Top 10 Great Thinkers of History

Descartes said, "I think so I am." While Socrates was convinced that "All I know is that I know nothing." Also, he believed that wonder was the beginning of wisdom, while Augustine persisted that patience was the right companion for understanding. Per philosopher, a philosophical flow, it almost seems. But in our history, only a handful of scholars have become known (or become notorious) about their philosophies. Some, because they were the basis for other scientific disciplines, others because they encourage comprehensive economic reforms, and again because they either supported or undermined the faith. Either way, the next ten Great Thinkers have had a significant impact on their environment, leaving a clear track in history. Whether you agree with them or not.

10. Father Liberalism: John Locke

John Locke was an Englishman who lived from 1632 to 1704 (he died only at the age of 72, for that period, an old boss). He is seen as the founder of humanistic thinking and individual freedoms. The idea that everyone had equal rights and obligations under the law came from Locke. In his opinion, the government only had power because the people gave the government authority for this purpose. Therefore, the government could control the 'ordinary man,' provided that his three 'natural' rights were not violated (these rights were: life, freedom, and land). He was not at all part of the idea that the nobility held power by inheritance. His ideas were especially successful in America. The Declaration of Independence, written by Thomas Jefferson as a final to the United States Independence War with England,

9. Epicurism: Epicurus

Epicurus (his name means comrade or ally) lived in Greece between 341 and 270 BC. He has been accused of hedonism in the past, especially by Christian writers who thought he was an atheist. However, Epicurus was not so much an atheist as someone who suggested that we should only believe what we actually can perceive. And God did not fail, because, for most people, He is not perceivable. The adagio of Epicurism is "whatever happens, enjoy life because you only get one." But with that, he did not try to create loose-chaos. Epicurus itself saw 'enjoy life' as an act of correct behavior towards others, avoiding pain and taking everything 'to a degree.'

8. Stoicism: Zeno of Citium

The second Greek on the list, Zeno lived (you advise) in Citium, between 334 and 262 BC. A contemporary of Epicurus thus. He is the founder of Stoicism, a word derived from the Greek word 'Stoa,' a column. Stoicism teaches us that all that causes us to suffer in life is simply a wrong interpretation of ourselves. We must, for example, want Stoicism to have complete control over our emotions, always and everywhere. All expressions of emotion such as anger, depression, joy, all of which are mistakes in our Reason.

At first, Stoicism seems to be opposed to Epicurus. Some people combine these two thought streams. Try it yourself; maybe it's a direction you feel for yourself?

7. From the East: Avicenna

Avicenna is the gelatinized name for this Persian thinker. Ibn Sina (son of Sina), lived from 980 to 1037, and was a renaissance man of the Renaissance, but also came from Europe. He was a scientist, a philosopher, and a physician, and wrote many articles, roles, and books on all subjects. He has influenced all disciplines in science, but regarding philosophy, we owe him to three of the five great induction logic.

6. The Unmanaged Movement: Thomas Aquinas

Thomas was born in 1225 and lived in Italy until 1274. He was a Dominican frater and is known as the man who has proven the existence of God by arguing that someone must have been the beginning of everything (since everything has a beginning and an end). This argument has become famous as the "Argument of the First Movement." Another poetic term for this is 'The Moving Movement.' Thomas was especially renowned, in his own time, but still, because he tried to explain the philosophy and moral ethics to the layman. Due to his simple approach, he managed to reach large crowds.

Incidentally, Thomas did not support his first argument. In total, he wrote five different reasons why God should exist.

5. Confucius

Master Kong Qiu, a Chinese philosopher who lived between 551 and 479 BC, is one of the most influential philosophers of Eastern history. By the time the Greeks had their high days in philosophy and ethics, King Qiu also argued the importance of ethics and politics in society. Although Confucius was indeed before the emperor, thus rejecting a democracy, he was convinced that an emperor had limited power. After all, a ruler can only rule (right) if he can expect the cooperation of his people. By force, a leader can never reach his full potential, such Confucius. He formed his version of the Golden Rule: What you do not want to experience, do not let another experience, and whatever you want, be prepared to give it another. Particular to this form of the Golden Rule is that there is an active component. Not only do you not harm others, but you have to offer other positive things actively.

