11 Greek Philosophers Who Shaped the World
Philosophy Western thought owes much to ancient Greek philosophers, such as Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle. Here are eleven Greek philosophers you should know. Updated: Feb 20, 2025 written by Edd Hodsdon, BA Professional Writing, member Canterbury Archaeological Trust Like Share Cite While great thinkers such as Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle may belong to the ancient world, they still influence our understanding of the world today. These great Greek philosophers began to use reason and logic to try and unravel the workings of the cosmos. They also explored the intricacies of human morality. But who were these philosophical fathers? And what were their key ideas? From presocratics like Thales of Miletus to Plato and Aristotle, we’ll discuss the famous thinkers of ancient Greek philosophy who have guided Western philosophy, science, and culture for thousands of years. We’ll also explore the three main schools of Hellenistic philosophy and the founders tha...