Topics: History of Philosophy : Ancient
'Ancient philosophy' is the conventional title, in Europe and the English-speaking academy, for the philosophical activities of the thinkers of the Graeco-Roman world. It includes a succession of philosophers who operated over a 1,000-year period from the middle of the first millennium BC to the middle of the first millennium AD - from Thales and the earliest Pre-Socratics to late Neoplatonists and Aristotelian commentators, such as Simplicius and Philoponus. Later thinkers in Europe (e.g. Scotus Eriugena) are normally assigned to the category 'medieval', as are Arabic philosophers such as Avicenna and Averroës. Contemporary philosophers from other cultures (e.g. Confucius, Buddha) are also not included.
Cyrenaic School
The Cyrenaic school of classical Greek thought (aka Cyrenaicism) was founded by Aristippus of Cyrene and flourished during the fourth century BC.
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Epicureanism
Established by Epicurus in 306 BCE, just outside the walls of Athens. Epicureanism consisted of a way of life directed at worldly happiness and an atomistic account of the exclusively material nature of reality.
Epicureans,
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Megarian School
The Megarian or Eristic school of classical Greek thought was founded by Euclides of Megara.
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Middle Platonism
"Middle Platonism" is the term used for the Platonic thought of the period between the decline of the skeptical Academy and the rise of Neoplatonism.
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Milesian School
The Milesian School, a group of early Greek philosophers from the city of Miletus. Although no Milesian writings have survived intact, the teachings of the school's members appear to have centered on cosmological concerns, particularly the underlying substance of the universe.
Milesians,
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Neoplatonism
A later form of Platonic philosophy that had its primary development as a school of thought in the Roman Empire from the third to the fifth century AD.
Neoplatonists,
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Peripateticism
Peripateticism ("the Peripatetic School," "the Lyceum"), the school of Aristotle and his followers. Peripatetic doctrines were popular in late antiquity, and became very strong in medieval thought.
Peripatetics,
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Philosophers
Links to the categories of ancient schools of philosophy, and to the categories of ancient thinkers not affiliated by school.
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Pythagoreanism
School of religious and philosophical thought in ancient Greece, founded by Pythagoras of Samos. Although the specific teachings of this school are unclear, they centered on number mysticism.
Pythagoreans,
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Skepticism
Skeptical School founded by Pyrrho of Elis (about 365-275 BCE). Pyrrho's immediate disciple was Timon.
Skeptics,
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Sophism
The Sophists of classical Greece arose in the 5th century BC. They did not constitute an organized school of thought, but were a group of professional rhetoricians who frequently expounded on philosophical topics.
Sophists,
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Stoicism
Chats and Forums,
Stoics,
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The Academy
The Academy (akademeia), originally the name of a district of Athens, came to refer to the school of Plato and his successors, who taught there.
Academics,
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