WESTERN PHILOSOPHY

Historical Period School of Thought Main Features, Notable

Beliefs Philosophers
Ancient Rome Stoicism Emphasis on morality, Seneca
(1st century BCE to 5th virtue, calm, and Epictetus
century CE) emotional fortitude Marcus Aurelius
Medieval Period Scholasticism Application of St. Thomas Aquinas
(5th to 15th centuries) philosophy to define and St. Augustine
explain religious
doctrines
Renaissance Humanism Emphasis on the human Petrarch
(14th to 17th centuries) person; use of Desiderius Erasmus
philosophy to understand Niccolo Machiavelli
society, nature, and Francois Rabelais
humanity
The Enlightenment Rationalism Reason and logic Rene Decartes
(17th to 18th centuries) considered the basis of Immanuel Kantz
knowledge and belief; Gottfried Leibniz
man has innate
knowledge that can be
accessed through
intuition or deduction

Empiricism David Hume

Knowledge is gained
through the senses and Francis Bacon
experience; reliance on John Locke
inductive reasoning to
arrive at generalization

Social and Political Voltaire

Philosophy Discussions on the ideal
Jean Jacques
human situation and
Rousseau
society; emphasis on
Thomas Hobbes
individual rights ang
John Stuart Mill
liberties
Modern Period Existentialism Human experience is Soren Kierkegaard
(19th to 20th centuries) defined by the views, Friedrich Nietzsche
emotions, and actions of Martin Heidegger
the individual Jean Paul Sartre
Simone de Beauvoir
Pragmatism Emphasis on the Charles Peirce
practical use of William James
knowledge and ideas John Dewey
Phenomenology Experience is studied Edmund Husserl
based on the subjective
viewpoint of the
individual.
Absurdism Man will never Albert Camus
understand the human
condition and the
meaning of life.
Postmodernism, Analysis on how Jacques Derrida
Post-Structuralism knowledge, ideas, and Michel Foucault
power relations are
defined
 Historical Period School of Thought Main Features, Proponents, Major
Belief System Beliefs Texts
(Region or Area)
ca. 2000 BCE Judaism Belief in one God Abraham, Moses,
(Israel, the Levant) (monotheism), who has various prophets
a role in the ultimate
destiny of mankind; the Tanakh, Torah, and
Jewish people are God’s various sciptures
chosen people

The observant of God’s

commandments will
result in rewards. A
deeper study and
understanding of God’s
laws as revealed in the
sacred scriptures will
lead to wisdom.
ca. 1500 BCE Hinduism Belief in a pantheon of The Vedas
(India, South Asia) gods, with three main
gods- Brahma, Shiva,
and Vishnu

Belief in a cycle of birth

and rebirth (samsara),
which is broken when a
person achieves ultimate
union with the Divine
(moksha)

Emphasis on dharma,
the fulfillment duties
and behavior in
accordance with the
established order in the
world; individual
actions contribute to
either a good or bad
effect (karma) in a
person’s life
ca. 600 BCE Shinto An animistic religion No distinct
(Japan) influenced by Japanese philosophers or
myth and traditions sacred texts

The material and

spiritual worlds are
closely connected;
rituals and traditions are
way to connect with the
spiritual world.
EASTERN PHILOSOPHY
 Mankind and the world
are essentially good and
pure.

Harmony and balance

are essential in
maintaining purity.

ca. 600-500 BCE Jainism Rejects the idea of a Mahavira

(India) Creator and considers
the universe as eternal Jain Agamas
and unceasing; time is a
wheel which goes
through cycle of
prosperity and suffering

Wisdom is developed
through the practice of
the five main vows:
ahimsa (non-violence),
satya (truth), asteya
(honesty),
brahmacharaya
(chastity) and aparigraha
(piety).

Meditation, discipline,
and respect for all life
are emphasized.
ca. 400 BCE Buddhism Shares a number of Siddharta Gautama
(South Asia, East Asia, main beliefs (samsara, (Buddha)
Southeast Asia) dharma, moksha) with Tripitaka
Hinduism
ca. 610 CE Islam Belief in one God Muhammad
(West Asia) (Allah); commitment to
faith is shown through Quran
the practice of The Five
Pillars; testament of
faith (shahada), daily
prayers (salat), alms-
giving (zakat), fasting
during the month of
Ramadan (sawm), and
pilgrimage to the holy
city of Mecca (haji).

Religion and society are

closely intertwined; all
Muslims are members of
a community (ummah)
bounded by faith.

Divided into two major

branches: Sunni Islam
and Shia Islam
ca. 1440 CE Sikhism God is believed to have Guru Nanak
(India) created the universe and
is present everywhere Guru Granth Sahib
and in everything.

Man communicates with

God through meditation,
and his ultimate destiny
is union with the Divine.

Apart from meditation,

believers must devote
themselves to selfless
service and action