Ancient & Modern Philosophy: From Socrates to Nietzsche

Classical Antiquity

The Classical era encompasses centuries BC. In the early decades, philosophy arose in the Ionian Greek colonies. Key figures include Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle. This period established many major philosophical concepts of Western thought. Beyond Greece and Rome, other influential ways of thinking developed. In India, the sacred Vedas, the foundation of Hindu philosophy, were compiled. Siddhartha Gautama, the founder of Buddhism, was a contemporary of Pythagoras. Confucius's doctrines influenced China, Korea, and Japan.

The Middle Ages and Renaissance

Medieval philosophy (4th-16th centuries) fostered dialogue between revealed faith and human reason. Scholasticism, marked by debates and encyclopedic syntheses, flourished. Notable authors include Saint Augustine, Saint Thomas Aquinas, and William of Ockham. From the 7th century onward, Islamic thought, particularly in Baghdad, Cordoba, and Granada, played a significant role. The Renaissance marked the end of the Middle Ages, profoundly transforming European thought and culminating in humanism.

Modern Philosophy

Modern philosophy (17th-18th centuries) was shaped by the scientific revolution, leading to new ways of thinking. Philosophy redefined its areas of study. This era saw the rise of Continental Rationalism (Descartes, Spinoza, and Leibniz) and British Empiricism (Bacon, Berkeley, and Hume). The Enlightenment, with Kant's pivotal work, bridged Enlightenment values with a new philosophical approach.

The 19th Century: Science, Industry, and the Bourgeoisie

The 19th century began with vast changes spurred by the French Revolution, the Industrial Revolution, and the rise of the bourgeoisie and capitalist society. Thinkers like Nietzsche and Schopenhauer developed new perspectives on society and humanity.