What is a simple definition of philosophy?

The word Philosophy is Greek for "the love of wisdom" and is defined as the study of the most basic and profound aspects of human existence including the meaning of life.

When did philosophy begin?

The origin of philosophy is debated but was already established in Mesopotamia by c. 2150 BCE. Greek Philosophy developed between the time of Thales of Miletus and the time of Aristotle, so c. 585-322 BCE.

What are the 5 Branches of Philosophy?

The 5 Branches of Philosophy are Metaphysics, Epistemology, Ethics, Politics, and Aesthetics.

Who is the greatest philosopher?

The definition of the "greatest philosopher" is debated but is generally considered to be Plato whose works provide the foundation for Western Philosophy and have influenced Eastern Philosophy.

Philosophy Timeline

Definition

The word philosophy comes from the Greek philo (love) and sophia (wisdom) and so is literally defined as “the love of wisdom”. More broadly understood, it is the study of the most basic and profound matters of human existence. Philosophical schools frequently develop in response to some perceived failure of religion to provide answers to fundamental questions.

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Timeline

c. 1500 BCE - 1100 BCE
The Rig Veda written, mentioning the god Rudra (Shiva) and goddess Tara (among others) for the first time.
c. 1500 BCE - c. 500 BCE
Indian scholars of the so-called Vedic Period commit the Vedas to written form; basic tenets of Hinduism are established.
c. 610 BCE - c. 546 BCE
Dates of Anaximander who develops the cosmic theory of the apeiron as the First Cause of existence.
c. 600 BCE
Development of the Charvaka school of philosophy in India.
c. 599 BCE - c. 527 BCE
Traditional dating of the life of Vardhamana, according to Jain tradition.
c. 585 BCE
Time in which Thales of Miletus lived.
c. 570 BCE - c. 478 BCE
Life of Xenophanes of Colophon; claim of One God as the First Cause of existence.
c. 563 BCE - c. 483 BCE
The life of Siddhartha Gautama according to modern scholarly consensus.
c. 546 BCE
Date of Anaximenes' work; air is claimed as the First Cause of existence.
c. 500 BCE
Life of the Chinese Relativist Philosopher Teng Shih (probable date of death 522 or 502 BCE).
c. 500 BCE
Probable life of the Chinese philosopher Lao-Tzu, founder of Taoism and author of the Tao-Te-Ching.
c. 500 BCE
Probable life of Sun-Tzu, Military Strategist, author of The Art of War.
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".
470 BCE - 391 BCE
Life of the Chinese pacifist philosopher Mo Ti, founder of Mohism.
c. 469 BCE - 399 BCE
Life of Socrates.
c. 460 BCE - c. 370 BCE
Life of Democritus, pupil of Leucippus; development of the concept of the atomic universe.
c. 450 BCE - c. 370 BCE
Life of Antisthenes, found of the Cynic school of philosophy.
440 BCE - 360 BCE
Life of Chinese Hedonist Philosopher Yang Zhu.
430 BCE - c. 354 BCE
Life of Xenophon of Athens.
427 BCE - 347 BCE
Life of Plato.
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.
380 BCE
Plato founds his Academy outside of Athens.
372 BCE - 289 BCE
Life of the Confucian philosopher Mencius (Mang-Tze).
361 BCE - 360 BCE
Plato's second trip to Syracuse.
343 BCE
King Philip II of Macedon summons Aristotle to tutor his young son Alexander (later 'The Great').
c. 336 BCE - 265 BCE
Life of the philosopher Zeno of Citium.
c. 314 BCE
Zeno of Citium is shipwrecked and stranded in Athens.
213 BCE
The Burning of the Books and the Burying of Philosophers Period in China.
c. 1 CE - c. 100 CE
The Mahayana movement begins in India with its belief in bodhisattva - saintly souls who helped the living.
c. 204 CE - 270 CE
Life of Plotinus.
c. 380 CE - c. 418 CE
Life time of Paulus Orosius.
c. 470 CE - c. 385 CE
Life of the philosopher Philolaus, active in Magna Graecia.
c. 500 CE - c. 600 CE
In India the Tantric expands the number of deities to include helpful demons, contactable through ritual.
c. 524 CE - c. 525 CE
Boethius writes The Consolation of Philosophy while imprisoned by Theodoric in Pavia.
617 CE - 686 CE
Life of the Korean Buddhist philosopher Wonhyo.
1651 CE
Thomas Hobbes publishes his Leviathan.
1689 CE
John Locke publishes his Essay Concerning Human Understanding, Two Treatises on Government, and Letters on Toleration.
1726 CE
Francis Hutcheson coins the term "the greatest happiness of the greatest number" in his Inquiry Concerning Moral Good and Evil.
1776 CE
Jeremy Bentham publishes his A Fragment on Government.
1789 CE
Jeremy Bentham publishes his thoughts on utilitarianism in his Introduction to the Principles of Morals and Legislation.
1859 CE
John Stuart Mill publishes his On Liberty.
1863 CE
John Stuart Mill publishes his Utilitarianism.