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Who are your favorite Greek philosophers?

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cf_fraiser

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I saw @amygdalE discussing Greek philosophy so I thought it would be good to get the whole forum involved! Who do you all suggest I read? Ive never read philosophy before
 
Aristotle for sure. I love the allegory of the cave :)
 
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Here are my top 3 favorite Greek philosophers:

1. Socrates
2. Plato
3. Aristotle

Socrates-720x480.jpeg
 
nadellii said:
Aristotle for sure. I love the allegory of the cave :)
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I remember doing this at school and thinking what is this rubbish they are teaching us? Now, I find myself quoting it all the time!
 
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1. Epicurus
2. King Menander

Epicurus was atheist and King Menander declared himself a Buddhist. Very deep thinkers, indeed!
 
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Vangelis said:
I remember doing this at school and thinking what is this rubbish they are teaching us? Now, I find myself quoting it all the time!
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Same!! The more we learn the more were able to learn
 
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I think it is a good idea to start with an overview. There are many philosophers, and all came about at different time periods and have different, conflicting beliefs. Maybe start here?

www.greekboston.com

Top Ancient Greek Philosophers

Here's a look at the top ten ancient Greek philosophers.
www.greekboston.com www.greekboston.com
 
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My Top Favorite Greek Philosophers

There are too many philosophers to count, but these are the ones I am studying at the moment. It's fascinating to me how influential the Greek philosophers are. Here's some things I am learning:

#1 Socrates

If philosophy had a poster boy, Socrates might very well be it. The father of Western philosophy, Socrates was a gadfly to Athenian society, questioning everything and Master to Plato. Known for the Socratic Method and his unflinching commitment to truth, Socrates' influence is immeasurable despite never having written a word.

#2 Plato

Rightly succeeding his mentor on this list, Plato's Academy saw him birth the first "university" of its kind. His unabashed idealism, immortal Forms, allegories like the Cave, and the pursuit of 'The Good' in moral philosophy set the stage for much intellectual discourse.

#3 Aristotle

Aristotle, another of Plato's students, had a more grounded approach to philosophy than his predecessor. With establishing principles of logic and reason, and contributions to virtually every field of academia, from poetry to physics, Aristotle's body of work remains foundational.

#4 Heraclitus

Heraclitus, famed for the idea that "change is the only constant," viewed the cosmos through a lens of process, flux, and an everlasting Logos that governs the world. Although little of his work survives, his influence on ancient and modern thinkers is profound.

#5 Epicurus

Known for his eponymous philosophy, Epicurus taught that the greatest good is to seek modest pleasures in order to attain a state of tranquility, freedom from fear (ataraxia), and absence of bodily pain (aponia). Often misunderstood, Epicureanism is starkly different from the modern use of 'epicurean' - it's much less about a luxury lifestyle and more about ethical considerations regarding personal fulfillment.

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