The discipline dates back to ancient times with some of the greatest philosophers being Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle. The result was an enormous sphere of influence for Aristotle’s ideas, one that only began to be challenged by Renaissance thinkers nearly 2,000 years later. And in the process these men enabled us to evolve into higher beings. Independent from any institution or philosophical thought, the site is maintained by a team of former students in human sciences, now professors or journalists. These famous Greek philosophers founded and invented many a concepts in philosophy and science by asking and probing themselves about logical answers. The Post-Socratic philosophers established four schools of philosophy: Cynicism, Skepticism, Epicureanism, and Stoicism. His writings, and Aquinas himself, are still considered among the preeminent models for Catholic priesthood. * We have published more than 500 articles, all seeking directly or indirectly to answer this question. While he was not the first individual to partake of the activity of philosophy, he was perhaps the first to truly define what it meant, to articulate its purpose, and to reveal how it could be applied with scientific rigor. This belief system holds that the existence of God is verified through reason and rational explanation, as opposed to through scripture or religious experience. Viewed as a divine figure in traditional Chinese religions, his ideas and writings would form one of the major pillars (alongside Confucius and the Buddha) for Eastern thought. Then, philosophy related to the activity of argue rationally about astonishment. The Greek word for philosophy (philosophia) translates to the “love for wisdom” in English. In many ways, Karl Marx presided over a philosophical revolution that continues in the present day in myriad forms of communism, socialism, socialized democracy, and grassroots political organization. Julien Josset, founder. Below you will find a comprehensive list of great philosophers and links to their philosophy, their quotes, or their major philosophical works. Moreover, during his life, he wrote voluminously but published only a single manuscript. The German thinker’s system of ideas would have a profound impact on the Western World, contributing deeply to intellectual discourse both during and after his life. Aristotle made sure to categorize knowledge into different fields such as Physics, biology, ethics and math. His writing coincided with, and contrasted, the sweep of fascism through Europe, the rise of authoritarian regimes, and the spread of Nazism. With an emphasis on family and social harmony, Confucius advocated for a way of life that reflected a spiritual and religious tradition, but which was also distinctly humanist and even secularist. Man is something that shall be overcome. Some of these thinkers were also philosophers, educators, and therapists. In this article, we will talk about the 25 greatest philosophers of all the time. The list of the greatest philosophers is incomplete without Aristotle. Economists study the ways a society uses scarce resources such as land, labor, raw materials, and machinery to produce goods and services. The discipline dates back to ancient times with some of the greatest philosophers being Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle. The columns of the site are open to external contributions. Prussian-born (and therefore identified as a German philosopher), Kant is considered among the most essential figures in modern philosophy, an advocate of reason as the source for morality, and a thinker whose ideas continue to permeate ethical, epistemological, and political debate. Mill was also a proponent of utilitarianism, which holds that the best action is one that maximizes utility, or stated more simply, one that provide the greatest benefit to all. The-Philosophy.com - 2008-2019, Presocratic Philosophy of Heraclitus and Parmenides, Stuart Mill Philosophy: Interest, Economics and Politics. They stand as major philosophers and to this day are still read by philosophy students because of their contributions to the field and history of philosophy. His philosophy is said to have figured prominently into the formulation of the Declaration of Independence that initiated America’s war for independence from the British. Most philosophers who followed — both those who echoed and those who opposed his ideas — owed a direct debt to his wide-ranging influence. Historians differ on exactly when Lao-Tzu lived and taught, but it’s largely held that some time between the 6th and 4th centuries BCE, the “old master” founded philosophical Taoism. Since then, modern thinkers had never stopped seeking knowledge about the human psychology, development, and education. Some of the more famous ones opened their own schools or academies. Major Greek Philosophers Socrates Socrates was the first major Greek philosopher. Famous philosophers A list of the greatest philosophers who have made original contributions to the field of philosophy. Thomas Aquinas was a 13th century Dominican friar, theologian and Doctor of the Church, born in what is known today as the Lazio region of Italy. Adhered to the Platonic/Aristotelian principle of realism, which holds that certain absolutes exist in the universe, including the existence of the universe itself; Focused much of his work on reconciling Aristotelian and Christian principles, but also expressed a doctrinal openness to Jewish and Roman philosophers, all to the end of divining truth wherever it could be found; The Second Vatican Council (1962–65) declared his Summa Theolgoiae — a compendium of all the teachings of the Catholic Church to that point — “Perennial Philosophy.”