Character guide

Plato

major

Also known as Book III Plato, The solemn Plato

Founder of the Academy and central figure in Greek philosophy, extensively quoted and discussed.

Socrates

major

Athenian philosopher whose teachings and method are foundational to Western thought.

Diogenes of Sinope

major

Also known as The wise Diogenes, O Diogenes, Diogenes of Apollonia

Cynic philosopher known for his ascetic lifestyle and sharp wit.

Zeno of Citium

major

Also known as Zeno, Democritus, Parmenides, Zeno the Eleatic

Founder of the Stoic school of philosophy.

Epicurus

major

Also known as Book X Epicurus

Founder of Epicurean philosophy, emphasizing pleasure and atomism.

Aristotle

major

Also known as the Stagirite, Aristotle the Stagirite

Philosopher and polymath, student of Plato and tutor of Alexander the Great.

Pythagoras

major

Also known as wise Pythagoras, Pherecydes of Pythagoras

Pre-Socratic philosopher and mathematician, founder of Pythagoreanism.

Thales

major

Also known as O Thales

Pre-Socratic philosopher from Miletus, considered one of the Seven Sages.

Heraclitus

supporting

Also known as Heraclitus of Ephesus, cuckoo Heraclitus

Pre-Socratic philosopher known for his doctrine of change and flux.

Democritus

supporting

Also known as he of Democritus

Pre-Socratic philosopher who developed the atomic theory of the universe.

Antisthenes

supporting

Also known as Book VI Antisthenes, Cynics

Founder of the Cynic school and a student of Socrates.

Chrysippus

supporting

Also known as Chrysippus of Cnidos

Stoic philosopher, third head of the Stoic school.

Empedocles

supporting

Also known as the wise Empedocles

Pre-Socratic philosopher who proposed the four classical elements.

Xenophon

supporting

Athenian historian and soldier, student of Socrates.

Solon

supporting

Also known as wise Solon, Solon the Athenian

Athenian statesman and lawgiver, one of the Seven Sages.

Pyrrho

supporting

Also known as O Pyrrho

Founder of Pyrrhonism, the school of philosophical skepticism.

Anaxagoras

supporting

Also known as wise Anaxagoras

Pre-Socratic philosopher who introduced the concept of Nous (Mind).

Protagoras

supporting

Sophist philosopher known for 'Man is the measure of all things.'

Parmenides

supporting

Also known as wise Parmenides, Parmenides of Zeno the Eleatic

Pre-Socratic philosopher from Elea, known for his ontology.

Cleanthes

supporting

Also known as Cleanthes of Assos

Stoic philosopher who succeeded Zeno as head of the school.

Arcesilaus

supporting

Also known as O wise Arcesilaus, Arcesilaus the Pitanaean

Greek philosopher who became head of the Platonic Academy.

Carneades

supporting

Head of the Platonic Academy, known for his skeptical arguments.

Theophrastus

supporting

Also known as Strato Theophrastus

Peripatetic philosopher who succeeded Aristotle as head of the Lyceum.

Strato of Lampsacus

supporting

Also known as Strato

Peripatetic philosopher and third head of the Lyceum.

Xenocrates

supporting

Platonic philosopher and third head of the Academy.

Polemo

supporting

Also known as Crates of Polemo

Platonic philosopher and head of the Academy.

Crates of Thebes

supporting

Also known as the Cynic Crates, Crates the Cynic

Cynic philosopher who gave away his wealth to live in poverty.

Bion of Borysthenes

supporting

Also known as Bion the Borysthenite

Cynic and later Cyrenaic philosopher known for his witty sayings.

Menedemus of Eretria

supporting

Also known as Eretria

Greek philosopher and founder of the Eretrian school.

Stilpo

supporting

Also known as Stilpo the Megarian, wise Stilpo

Megarian philosopher known for his logical paradoxes.

Euclides of Megara

supporting

Also known as the quarrelsome Euclides

Founder of the Megarian school of philosophy.

Aristippus of Cyrene

supporting

Also known as Aristippus the Cyrenian, Cyrene

Founder of the Cyrenaic school of philosophy, student of Socrates.

Anaximenes

supporting

Pre-Socratic philosopher from Miletus who believed air was the arche.

Anaximander

supporting

Pre-Socratic philosopher who proposed the apeiron as the first principle.

Xenophanes

supporting

Also known as Xenophanes the Colophonian

Pre-Socratic philosopher and poet, critic of anthropomorphic gods.

Melissus of Samos

supporting

Pre-Socratic philosopher and a key figure in the Eleatic school.

Leucippus

supporting

Also known as he of Leucippus

Pre-Socratic philosopher credited with founding atomism.

