All posts tagged: Philosophers

10 Most Important Modern Philosophers Everyone Should Know

10 Most Important Modern Philosophers Everyone Should Know

Published by Sam Flores

Published: Apr 26, 2026written by Igor Zanetti, BA Philosophy, BA Pedagogy   The Modern Age represents one of the most radical turning points in the history of human thought. Between the 17th and 19th centuries, traditional authorities were questioned, scientific reasoning gained prominence, and the individual emerged as a central subject of philosophical inquiry. Thinkers of this period reshaped humanity’s understanding of knowledge, reality, politics, morality, and the self. Their ideas laid the foundations for modern science, democracy, psychology, and contemporary philosophy. Modern philosophers transformed the intellectual landscape of the Western world.   1. René Descartes Presumed Portrait of René Descartes, by Sébastien Bourdon, ca. 1616. Source: Web Gallery of Art   “I think, therefore I am.”   René Descartes is widely regarded as the founder of modern philosophy for his decisive shift toward methodical doubt and rational inquiry. Writing in the 17th century, Descartes sought to establish knowledge on a foundation so certain that it could withstand skepticism. In his Meditations on First Philosophy, he famously employed systematic doubt, questioning all beliefs that could …

5 Unexpected Philosophers Who Influenced St. Thomas Aquinas

5 Unexpected Philosophers Who Influenced St. Thomas Aquinas

Published by Sam Flores

Published: Apr 1, 2026written by John Tuttle, BA in Journalism & Mass Communications, Theology Summary The “Dark Ages” were not backward; the Islamic world preserved Greek philosophy, which was essential for thinkers like Aquinas. Aquinas heavily adopted Aristotle’s concepts of nature and his four causes for his own proofs for the existence of God. Aquinas and Plato agreed that the human soul is immortal and the seat of reason, though they differed on its relation to the body. Like Averroes, Aquinas argued the universe’s fine-tuned order points to a perfect, intelligent Creator rather than random chance. Islamic thinkers like Avicenna influenced Aquinas’s views on divine simplicity, the idea that God is a single, unified being. Show more   Born ca. 1225 AD, Thomas Aquinas is revered in some circles as highly as the ancient Greek and later Enlightenment-era thinkers. While the medieval philosopher’s works are still studied in many universities, ethicists and academics try to further interpret Thomistic thought, applying it to the issues of our day. Let’s dig into the philosopher’s own life and times before exploring the ideas from pagan …

Today’s obsession with authenticity isn’t new – being true to yourself has troubled philosophers for centuries

Today’s obsession with authenticity isn’t new – being true to yourself has troubled philosophers for centuries

Published by Sam Flores

(The Conversation) — Today’s youth cherish “authenticity,” but is it a virtue? According to a report from Ernst & Young, more than 9 in 10 Gen Z respondents indicated that being authentic and true to yourself is extremely or very important. In fact, most of them claimed authenticity is more important than any other personal value. This finding is not all that surprising: All of us live in an age where we’re bombarded by social media and artificial intelligence – when striving to be your authentic self becomes an increasingly difficult task. Yet, even if it has somehow become a common goal, it is unclear how many of us can truly define the “authenticity” that we say we are pursuing. I think it’s also worth asking whether sincerity and authenticity are perennial human virtues or just obsessions of this technological age. As a scholar in the history of political thought and American political development, I think two philosophers can help us understand this problem and how to deal with it: Jean-Jacques Rousseau and Martin Heidegger. …

Stoic Philosopher’s Mention of Christ in 73 AD – OpentheWord.org

Stoic Philosopher’s Mention of Christ in 73 AD – OpentheWord.org

Published by Sam Flores

Crucifixion of Christ by Paolo Veronese with Insert image of Stoic philosopher Mara Bar Sarapion Credit: Wikipedia, Public Domain According to Bible Archaeology Report, one of the earliest references to Christ, from a non-Christian source, was made in 73 AD or about 40 years after the death and resurrection of Christ. Mara Bar Sarapion was a stoic philosopher. He was actually in prison when he wrote a letter in Aramaic to his son Serapion where he encouraged him to embrace wisdom. The Romans had conquered Mara’s homeland, Samosata (located in modern Turkey) in 72 AD. Historical records state that many were arrested. According to his letter, Mara was sent to a prison in Seleucia located along the Tigris river in modern Iraq.1 In his book, Jesus outside the New Testament: An Introduction to the Ancient Evidence, Robert Van Voorst provides the details of Mara’s letter. Though he doesn’t directly mention Jesus, Mara refers to the Jews executing ‘their wise king’: What else can we say, when the wise are forcibly dragged off by tyrants, their wisdom …