Ancient philosophy

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History of Western philosophy
Pre-Socratic philosophy
Ancient philosophy
Medieval philosophy
Renaissance philosophy
17th century philosophy
18th century philosophy
19th century philosophy
20th century philosophy
Postmodern philosophy
Contemporary philosophy
See also:
Eastern philosophy
Babylonian philosophy
Indian philosophy
Iranian philosophy
Chinese philosophy
Korean philosophy
Christian philosophy
Islamic philosophy
Jewish philosophy

This page lists some links to ancient philosophy. In Europe, the spread of Christianity through the Roman world marked the end of Hellenistic philosophy and ushered in the beginnings of Medieval philosophy.

Contents

[edit] Western philosophy

[edit] Presocratic philosophers

Thales (624-546 BC)
Anaximander (610-546 BC)
Anaximenes (585-525 BC)
Pythagoras (582-507 BC)
Alcmaeon of Croton
Archytas (428-347 BC)
Empedocles (490-430 BC)
Anaxagoras (500-428 BC)
Metrodorus of Lampsacus (the elder) (5th century BC)
Parmenides (515-450 BC)
Zeno of Elea (490-430 BC)
Diogenes of Apollonia (460-? BC)
Philolaus (480-405 BC)
Melissus of Samos (470-? BC)
Xenophanes (570-480 BC)
Leucippus (first half of 5th century BC)
Democritus (460-370 BC)
Metrodorus of Chios (4th century BC)
Gorgias (483-375 BC)
Protagoras (481-420 BC)
Antiphon (480-411 BC)
Prodicus (465/450-after 399 BC)
Hippias (middle of the 5th century BC)
Thrasymachus (459-400 BC)
Callicles
Critias
Lycophron

[edit] Classical Greek philosophers

[edit] Hellenistic philosophy

[edit] Hellenistic schools of thought

[edit] Philosophers during Roman times

[edit] Indian philosophy

Main article: Indian philosophy

[edit] Vedic philosophy

Indian philosophy begins with the Vedas where questions related to laws of nature, the origin of the universe and the place of man in it are asked. In the famous Rigvedic Hymn of Creation the poet says:

"Whence all creation had its origin, he, whether he fashioned it or whether he did not, he, who surveys it all from highest heaven, he knows--or maybe even he does not know."

In the Vedic view, creation is ascribed to the self-consciousness of the primeval being (Purusha). This leads to the inquiry into the one being that underlies the diversity of empirical phenomena and the origin of all things. Cosmic order is termed rta and causal law by karma. Nature (prakriti) is taken to have three qualities (sattva, rajas, and tamas).

[edit] Classical Indian philosophy

In classical times, these inquiries were systematized in six schools of philosophy. Some of the questions asked were:

  • What is the ontological nature of consciousness?
  • How is cognition itself experienced?
  • Is mind (chit) intentional or not?
  • Does cognition have its own structure?

The Six schools of Indian philosophy are:

Other traditions of Indian philosophy include:

Some ancient philosophers:

[edit] Old Iranian philosophy

Main article: Iranian philosophy

While there are ancient relations between the Indian Vedas and the Iranian Avesta, the two main families of the Indo-Iranian philosophical traditions were characterized by fundamental differences in their implications for the human being's position in society and their view on the role of man in the universe. The first charter of human rights by Cyrus the Great is widely seen as a reflection of the questions and thoughts expressed by Zarathustra and developed in Zoroastrian schools of thought.

[edit] Chinese philosophy

Main article: Chinese philosophy

In China, less emphasis was put upon materialism as a basis for reflecting upon the world and more on conduct, manners and social behaviour, as evidenced by Taoism and Confucianism.

[edit] External links

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