Overview

Major Philosophers

These seven philosophers—Plato, Aristotle, Descartes, Kant, Hegel, Marx, and Nietzsche—established the foundations of Western philosophy from ancient Greece to the 19th century and were the major thinkers responsible for the intellectual transformations of their respective eras. Their ideas continue to profoundly influence diverse fields including philosophy, political science, economics, and ethics to the present day.

philosophy western philosophy thinkers Plato Kant Descartes Marx Nietzsche

code	slug	name	description	birthYear	deathYear	majorWorks	nationality	period
01	plato	Plato	Ancient Greek philosopher, founder of the Theory of Forms.	-427	-347	["国家","ソクラテスの弁明","パイドロス","饗宴"]	Ancient Greece	Ancient Greece
02	aristotle	Aristotle	Ancient Greek philosopher, known as the 'Father of All Sciences.'	-384	-322	["ニコマコス倫理学","形而上学","政治学","詩学"]	Ancient Greece	Ancient Greece
03	descartes	René Descartes	French philosopher, father of rationalism, known for 'I think, therefore I am.'	1596	1650	["方法序説","省察","哲学原理"]	France	Early Modern
04	kant	Immanuel Kant	German philosopher, founder of critical philosophy, known for the Three Critiques.	1724	1804	["純粋理性批判","実践理性批判","判断力批判","永遠の平和のために"]	Germany (Prussia)	Modern
05	hegel	Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel	German philosopher, representative of German Idealism, advocate of dialectic.	1770	1831	["精神現象学","論理学","法の哲学","歴史哲学"]	Germany	Modern
06	marx	Karl Marx	German philosopher and economist, founder of Marxism.	1818	1883	["資本論","共産党宣言","経済学・哲学草稿"]	Germany (Prussia)	19th Century
07	nietzsche	Friedrich Nietzsche	German philosopher, proclaimed 'God is dead' and advocated the Übermensch.	1844	1900	["ツァラトゥストラはかく語りき","善悪の彼岸","道徳の系譜学","悲劇の誕生"]	Germany	19th Century

Seven thinkers who had the most significant influence in the history of Western philosophy.