E PRE-SOCRATIC PHILOSOPHERS

Thales Thales is usually considered to be the first

Milesian philosopher as well as the father of science
school as he was the first to try to explain things in
(c.624-546 nature without relying on mythology. He was
BCE) the first of three major figures in the
Milesian school, all of whom felt that one
single substance was the source of all things.
According to Thales, that one subtance
was water.

Anaximander Anaximander was a student of Thales and the

Milesian second major figure in the Milesian school.
school He believed that the single substance that
(c.610-546 was the source of all things was an endless,
BCE) unlimited substance called apeiron.

Anaximenes Anaximenes was a student of Anaximander

Milesian and the third major figure in the Milesian
school school. He believed that air was the single
(c.585-528 substance that was the source of all things.
BCE)

Pythagoras Although little is known of the historical

Pythagorianism figure, Pythagoras is considered to be the
(570-495 BCE) founder of the mystical/religious movement
that bears his name. He made important
contributions to the field of mathematics,
the most famous of which is the Pythagorean
theorem. He also believed in reincarnation.

Parmenides The founder of the Eleatic school,

Eleatic school Parmenides believed that all is one, that
(c. early 500s everything that exists has always existed,
BCE) and that nothing ever really changes. He felt
that this conclusion, based on reason alone,
was correct and that our senses, which tell us
otherwise, are ultimately unreliable.
Heraclitus Unlike Parmenides, Heraclitus believed that
Ephesian everything is in a constant state of change
school and that are sense are generally reliable. A
(c.535-475 melancholy and obscure man, he is often
BCE) portrayed as the weeping philosopher.

Zeno of Elea A student of Parmenides, Zeno is most

Eleatic school famous for his paradoxes, the most famous of
(c.490-430 which is known as Achilles and the tortoise.
BCE)

Empedocles Empedocles introduced the concept of four

Pluralist fundamental elements (fire, air, earth &
school water), instead of just one an idea that
(c.490-430 persisted until modern times.
BCE)

Anaxagoras Anaxagoras, a member of the pluralist

Pluralist school, was the first to bring philosophy to
school Athens, where it later flourished in the hands
(c.500-428 of Socrates, Plato and Aristotle.
BCE)

Protagoras Protagoras was one of the first sophists

Sophist practical philosophers who taught the
(c.490-420 wealthy for money. He is most famo us for
BCE) his saying, Man is the measure of all
things.

Democritus Democritus, together with his teacher

Atomist school Leucippus, is usually credited with
(c.460-370 developing atomism the idea that
BCE) everything in nature is made up of
indivisible elements called atoms. This
theory reconciled Parmenides concept of
nothing changing (because the atoms
themselves dont change) with Heraclitus
idea of constant change (because it is the
way in which the atoms are arranged that
changes). He is often referred to as the
 laughing philosopher.

THE THREE GREATEST GREEK PHILOSOPHERS

Socrates Socrates is remembered more for how he

Athens taught than for what he taught. He liked to
(c.469-399 appear ignorant and ask a lot of questions,
BCE) thus helping people to find answers on their
own a technique that became known as the
Socratic Method. He is also remembered for
his death. Accused of corrupting youth and
disbelieving in the gods, he was sentenced to
commit suicide by drinking poison. Socrates
left behind no writings and everything we
know about him is based on what Plato and
his other students wrote.
Socrates: A Very Short Introduction

Plato A student of Socrates, Plato founded The

Athens Academy in Athens and became one of the
(428-327 BCE) greatest figures in the entire history of
philosophy. He believed in the existence of
ideal forms, residing beyond the physical
world and known by reason alone, upon
which our world of senses is based. He
expressed this theory most clearly in his
famous piece The Myth of the Cave.
Plato: A Very Short Introduction

Aristotle A student of Plato, Aristotle is perhaps the

Athens most influential of all the ancient Greek
(c.384-322 philosophers. He is famous for
BCE2) his empirical approach to studying nature,
his theory of Four Causes (material, formal,
efficient and final), and his development
of formal logic. He was also a tutor for
Alexander the Great.
Aristotle: A Very Short Introduction

THE POST-SOCRATIC PHILOSOPHERS

Aristippus Aristippus was the founder of Cyrenaicism,
Cyrenaicism an ultra-hedonist philosophy that encouraged
(c.435-356 people to get as much pleasure as possible
BCE) out of life.

Diogenes Diogenes was one of the founders

Cynicism of Cynicism, a philosophy that, in opposition
(c.412-323 to Cyrenaicism, rejected the desire for
BCE) wealth and luxury and encouraged a simple
life, free from possessions, instead. Diogenes
is remembered for his theatrics such as
walking around with a lamp during the day
proclaiming that he was looking for an
honest man and for responding to Alexander
the Greats question, What can I do for
you? with Move, because youre blocking
my sun.

Pyrrho Pyrrho was an ultimate skeptic in that he

Skepticism believed it was impossible to actually know
(c.360-270 anything for certain. He therefore
BCE) recommended that people suspend judgment
on philosophical matters and simply focus on
more practical matters instead.

Epicurus Influenced by Cyrenaicism, Epicurus saw

Epicureanism pleasure and pain as the measures of good
(c.341-270 and evil. Epicureans therefore tried their best
BCE) to enjoy life by aiming for as much
happiness and as little suffering as possible.

Zeno of Citium Zeno was the founder of Stoicism, a

Stoicism philosophy that developed out of Cynicism
(c.334-262 and encourages people to use their free will
BCE) to repress emotions and simply be at peace
with whatever nature throws their way.
Plotinus Plotinus is considered the founder
Neoplatonism of Neoplatonism, a pantheistic and mystical
(204-270 CE) philosophy that emphasizes how everything
is really part of the One and that there
really is no dualism (e.g. darkness does not
exist by itself; it is simply the absence of
light).