Ancient Greek philosophy

The four philosophical schools of antiquity were over several generations existing communities of thinkers who dealt with philosophical questions. They originated in the fourth century BC in Athens. For each school, a founder is known but the relationship of the individual schools for the teaching of the founder, each very different. Unlike the Sophists no training money was raised; but the philosophical schools of wealthy sympathizers received sizable donations.

The four schools are: The Platonic Academy, which was founded as the first, the Aristotelian Peripatetics, the Stoics, founded by Zeno, and the Kepos ( "Garden " ) of Epicurus. All schools are named after the places or buildings, where it was taught in the first years after its founding.

Besides the Kepos all other schools have ceased to exist in the first century BC, although there have been subsequent sequels outside the school closer relationship in all three cases. In later times belonged basic knowledge of the four systems to the Greek general education. The foundation of chairs of the four philosophical systems by Emperor Marcus Aurelius in the year 176 AD was made at a time when there were no more philosophical schools and barely philosophically productive Aristotelian, Stoic or Epicurean long. However, the Greek term was Diadochos, who had referred to the successor in the leadership of a school, also used for the holders of these chairs, which resulted in the earlier research failed continuity assumptions that could exist half a millennium longer the schools than they really existed have.

There are in ancient philosophy yet another philosophical directions ( " haireseis " ) that are not the institutional form of a school with a local center in Athens and succession of school heads ( " Scholarchen " ) have accepted, especially the skepticism.

The n in the fifth century BC by Plutarch of Athens, founded Neo-Platonic school in Athens is often considered a direct sequel to the Academy; However, this represents neither the facts nor the opinion of the Athenian Neoplatonists. The prohibition of philosophical teaching in Athens by Emperor Justinian I shall then (but falsely ) traditionally often as the date on which the ancient philosophy have come to an end.