Greek Philosophy Timeline

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c. 610 BCE - c. 546 BCE

Dates of Anaximander who develops the cosmic theory of the apeiron as the First Cause of existence.
c. 585 BCE

Time in which Thales of Miletus lived.
28 May 585 BCE

A battle between Media and Lydia broke off immediately as a result a total eclipse of the sun and the two armies made peace. The eclipse was successfully predicted by Thales of Miletus.
c. 571 BCE - c. 497 BCE

Life of Pythagoras of Samos; claim that "number" is the First Cause of existence and the soul is immortal.
c. 570 BCE - c. 478 BCE

Life of Xenophanes of Colophon.
c. 546 BCE

Date of Anaximenes' work; air is claimed as the First Cause of existence.
c. 500 BCE

Heraclitus of Ephesus lives; claims that change is the essence of life and First Cause.
492 BCE - 432 BCE

Life of the philosopher Empidocles of Agrigento.
c. 485 BCE - c. 415 BCE

Life of the Sophist Protagoras of Abdera; claim that "man is the measure of all things".
c. 469 BCE - 399 BCE

Life of Socrates.
c. 465 BCE

Zeno of Elea flourishes; writes 40 logical paradoxes to support Parmenides' Monist view.
c. 460 BCE - c. 370 BCE

Life of Democritus, pupil of Leucippus; development of the concept of the atomic universe.
445 BCE

Leucippus of Abdera, the philosopher, conceives of the atomic universe. His pupil is Democritus.
c. 445 BCE - 365 BCE

Life of Greek Cynic philosopher Antisthenes of Athens.
427 BCE

Plato is born at Athens, Greece.
407 BCE

Plato meets Socrates, abandons aspiration to be playwright.
c. 404 BCE - 323 BCE

Life of Greek philosopher Diogenes of Sinope.
403 BCE

Plato turns away from politics toward philosophy.
399 BCE

Trial and death of the philosopher Socrates, who taught in the court of the Agora.
384 BCE - 322 BCE

Life of Aristotle.
367 BCE

Aristotle begins studies in Athens at Plato's Academy.
c. 360 BCE - 280 BCE

Life of Greek Philosopher Crates of Thebes.