Philosophy 103: The Three Groups in the History of Philosophy [under construction]

PYTHAGORAS (c.581-507 b.c.e)

G2: pure mathematics and 'rational' numbers

G3: the world in terms of mathematics and the discovery of 'irrational' numbers

DEMOCRITUS (460-370 b.c.e.)

G3: the atomic theory of matter

PLATO (427-347 b.c.e.)

The Forms:

G1: Forms of objects
G2: Forms of mathematics
G3: Form of the Good

Nature of the Forms:

G1: Transcendently real

Psyche, virtue and state:

G1: the 'spirited' aspect of the psyche; the virtue of courage, the guardians of the state

G2: the reasoning aspect of the psyche; the virtue of wisdom (knowledge of the Forms); the philosopher-kings

G3: the appetitive aspect of the psyche; the virtue of temperence; the governed citizenry

ARISTOTLE (384-322 b.c.e.)

Nature of 'forms':

G2: Immanently real

The four 'causes' (explanatory concepts):

G1: material cause

G2: final cause and formal cause

G3: efficient cause

PYRRHO (360-270 b.c.e.)

G3: global skepticism

EPICURUS (341-227 b.c.e.)

G3: atomism (physics); nihilism (attitude to life)

ZENO the Stoic (336-265 b.c.e.)

G2: logos (intrinsic reason); apathy (attitude to life)

AUGUSTINE of Hippo (354-430 c.e.)

G1: Platonic theology (Plato was a G1 philosopher because he hypothesised that the Forms were real)

THOMAS AQUINAS (1225-1274)

G2: Aristotelian theology

WILLIAM OCCAM (c.1285-1349)

Nature of universals:

G3: nominal

Theoretic principle:

G3: parsimony ('Occam's Razor')