Pre-Socratic philosophy

Pre-Socratics refers to the early Greek philosophers who generally lived before Socrates and were not influenced by him.

Aristotle was the first who noticed that with Socrates philosophy had taken a new turn. With Socrates' emphasis on humanism and ethical values he distinguished himself from prior philosophers like Thales and Anaximander who in the first place had stressed natural philosophy and cosmology.

Unfortunately all they have left us are fragments of writing in the form of reports and criticisms of later writers who commented on them and the reconstructions of their philosophy by scholars leaves us with incomplete understanding of the views they held. One our best secondary sources is Aristotle who at the time seemed to have had access to their writings. But even his interpretation is biased by his own views on philosophy. It basically remains a controversial field of study. Another important source is Theophrastus, considered to be the first professional historian of philosophy who discussed pre-Socratic writings systematically.

History

Milesian school

Thales (624-546 BCE) - Anaximander (610-546 BCE) - Anaximenes (585-525 BCE) -

Pythagoreanism

Pythagoras of Samos (582-496 BCE) - Philolaus (470-380 BCE) - Alcmaeon of Croton - Archytas (428-347 BCE).

Ephesian school

Heraclitus of Ephesus (535-475 BCE)

Eleatic School

Xenophanes of Colophon (570-470 BCE) - Parmenides of Elea (510-440 BCE) - Zeno of Elea (490-430 BCE) - Melissus of Samos (born c. 470 BCE)

Pluralist School

Empedocles of Agrigentum (490-430 BCE) - Anaxagoras of Clazomenae (500-428 BCE)

Atomist School

Leucippus (5th century BCE) - Democritus of Abdera (460-370 BCE)

Others / Eclectics

Diogenes of Apollonia (born c. 460 BCE)

Sophism

Protagoras (490-420 BCE) - Gorgias (487-376 BCE) - Hippias (485-415 BCE) - Prodicus (465-390 BCE)

Other early Greek thinkers

Seven Sages of Greece

• Solon (c. 594 BCE)
• Chilon of Sparta (c. 560 BCE)
• Thales (c. 585 BCE)
• Bias of Priene (c. 570 BCE)
• Cleobulus of Rhodes (c. 600 BCE)
• Pittacus of Mitylene (c. 600 BCE)
• Periander (625-585 BCE)

Others

• Aristeas of Proconnesus (7th Century BCE ?)
• Pherecydes of Syros (c. 540 BCE)
• Anacharsis (c. 590 BCE)