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Period: 3000 BCE to 476
Ancient Age
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624 BCE
Tales de Mileto
Considered the first philosopher of Western culture, he was one of the first to give a rational explanation to the phenomenon of the world. He proposed that water is the element that gives rise to all living things and therefore relates it to the soul, movement and divinity.
He is considered one of the first astrologers in western history. -
588 BCE
Anaxímenes
Anaximenes explained some processes that were later taken up by modern physics, such as condensation and rarefaction. He was also one of the first to divide the days according to the geometry of the shadows, for which he is attributed to have invented the clock. Along with Tales, he is recognised as one of the first astronomers and founders of philosophy. -
569 BCE
Pitágoras
Greek philosopher and mathematician, his thinking is one of the oldest and most important antecedents of mathematics, analytic geometry and modern rational philosophy.
He is remembered for having developed the Pythagorean theorem which is used to measure the length and angles of the right triangle. He is known as the philosopher of number. https://youtu.be/w6nh99v3r4A -
469 BCE
Sócrates
Socrates is recognised as the thinker who transformed the direction of European philosophy and the wisest of the Greek philosophers.
The basis of his philosophy is the idea of virtue as the foundation of knowledge and wisdom. https://youtu.be/gQrAsF5nyEI -
427 BCE
Platón
One of Platon’s most studied theories is the theory of ideas, in which he defends the existence of two opposing worlds: the world of ideas and the sensible world.
He was also one of the first to study the body as a separate entity from the soul. https://youtu.be/bU5hyn9bFNU -
384 BCE
Aristóteles
Platon’s most renowned pupil, he searched for the ultimate essence of the human being. He had a great interest in biology and his thought had an important medical heritage that was taken up in the beginnings of modern science.
https://youtu.be/FJlRKqkWMOQ -
341 BCE
Epicuro
Philosopher who inaugurated the school of Epicureanism. He defended the search for pleasure based on prudence. Rejected the idea of destiny -
354
San Agustín
A philosopher-theologian, among his outstanding reflections are, first of all, God, then the soul and finally the world. He defended the existence of logical truths. -
Period: 476 to 1453
Middle age
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1225
Tomás de Aquino
Philosopher and theologian, whose philosophy is fundamentally realistic and concrete, but based on the exploration of the idea that the divine exists.
He recognised two dimensions of knowledge which in both cases proceed from God, natural knowledge, which refers to reason and logic; and supernatural knowledge, which refers to faith. -
Period: 1453 to
Modern Age
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René Descartes
René Descartes is credited with establishing the basis of modern philosophy. One of his most popular phrases is, I think therefore I am, in which he argues that the world is composed of two separate substances: the mind and the body. In short, he consolidates a dualistic view of reality. -
John Locke
He is recognised as the father of classical liberalism and one of the main philosophers of the school of empiricism. His reflections revolve around the relationship between science and democracy, and his ideas inspired a large part of the foundations of contemporary democratic societies. https://youtu.be/6hr_ZXhCqig -
Immanuel Kant
One of the leading exponents of both empiricism and rationalism, he argued that knowledge is composed not only of reason but also of experience. He attempted to find the relationship between nature and spirit and to discover the principles of action and free will. -
Period: to
Contemporary age
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Karl Marx
Well known for his strong criticisms of capitalism, he proposed that capitalist societies are structured by social classes, and that it is the fight of these classes that causes societies to change. He developed modern communism and, together with Engels, Marxism. https://youtu.be/BNo9VClWfJA -
Friedrich Nietzsche
Of German origin, Nietzsche is especially remembered for the phrase "God is dead" with which he wanted to criticise Western religion, ideals and philosophy based on moral and false standards. He had faith in the emergence of a new man, whom he called the Superman, who could overcome traditional morality and generate his own system of values. -
Jean-Paul Sartre
French philosopher, who became especially popular in the post-WWII period. Some of the key questions in his thinking concern the meaning of life in relation to the idea of freedom and personal responsibility. -
Zygmunt Bauman
One of the most important contemporary sociologists, whose work has been considered key to understanding today's societies. Bauman's thinking analyses social networks, social changes brought by the expansion of the internet and social movements of the 20th and 21st century. https://youtu.be/_EnGbibIGx4