module 1 philosophers Flashcards
the milesians
thales,
anaximander,
anaximenes
the non-milesians
pythagoras
xenophanes
heraclitus
parmenides
empedocles
democritus
philosophers of the classical or socratic era
socrates
plato
aristotle
philosophers of the scholastic or medieval era
avicenna
st. augustine of hippo
thomas aquinas
Known as the first person in recorded history to have started
philosophizing because he did not resort in supernatural or
mythological explanations.
* Coined the term arche which means the ultimate substance of
everything.
* Believed that the arche is water because it can be found in many
places. We can perceive water to be liquid (inherent state), solid
(freezing), and gas (evaporation).
thales
- Younger contemporary and student of Thales.
- Believed that the ultimate substance of everything is apeiron, which is
translated as “the infinite” or “the boundless”.
anaximander
- Believed that the ultimate substance of everything is air. In its stable
state, air is invisible, but when it is moved and condensed it becomes
first wind and then cloud and then water, and finally water
condensed becomes mud and stone. Rarefied air, presumably,
became fire, completing the gamut of the elements.
anaximenes
- Said that everything in the world is governed by numbers, and it can
be understood through mathematics. - Proponent of Pythagorean theorem.
pythagoras
- Believed that the ultimate substance of everything is earth and it
interplays with water. “For all things come from earth, and all things
end by becoming earth. For we are all sprung from earth and water.
All things that come into being and grow are earth and water.” - Considered as the first philosopher of religion. He criticized the
representation of God found in the works of Homer and Hesiod. In
their stories, there are many gods and goddesses who are
anthropomorphic (look like humans) and possess immoral human
acts such as stealing, deception, and adultery. For Xenophanes, there is only one God
who is transcendent and omnipresent.
xenophanes
- Believed that everything in the world was in a state of constant
change and flux. - Said that the ultimate substance of everything is fire.
heraclitus
Rejected the idea of Heraclitus about change. He believed that
change is just an illusion.
Believed that everything that exists is static and unchanging.
parmenides
Synthesis the thought of other philosophers.
all four
of these substances (water, earth, fire, air) stood on equal terms
as the basic elements of the universe.
empedocles
introduced atomism.
* He believed that the everything is composed of tiny, indivisible
and indestructible things called atoms.
democritus
- The oratorical philosopher; left no writings.
- Well-known for his Socratic Method; it is a method of questioning
that attempts provoke clarification of ideas and discussion by
asking follow-up questions that are critical and insightful. - Encourages people to acknowledge their own ignorance and to
be skeptic; this will motivate us to pursue wisdom. - “I know that I know nothing”.
socrates
A literary superstar; he is best known for his writings such as “The
Republic” which is composed of philosophies presented in
dialogues.
* It was he who wrote the philosophies of Socrates. His philosophy
is a completion and extension of philosophy of Socrates.
* His famous philosophy is the Theory of Forms (Idealism
plato
