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The Nine Greatest Philosophers
In my opinion, Western philosophy really begins with the
Seven Sages of Ancient Greece. During the 6th century B. C., these
men virtually invented the intellectual category that we now call philosophy.
Prior to their time, secular philosophy did not exist. Most topics that are
now normally included in the study of philosophy were either not thought about
at all, or were confined to the speculations of the religious authorities of the
time. We owe a tremendous debt to these early sages who collectively laid down
the foundation that the nine great philosophers, cited below, could build upon.
This page provides summary biographical information for each
of the nine philosophers I have selected. The philosophers are cited
in chronological order and are each linked to a recommended academic web page
that offers additional biographical information.
1. Heraclitus (ca. 535-475 B. C.)
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Academic Profession:
Philosopher
Nationality: Greek
Place of Birth: Ancient
Ephesus, Ionia
Most important Writing:
On Nature (only fragments survive)
Recommended Web Page:
Philosophy of Heraclitus |
2. Plato (427-347 B. C.)
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Academic Profession:
Philosopher
Nationality: Greek
Place of Birth: Ancient
Athens, Greece
Most important Writing: The
Republic
Recommended Web Page:
Selected Thoughts of Plato |
3. Aristotle (384-322 B. C.)
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Academic Profession:
Philosopher and Natural Scientist
Nationality: Greek
Place of Birth: Ancient
Stagirus, Macedonia
Most important Writing: The
Organum (6
Books on Logic)
Recommended Web Page:
Selected Thoughts of Aristotle |
4. Rene Descartes (1596-1650)
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Academic Profession:
Philosopher and Mathematician
Nationality: French
Place of Birth:
La Haye, Touraine, France
Most important Writing:
Meditations on First Philosophy
(1641)
Recommended Web Page:
University of St. Andrews, Scotland |
5. David Hume (1711-1776)
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Academic Profession:
Philosopher
Nationality: Scottish
Place of Birth:
Berwickshire, Scotland
Most important Writing:
A Treatise of Human Nature
(1739)
Recommended Web Page:
Stanford University, California |
6. Immanuel Kant (1724-1804)
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Academic Profession:
Philosopher
Nationality: German
Place of Birth:
Königsberg, East Prussia
Most important Writing:
Critique of Pure Reason
(1781)
Recommended Web Page:
Trinity College, Hartford CN |
7.
Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel (1770-1831)
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Knowledge Category:
Philosopher
Nationality: German
Place of Birth: Stuttgart,
Prussia
Most important Writing:
Phenomenology of Mind
(1807)
Recommended Web Page:
Stanford University, California |
8.
Frederick Wilhelm Nietzsche (1844-1900)
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Knowledge Category:
Classical Philologist and Philosopher
Nationality: German
Place of Birth:
Lützen, Saxony
Most important Writing:
Also Sprach Zarathustra
(1883)
Recommended Web Page:
Stanford University, California |
9.
Martin Heidegger (1889-1976)
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Academic Profession:
Philosopher Nationality:
German
Place of Birth:
Messkirch, Southwest Germany
Most important Writing:
Sein und Zeit
(1927)
Recommended Web Page:
Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy |
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