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Show the historical division of western philosophy with 2 examples of philosophers in each division

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Western philosophy is traditionally divided into several key periods or movements. Below are the main divisions along with two prominent philosophers from each:

  1. Ancient Philosophy (circa 600 BCE - 300 CE)

    • Socrates (c. 470-399 BCE): Known for his Socratic method of questioning, Socrates focused on ethics and the examination of moral concepts.
    • Aristotle (384-322 BCE): A student of Plato, Aristotle made significant contributions to various fields including metaphysics, ethics, politics, and natural sciences.

  2. Medieval Philosophy (circa 300 CE - 1500 CE)

    • St. Augustine (354-430 CE): A Christian philosopher who combined Greek philosophy with Christian doctrine, especially in his works on free will and the nature of God.
    • Thomas Aquinas (1225-1274 CE): Known for his synthesis of Aristotelian philosophy with Christian theology, particularly in his work "Summa Theologica".

  3. Renaissance Philosophy (14th - 17th centuries)

    • Niccolò Machiavelli (1469-1527): Often considered the father of modern political science, his work "The Prince" explores power dynamics and statecraft.
    • Francis Bacon (1561-1626): A key figure in the development of the scientific method, Bacon emphasized empirical evidence and experimentation.

  4. Early Modern Philosophy (17th - 18th centuries)

    • René Descartes (1596-1650): Known for his statement "Cogito, ergo sum" ("I think, therefore I am"), Descartes focused on epistemology and metaphysics.
    • Immanuel Kant (1724-1804): Renowned for his work in ethics and metaphysics, particularly in the "Critique of Pure Reason," where he explored the limits of human understanding.

  5. 19th Century Philosophy

    • Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel (1770-1831): Known for his dialectical method and contributions to idealism, Hegel's work focused on history and reality as a dynamic process.
    • Friedrich Nietzsche (1844-1900): Critiqued traditional moral values and religion, famously declaring the "death of God" and promoting the idea of the Übermensch.

  6. 20th Century Philosophy

    • Ludwig Wittgenstein (1889-1951): Influential in the philosophy of language and the philosophy of mind, particularly with his works "Tractatus Logico-Philosophicus" and "Philosophical Investigations."
    • Jean-Paul Sartre (1905-1980): A key figure in existentialism, Sartre explored themes of freedom, responsibility, and the nature of existence in works like "Being and Nothingness."

These divisions highlight significant shifts in thought and the emergence of new ideas that shaped the course of Western philosophy.