Socrates
Socrates( 469- 399 BCE) was an ancient Greek philosopher who lived in Athens .He is considered the founder of Western philosophy. Socrates never wrote anything down , but his ideas were preserved in the writings of his student ,Plato . Socrates believed that the goal of philosophy was moral improvement. He developed the Socratic method of questioning , which he used to help others to think critically about their beliefs and assumptions .Socrates also believed that good people make good decisions and he argued that the best way to live was a virtuous life.
Plato
Plato(427- 347 BCE) was another Athenian philosopher who was a student of Socrates. Plato founded the Academy , which was the first institution of higher learning in the Western world .Plato's philosophical ideas were wide -ranging and covered topics such as metaphysics , ethics, political theory ,and art. Plato believed that the material world was just reflection of a higher ,more perfect realm of ideas . He also argued that the highest form of knowledge was philosophical understanding . Plato influenced later philosopher such as Aristotle ,Rene Descartes and Immanuel Kant.
Aristotle
Aristotle ( 384-322 BCE ) was a Greek philosopher who was a student of Plato .Aristotle was a polymath who wrote on a wide range of topics , including logic, metaphysics ,physics,biology, ethics ,politics ,and rhetoric. Aristotle's ideas had a profound impact on Western though , and many of his ideas are still accepted today . Aristotle believed that the purpose of philosophy was to understand the world around us .He developed a system of logic and reasoning that was based on observing the natural world .Aristotle also believed that the highest good for human beings was eudaimonia or flourishing .
The ideas of Socrates , Plato , and Aristotle have had a profound influence on Western Culture. Their ideas have shaped the way we think about the world ,ourselves and our place in the universe .These three philosophers are still considered some of the most important thinkers in the history of the World .