What is the meaning of philosophy?

The term philosophy is a Greek word meaning "love of wisdom."

What is Greek philosophy?

Greek philosophy is the term for the system of beliefs developed by ancient Greek philosophers from Thales of Miletus through Aristotle.

Who are the most famous Greek philosophers?

The three most famous Greek philosophers are Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle.

Why is Greek philosophy important?

Greek philosophy is important for its contributions to the underlying belief systems of legal codes, cultural values, and monotheistic religions in the modern day.

Greek Philosophy Timeline

Definition

Ancient Greek philosophy is a system of thought, first developed in the 6th century BCE, which was informed by a focus on the First Cause of observable phenomena. Prior to the development of this system by Thales of Miletus (l. c. 585 BCE), the world was understood by the ancient Greeks as having been created by the gods.

More about: Greek Philosophy

Timeline

c. 610 BCE - c. 546 BCE
Dates of Anaximander who develops the cosmic theory of the apeiron as the First Cause of existence.
c. 585 BCE
Time in which Thales of Miletus lived.
28 May 585 BCE
A battle between Media and Lydia broke off immediately as a result of a total eclipse of the sun and the two armies made peace. The eclipse was successfully predicted by Thales of Miletus.
c. 571 BCE - c. 497 BCE
Life of Pythagoras of Samos; claim that "number" is the First Cause of existence and the soul is immortal.
c. 570 BCE - c. 478 BCE
Life of Xenophanes of Colophon.
c. 546 BCE
Date of Anaximenes' work; air is claimed as the First Cause of existence.
c. 500 BCE
Heraclitus of Ephesus lives; claims that change is the essence of life and First Cause.
492 BCE - 432 BCE
Life of the philosopher Empidocles of Agrigento.
c. 485 BCE - c. 415 BCE
Life of the Sophist Protagoras of Abdera; claim that "man is the measure of all things".
c. 469 BCE - 399 BCE
Life of Socrates.
c. 465 BCE
Zeno of Elea flourishes; writes 40 logical paradoxes to support Parmenides' Monist view.
c. 460 BCE - c. 370 BCE
Life of Democritus, pupil of Leucippus; development of the concept of the atomic universe.
c. 445 BCE
Leucippus of Abdera, the philosopher, is said to have conceived of the atomic universe. His pupil is Democritus.
c. 445 BCE - 365 BCE
Life of Greek Cynic philosopher Antisthenes of Athens.
c. 440 BCE
The Greek philosopher Melissus of Samos is active.
c. 424 BCE - 423 BCE
Plato is born at Athens, Greece.
407 BCE
Plato meets Socrates, abandons aspiration to be playwright.
c. 404 BCE - 323 BCE
Life of Greek philosopher Diogenes of Sinope.
403 BCE
Plato turns away from politics toward philosophy.
399 BCE
Trial and death of the philosopher Socrates, who taught in the court of the Agora.
384 BCE - 322 BCE
Life of Aristotle.
367 BCE
Aristotle begins studies in Athens at Plato's Academy.
c. 360 BCE - 280 BCE
Life of Greek Philosopher Crates of Thebes.
c. 470 CE - c. 385 CE
Life of the philosopher Philolaus, active in Magna Graecia.