as a philosopher
    ii. Many philosophers have found incredibly influenced by his thoughts, beliefs, and work
    iii. Name was used to refer to a move within politics that is devious/ cunning “The one who adapts his policy to the times prospers, and likewise that the one whose policy clashes with the demands of the times does not.”
  • 1561

    Medieval/ Renaissance Philosopher 5: Sir Francis Bacon (Baron Verulam, 1st Viscount St Alban

    Medieval/ Renaissance Philosopher 5: Sir Francis Bacon (Baron Verulam, 1st Viscount St Alban
    1561 – 1626
    a. Sir Francis Bacon (Baron Verulam, 1st Viscount St Alban
    i. English philosopher, statesman, essayist, and scientist.
    ii. Despite his daily struggles within where he lived, (poisonous and political climate) within England, as well as his struggles against debt he still maintained a wonderfully large, brilliant mind.
    iii. He mainly focused upon inductive reasoning
    1. Empiricism, and the scientific method were the main points in his theories.
    a. “Knowledge is power.”

  • Modern Philosopher 1: Jeremy Bentham

    Modern Philosopher 1: Jeremy Bentham
    19th century- 1748 – 1832
    a. Jeremy Bentham
    i. English philosopher, political radical, and legal/social reformer within his time
    ii. Best known as the founder of Utilitarianism
    1. “Underlying moral principle on which his legal and social reforms should be based.”
    1. “The power of the lawyer is in the uncertainty of the law.”
    2. “It is the greatest good to the greatest number of people which is the measure of right and wrong.”

  • Modern Philosopher 2: Charles Sanders Peirce

    Modern Philosopher 2: Charles Sanders Peirce
    1. 20th Century – 1839 – 1914 a. Charles Sanders Peirce i. American philosopher, logician, mathematician, and scientist ii. He had a general fascination with logic and reasoning
    2. “Bad reasoning as well as good reasoning is possible; and this fact is the foundation of the practical side of logic.”

  • Modern Philosopher 3: Friedrich Ludwig Gottlob Frege

    Modern Philosopher 3: Friedrich Ludwig Gottlob Frege
    1. Modern- 1848 – 1925 a. Friedrich Ludwig Gottlob Frege i. German Mathematician, logician and philosopher ii. Helped to discover modern mathematic logic in the beginning of the “Analytic Philosophy” movement.
    2. “… What is a fact? A fact is a thought that is true. But the scientist will surely not realize something which depends on men’s varying states of mind to be the firm foundation of science…”

  • Modern Philosopher 4: Bertrand Arthur William Russell

    Modern Philosopher 4: Bertrand Arthur William Russell
    1. Modern – 1872 – 1970 a. Bertrand Arthur William Russell i. British philosopher, logician, mathematician, and historian ii. One of the founders of Analytic Philosophy
    2. As well as almost all the different Analytic movements in the 20th century. a. “The good life is one inspired by love, and guided by knowledge.”

  • Modern Philosopher 5: Jacques Derrida

    Modern Philosopher 5: Jacques Derrida
    1. Modern- 1930 – 2004 a. Jacques Derrida i. Algerian – born French philosopher ii. Founder of “Deconstructionism movement in the 60s iii. Large impact on the Continental Philosophy and literary theory
    2. “Everything is arranged so that it can be this way, this is what is called culture.”