Philosophers and Philosophies
Socrates
(470-399 BCE) An Athenian philosopher often considered the father of western philosopher
Confucius
(551-479 BCE) A Chinese philosopher known also as Kong Fuzi and created one of the most influential philosophies in Chinese history.
Rene Descartes
17th century French philosopher; who said "i think therefore i am" and believed mind and matter were completly seperate.
Jean-Jacques Rousseau
A French philosopher who believed that human beings are naturally good & free & can rely on their instincts. Government should exist to protect common good, and be a democracy
Existentialism
A philosophy based on the idea that people give meaning to their lives through their choices and actions
Stoicism
An ancient Greek philosophy that became popular amongst many notable Romans which emphasised ethical and logical behaviour.
Peter Singer
Australian philosopher and ethicist who argued that ethics is not a moral code; believes in promoting the "best consequences"
Thales of Miletus
Pre-Socratic philosopher that believed that the nature of all matter is water
Plato
Socrates' most well known pupil. Founded an academy in Athens.
Utilitarianism
The idea that focuses on bringing about what's best for the majority.
Ludwig Wittgenstein
(1889-1951), Austrian philosopher, argued that great philosophical issues are a waste of time because conclusions reflect the opinions of individuals
Jean-Paul Sartre
(1905-1980) French existentialist most famous for his statement that "existence precedes essence"--i.e., first we exist and then our decisions and choices shape our character or essence.
Simone de Beauvoir
(1908-1986) Existentialist and feminist who has written on the psychology and social position of women.
Empiricism
a philosophical tenet that knowledge comes through experience
Humanism
a philosophy in which interests and values of human beings are of primary importance
Contractualism
a political theory that stipulates that individuals must leave the state of nature, give up their natural rights, to join in freedom and equality
Thomas Aquinas
argued that the most basic religious truths could be proved by logical argument.
Hannah Arendt
political scientist who wrote extensively on evil
Epicurus
Greek philosopher who believed that the world is random and that pleasure is the highest good (341-270 BC)
Aristotle
Greek philosopher. A pupil of Plato, the tutor of Alexander the Great, and the author of works on logic, metaphysics, ethics, natural sciences, politics, and poetics, he profoundly influenced Western thought
Friedrich Nietzsche
German philosopher who dismissed reason, democracy, and progress as empty ideas, proclaimed religion as a 'slave morality' and argued life is meaningless.
Immanuel Kant
German who believed that reason is the basis of all morality
Rationalism
A belief or theory that opinions and actions should be based on reason and knowledge rather than on religious belief or emotional response
Socialism
A system in which society, usually in the form of the government, owns and controls the means of production.
Hypatia
AD300-400; teacher and philosopher who focused on mathematics and astronomy
Mary Wollstonecraft
British feminist of the eighteenth century who argued for women's equality with men, even in voting, in her 1792 "Vindication of the Rights of Women."
Lao Tzu
Chinese philosopher; taught about Daoism (following the way of nature) and yin/yang
Soren Kierkegaard
Danish philosopher, founder of existentialism, said "truth is subjectivity", religion is a personal matter, and relationships with God require suffering.
Phillipa Foot
English philosopher focusing on ethics. She argued that values are chosen, not nature. Creator of the Trolley Problem.
John Locke
English philosopher who advocated the idea of a "social contract" and also said people have natural rights to life, liberty and property.
Karl Marx
Father of Communist theory
Feminism
the philosophy that women should possess the same political, social and economic rights as men