4. Paternal Modern Philosophy: Rene Descartes

In the introduction, his famous words emerged: "I think so I am." Born in 1596 and died in 1650, Descartes was a Frenchman who, in addition to philosophy, also contributed a lot in mathematics. In the philosophical field, however, he is known for his dualism: the idea that the head and the body are separate entities who must live together in harmony (but whose head should be in charge). According to Descartes, observations by our body were of inferior quality, and to know something really; it had to be reasoned by reason and logic. Because he doubted all his observations, he knew nothing about the existence of his body. But about his thinking, he was aware that, after all, he thought so he was. It was God who Descartes (and all other people) gave this mind with thought,

Are you still there? It's a complicated story, but it was also revolutionary for that time, and Descartes would consider many other famous philosophers. Spinoza, Kant, and Hegel, big names in philosophy, have all found inspiration in Descartes ideology.

3. Paul of Tarsus

Either way Paul the Apostle. He lived between 5 and 67 AD, and was, as his nickname suggests, an Apostle. If we see Jesus as the foundation of Christianity, then Paul is one of the thickest pillars. Historians think that if Paul had not written so vigorously letters, and everywhere spread the word of Jesus, Christianity might have died an early death, 300 years after Christ's Passion.

Strange enough, Paul never met Jesus in vain. He has already gained his knowledge through hear-telling and other Apostles, although he often disagrees with the others. Peter and Paul especially had arguments more than once. Where Peter wanted to keep some Jewish traditions, Paul believed that such things were not necessary, after all, one faith in Jesus was the only thing that caused. Dietary constraints and circumcision were therefore not necessary. We now know 2000 years after this battle, who won that argument ...

2. Plato

We return to ancient Greece. Even before our Stoics and Epicurists began to worry about a beautiful life, there was Plato. Plato lived between 428 and 348 (over 80 years old). He was a student of another well-known philosopher, Socrates. However, because Socrates himself never put something on paper, and everything we know about him comes from Plato and other Greeks, we are not in this list. Plato, who wrote, is at number two.
Students will be glad to hear that he is the first founder of a Higher School. He called it the Athens Academy, and all other 'academies' stem from this word. Plato put all his money into education. He believed that the state could only really be well led when its leaders were philosophers (that is, people who could reasonably and intelligently think). Also, he had developed a whole state in which three "cupboards" people would support society: leaders (thinkers) warriors, and workers. A child was born within a community, and as such was a member of society, not a parent couple. So everyone shared children, sisters, brothers and so forth. However, it remained at an ideal of Plato; his state has never become a reality.
What Plato managed to accomplish was the education of our number one on the list: Aristotle.

1. Aristotle

He lived from 384 to 322 and is the founder of modern logic. When we use logical reasoning today, we support the theory he developed and written over 2000 years ago. The idea that there is a kind of hierarchy in life also comes from Aristotle. He began his philosophical career under the wings of Plato, at his Academy, but later he formed his school, the Lyceum (again, all Lycea thanked their name for this).
It's hard to say what Aristotle is famous for. He was in vain in many disciplines, and no current scientific discipline has not been helped to a small extent by Aristotle's ideas. Biology, for example, has a lot to do with the notion of ​​using a scientific classification (although we are no longer using its proposed classification).
He was able to contribute in philosophy, politics, rhetoric, metaphysics, and physics, theater and music, and finally, he acknowledges his golden middle: the idea that one's most desirable character is always between two extremes. For example, take courage, this would be the golden middle between the utter recklessness and cowardice.
This list is, of course, far too short, there have been a lot of big thinkers who deserve a place on this list. However, there are only 10, and these are ten that are very familiar or have had a lot of influence. Why no longer list, then? I conclude with a quote from Johann Wolfgang von Goethe: "In the limitation, the Master shows."