. Ancient Greek philosophy arose in the 6th century BC and lasted through the Hellenistic period (323 BC-30 BC). His most prominent works described the parameters of effective rulership, in which he seems to advocate for leadership by any means which retain power, including deceit, murder, and oppression. This ontological approach is among the central premises underpinning modern Catholic philosophy and liturgy. Famous philosophers have sought to understand the human condition for centuries. In his famous political work 'Republic' Plato says, only the person who has real knowledge is eligible to rule a country. 10 Modern Philosophers and their Contribution to Education John Locke and the Tabula Rasa Locke (1632-1704), an English philosopher and physician, proposed that the mind was a … Sartre became active in the socialist resistance, which aimed its activities at French Nazi collaborators. Aristotle Suggested that Man was at his best in a primitive state — suspended between brute animalistic urges on one end of the spectrum and the decadence of civilization on the other — and therefore uncorrupted in his morals; Suggested that the further we deviate from our “state of nature,” the closer we move to the “decay of the species,” an idea that comports with modern environmental and conservationist philosophies; Wrote extensively on education and, in advocating for an education that emphasizes the development of individual moral character, is sometimes credited as an early proponent of child-centered education. He also belo… What made the Marxist system of thought so impactful though was its innate call to action, couched in Marx’s advocacy for a working class revolution aimed at overthrowing an unequal system. Bertrand Arthur William Russell is remembered in the field of philosophy as a proponent of analytic philosophy. The Greek word for philosophy (philosophia) translates to the “love for wisdom” in English. He is also seen as a proponent of deeply questionable — some would argue downright evil — values and ideas. Rousseau may be credited for providing a basic framework for classical republicanism, a form of government centered around the ideas of civil society, citizenship, and mixed governance. Machiavelli was an empiricist who used experience and historical fact to inform his beliefs, a disposition which allowed him to divorce politics not just from theology but from morality as well. 10 modern philosophers and their contribution to education 1. His most important contribution to Western thought is the concept of natural theology (sometimes referred to as Thomism in tribute to his influence). He focused on the importance of the individual’s subjective relationship with God, and his work addressed the themes of faith, Christian love, and human emotion. Some historians claim that he was a pupil of the famous philosopher named Xanophanes as most of his preaching, thoughts and poems are heavily influenced by him. We hope this was enlightening for you. Image Credit: redbubble If you wish to know about ancient Greek philosophersthat introduced new concepts to leading life and made remarkable contributions in the fields of humanity, then the name of Parmenides has to be mentioned. Here is an overview of great philosophers and major schools of thought that have punctuated the long history of philosophy from Ancient Greece to the Modern World. He was also seen as a key figure in the American romantic movement. We’re certain Socrates would question our motives, Emerson would criticize us for writing on the subject so far removed from nature, and Nietzsche would make fun of us until we cried. It’s amazing how different religions and philosophers, all have overlapping principles/beliefs. Indeed, his most important works would identify personal property as the root to inequality and would refute the premise that monarchies are divinely appointed to rule. Here are a list of great philosophers of world and their contributions as follows. Articulated the “problem of induction,” suggesting we cannot rationally justify our belief in causality, that our perception only allows us to experience events that are typically conjoined, and that causality cannot be empirically asserted as the connecting force in that relationship; Assessed that human beings lack the capacity to achieve a true conception of the self, that our conception is merely a “bundle of sensations” that we connect to formulate the idea of the self; Hume argued against moral absolutes, instead positing that our ethical behavior and treatment of others is compelled by emotion, sentiment, and internal passions, that we are inclined to positive behaviors by their likely desirable outcomes. This list of ancient Greek philosophers contains philosophers who studied in ancient Greece or spoke Greek. Expressed the view, often referred to as Platonism, that those whose beliefs are limited only to perception are failing to achieve a higher level of perception, one available only to those who can see beyond the material world; Articulated the theory of forms, the belief that the material world is an apparent and constantly changing world but that another, invisible world provides unchanging causality for all that we do see; Held the foundational epistemological view of “justified true belief,” that for one to know that a proposition is true, one must have justification for the relevant true proposition. Introduction. While some became lightening rods for controversy, all of these thinkers had an impact on the field of psychology. 