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620 BCE
Thales of Miletus ( 620 BC- 546 BC )
Thales was a Miletus-born Greek philosopher who lived in the sixth century BCE. In his day, he was a well-known public figure, and one of the seven sages of Greece. He is also known for proposing that water is the fundamental principle of the universe and attempting to develop a theory to explain the natural world. Thales' four fundamental tenets are as follows: The world derives from water; The world rests on water; (The world is full of gods; and The Soul produces motion. -
469 BCE
Socrates ( 469 BC – 399 BC )
An ancient Greek philosopher whose way of life, character, and thought influenced both ancient and modern philosophy. The philosophy of Socrates looks at how we ought to live. This prompted him to have conversations about various virtues, including prudence, justice, bravery, piety, and so forth. He taught that people should be concerned with their souls rather than their bodies and possessions, stating that "wealth does not bring goodness, but goodness brings wealth." -
428 BCE
Plato ( 428 BC – 348 BC )
- Plato was a philosopher in classical Greece and the founder of the Academy in Athens, which is regarded as the first university in the Western world. Plato's philosophy of virtue and human fulfillment is concerned with how people strive for a happy life. Plato believes that the wise person employs her mind to comprehend moral reality and then apply it in her daily life.
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384 BCE
Aristotle ( 384 BC – 322 BC )
- Aristotle was regarded as one of the most influential philosophers who made a significant contribution to logic, mathematics, ethics, etc. He said, "The law is reason, free from passion." According to Aristotle, virtues are constructive habits we develop that control our emotions. In contrast to Plato, he did not view virtues as being merely knowledge. He described it as something that ought to be carried out by acting moderately and in accordance with nature.