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Philosophy
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Ancient Philosophy (c. 600 BCE - 500 CE)
- Greek Philosophy
- 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.
- Postcolonial and Decolonial Philosophy: Engages with the legacy of colonialism and seeks to develop philosophies outside of Western paradigms.
Eastern Philosophy
- Indian Philosophy: Includes the philosophical traditions of Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, and more.
- Chinese Philosophy: Includes Confucianism, Daoism, and Legalism.
- Japanese Philosophy: Incorporates native Shinto beliefs with imported Buddhist and Confucian ideas.