12 Famous Philosophers and Their Guiding Principles. A necessary inclusion by virtue of his role as, essentially, the founder of Western Philosophy, Socrates is nonetheless unique among entrants on this list for having produced no written works reflecting his key ideas or principles. A German-born economist, political theorist, and philosopher, Karl Marx wrote some of the most revolutionary philosophical content ever produced. The site thus covers the main philosophical traditions, from the Presocratic to the contemporary philosophers, while trying to bring a philosophical reading to the cultural field in general, such as cinema, literature, politics or music. This orientation provided a newly concreted framework for considering questions of ethics, politics, knowledge, and theology. And of course, it also gave him direct sway over the mind of a man who would one day command an empire stretching from Greece to northwestern India. Know first of all that there is no single answer to this question. In traditional telling, though Lao-Tzu never opened a formal school, he worked as an archivist for the royal court of Zhou Dynasty. Top 30 Major Philosophers of the Middle Ages 1- Thomas Aquinas (1225 - 1274, Italy) Theologian, metaphysician and principal representative of scholastic education, was the one who recovered the Aristotelian writings and the first that saw compatible the comments of the Greek philosopher with the Catholic faith. Another example of an ‘unorthodox’ philosopher, Chalmers too belongs to the New York University crew of star philosophers, but also teaches at the Australian National University. First described the concept of angst, defining it as a dread the comes from anxieties over choice, freedom, and ambiguous feelings. The-Philosophy helps high-school & university students but also curious people on human sciences to quench their thirst for knowledge. The History of philosophy is as rich as it is complex. Held the conviction that the study of philosophy must begin through a close and ongoing study of history; Demanded that social constructs be more closely examined for hierarchical inequalities, as well as through an analysis of the corresponding fields of knowledge supporting these unequal structures; Believed oppressed humans are entitled to rights and they have a duty to rise up against the abuse of power to protect these rights. 15 Famous Economists and Their Contributions That’ll Truly Amaze You. In fact, his involvement earned Sartre two near-miss bomb attacks at the hands of French paramilitary forces. Along with Socrates and Plato, he laid much of the foundation of Western philosophy. (Last Updated On: May 15, 2018) Some of the most famous psychologists in history made important contributions to our understanding of the human mind and behavior. The founding principle of philosophy is perhaps the astonishment, source of the questions. Following the war, Sartre’s writing and political engagement centered on efforts at anticolonialism, including involvement in the resistance to French colonization of Algeria. A French novelist, activist, and philosopher, Sartre was a leading exponent of the 20th century existentialist movement as well as a vocal proponent of Marxism and socialism. Although there were Greek philos… English. Here are 10 Greatest Philosophers who ever lived 1. Born in Geneva, then a city-state in the Swiss Confederacy, Rousseau would be one of the most consequential thinkers of the Enlightenment era. The list of the greatest philosophers is incomplete without Aristotle. Because Kierkegaard’s work was at first only available in Danish, it was only after his work was translated that his ideas proliferated widely throughout Western Europe. A Boston-born writer, philosopher, and poet, Ralph Waldo Emerson is the father of the transcendentalist movement. His belief system would help to inform the future movements of utilitarianism and logical positivism, and would have a profound impact on scientific and theological discourse thereafter. A Danish theologian, social critic, and philosopher, Kierkegaard is viewed by many as the most important existentialist philosopher. This idea in particular would remain an important component of the existentialist and surrealist movements that followed. Aristotle (384–322 B.C.) Believed that human beings are “condemned to be free,” that because there is no Creator who is responsible for our actions, each of us alone is responsible for everything we do; Called for the experience of “death consciousness,” an understanding of our mortality that promotes an authentic life, one spent