Presocratics (e.g., Thales, Pythagoras, Heraclitus, Parmenides): These thinkers are considered the first philosophers. They were primarily concerned with the fundamental nature of reality.
Socratic Period (e.g., Socrates, Plato, Aristotle): This period is marked by an emphasis on ethics, politics, and epistemology (the study of knowledge).
Hellenistic Philosophy (e.g., Epicureans, Stoics, Skeptics): This era saw the development of several schools of thought, each with its own views on ethics and the best way to live.
Roman Philosophy
Thinkers like Cicero, Seneca, and Marcus Aurelius expanded upon and adapted Greek philosophical ideas to the context of the Roman Empire.
Medieval Philosophy (c. 500 CE - 1500 CE)
Christian Philosophy: Early Christian thinkers like Augustine and Thomas Aquinas sought to reconcile Christian doctrine with Greek and Roman philosophy.
Islamic Philosophy: Islamic thinkers like Avicenna (Ibn Sina) and Averroes (Ibn Rushd) played key roles in preserving and building upon Greek philosophical texts.
Jewish Philosophy: Thinkers like Maimonides integrated Jewish theology with Greek philosophy.
Renaissance Philosophy (c. 14th - 17th century)
This period saw a revival of interest in ancient Greek and Roman philosophy. Thinkers like Erasmus and Machiavelli broke from medieval scholasticism and paved the way for the Enlightenment.
Modern Philosophy (c. 17th - 19th century)
Rationalism (e.g., Descartes, Spinoza, Leibniz): Emphasized the role of reason as the primary source of knowledge.
Empiricism (e.g., Locke, Berkeley, Hume): Argued that experience is the primary source of knowledge.
German Idealism (e.g., Kant, Hegel): Focused on the relationship between thought and reality.
Existentialism (e.g., Kierkegaard, Nietzsche): Emphasized individual existence and freedom.
Contemporary Philosophy (20th century - present)
Analytic Philosophy: Originated in the English-speaking world, with thinkers like Russell, Wittgenstein, and Moore. It emphasizes logical analysis and clarity.
Continental Philosophy: Originated in Europe, with thinkers like Heidegger, Sartre, and Derrida. It often addresses broad historical and cultural themes.
Eastern Philosophy
Indian Philosophy: Includes the philosophical traditions of Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, and more.