in search of experience rather than knowledge; Argued that the existence of free will is in fact evidence of the universe’s indifference to the individual, an illustration that our freedom to act toward objects is essentially meaningless and therefore of no consequence to be intervened upon by the world. Along with Socrates and Plato, he laid much of the foundation of Western philosophy. Without any further delay, let’s take a look. Well, consider us your fool, because that’s exactly what we’ve set out to do. Hope you liked reading about these amazing personalities. Honestly, the only real way you can fully comprehend the theories, epistemologies, and frameworks described here is to read the writing created by — and critique dedicated to — each of these thinkers. His ideals have been particularly embraced by progressive movements, and he allied with many during his lifetime. One of Pythagoras’s followers, Parmenides contributed a lot in the fields of philosophy. The classical Greek thinker is best known through Plato’s dialogues, which reveal a key contributor to the fields of ethics and education. He used these forces to pen deconstructive examinations of truth, Christian morality, and the impact of social constructs on our formulation of moral values. The Post-Socratic philosophers focused their attention on the individual rather than on communal issues such as politics. But there are some modern-day philosophical thinkers who have had their contributions recognized as well. Rousseau was a writer, philosopher, and — unique among entrants on this list — a composer of operas and classical compositions. Together, they devised an assessment of class, society, and power dynamics that revealed deep inequalities, and exposed the economic prerogatives for state-sponsored violence, oppression, and war. Friedrich Nietzsche was a poet, cultural critic, and philosopher, as well as possessor of among the most gifted minds in human history. In the religious sphere, the reform movement led by Martin Luther generated a division in the Catholic Church and in the secular realm, humanism developed. He contributed a critical body of work to the school of thought called liberalism, an ideology founding on the extension of individual liberties and economic freedoms. Though occasionally serving to raise issues regarding human rights abuses as an outside observer, he praised the Soviet Union’s attempt at manifesting Marxism. Here are some words of wisdom from some of the most famous philosophers of all time. Schopenhauer: Philosophy of Schopenhauer / Schopenhauer Quotes / Morality Schopenhauer. (Often, in his dialogues, he employed his mentor Socrates as the vessel for his own thoughts and ideas.) Historian, social theorist, and philosopher Michel Foucault, born in the riverfront city of Poiltiers, France, dedicated much of his teaching and writing to the examination of power and knowledge and their connection to social control. Of note, one of his activist collaborators was both a romantic partner and a fellow major cohort of existentialism, Simone de Beauvoir. La Morale de Confucius. Historical accounts differ on who he was, exactly when he lived and which works he contributed to the canon of Taoism. It is surprising how much these giants of the past had to say that has influenced modern society. Plato (c. 428–348 B.C.) Lao-Tzu espoused an ideal life lived through the Dao or Tao (roughly translated as “the way”). Learn about the best online colleges and universities that allow you to earn your degree from anywhere. Along with Socrates and Plato, he laid much of the foundation of Western philosophy. This, Hume argued, predisposed human beings to knowledge founded not on the existence of certain absolutes but on personal experience. Sociology is defined as the study of human social behaviour, its origins, development, power and social structure and institutions. Aristotle is among the most important and influential thinkers and teachers in human history, often considered — alongside his mentor, Plato — to be a father of Western Philosophy.” Born in the northern part of ancient Greece, his writings and ideas on metaphysics, ethics, knowledge, and methodological inquiry are at the very root of human thought. Rousseau proposed the earth-shattering idea that only the people have a true right to rule. These ancient Greek philosophers were thinkers and seekers of truth. Dating back from the pre-historic era of the Greek philsophers such as Plato, Aristotle, Socrates and Epictetus, who simplified the complex phenomenon of the stars, the galaxies, the planets, geography of the world, and provided a basic outline of legal, moral, economic and political spectrum for later great philosophers such as Immanuel Kant, René Descartes, Karl Marx, and Friedrich Nietzsche to further … So obviously, attempting to sum it up in a few pithy blurbs is a fool’s errand. Socrates (c. 469-399 BC) Famous For: the Socratic Method of logic and a founder of Western philosophy His story began in his hometown of Athens,Greece but unfolded through the writings of his students and fellow philosophers.The field of ethics was the specialty of Socrates and introduced a concept that has been dubbed as elenchus,or the Socratic method. 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