Diogenes of Apollonia

supporting

Pre-Socratic philosopher who believed air was the primary substance.

Anaxarchus

supporting

Greek philosopher of the school of Democritus, known for his equanimity.

Timon of Phlius

supporting

Also known as Timon Apollonides, Timon the Phliasian

Skeptic philosopher and poet, student of Pyrrho.

Heraclides Ponticus

supporting

Also known as Heraclides, Ponticus

Platonic philosopher and astronomer who proposed a heliocentric model.

Demetrius of Phalerum

supporting

Also known as Demetrius Phalereus, Phalereus

Athenian orator and statesman, later a librarian at Alexandria.

Lycon

supporting

Peripatetic philosopher who succeeded Strato as head of the Lyceum.

Speusippus

supporting

Also known as the Athenian, Speusippus the Athenian

Platonic philosopher who succeeded Plato as head of the Academy.

Crantor

supporting

Also known as O Crantor

Platonic philosopher known for his commentary on Plato's Timaeus.

Lacydes

supporting

Platonic philosopher who became head of the Academy.

Clitomachus

supporting

Carthaginian philosopher who became head of the Platonic Academy.

Ariston of Chios

supporting

Also known as Ariston, Chios

Stoic philosopher who studied under Zeno.

Herillus

supporting

Stoic philosopher who studied under Zeno.

Dionysius of Heraclea

supporting

Also known as Dionysius the Carthaginian

Stoic philosopher who later became a Cyrenaic.

Sphaerus

supporting

Also known as Sphaerus the Stoic

Stoic philosopher, student of Zeno and Cleanthes.

Epicharmus

supporting

Also known as Epicharmus of Cos

Greek comic playwright and philosopher from Cos.

Archytas

supporting

Also known as Archytas the Pythagorean, Tender Archytas

Pythagorean philosopher, mathematician, and statesman.

Alcmaeon of Croton

supporting

Pre-Socratic philosopher and medical theorist.

Hippasus of Metapontum

supporting

Pythagorean philosopher credited with discovering irrational numbers.

Philolaus

supporting

Pythagorean philosopher who proposed a central fire in the universe.

Eudoxus of Cnidus

supporting

Also known as the Cnidean Eudoxus

Greek astronomer, mathematician, and student of Plato.

Pittacus of Mytilene

supporting

Also known as wise Pittacus, old Pittacus

One of the Seven Sages of Greece, a statesman from Mytilene.

Bias of Priene

supporting

Also known as Bias with Salarus of Priene

One of the Seven Sages of Greece, known for his legal maxims.

Cleobulus of Lindos

supporting

Also known as Chilo the Lacedaemonian

One of the Seven Sages of Greece, a poet and tyrant of Lindos.

Periander of Corinth

supporting

Also known as the Corinthian Periander

One of the Seven Sages of Greece, a tyrant of Corinth.

Anacharsis

supporting

Also known as Anacharsis the Scythian, the Scythian Anacharsis

Scythian philosopher who traveled to Greece and was known for his wisdom.

Myson of Chenae

supporting

Also known as Myson the Chenean

One of the Seven Sages of Greece, known for his laconic wisdom.

Epimenides of Crete

supporting

Also known as Epimenides the Cretan

Cretan philosopher and prophet, known for the paradox of the liar.

Pherecydes of Syros

supporting

Also known as Pherecydes of Pythagoras

Pre-Socratic philosopher and teacher of Pythagoras.

Archelaus of Athens

supporting

Also known as Archelaus the Macedonian

Pre-Socratic philosopher and student of Anaxagoras, teacher of Socrates.

Aeschines of Sphettus

supporting

Socratic philosopher and writer of dialogues.

Phaedo of Elis

supporting

Also known as Phaedo the Elean

Greek philosopher and founder of the Elean school, student of Socrates.

Crito of Alopece

supporting

Wealthy Athenian friend and student of Socrates.

Simon the Shoemaker

supporting

Athenian shoemaker and friend of Socrates, known for his dialogues.

Glauco

supporting

Athenian philosopher and student of Socrates.

Simias of Thebes

supporting

Theban philosopher and student of Socrates.

Cebes of Thebes

supporting

Theban philosopher and student of Socrates.

Monimus

supporting

Cynic philosopher who studied under Diogenes of Sinope.

Onesicritus

supporting

Cynic philosopher and historian who accompanied Alexander the Great.

Metrocles

supporting

Also known as Metrocles the Cynic

Cynic philosopher who studied under Crates.

Hipparchia of Maroneia

supporting

Cynic philosopher who married Crates and lived in poverty.

Menippus of Gadara

supporting

Also known as Menippus of Sinope

Cynic philosopher and satirist, known for his seriocomic style.

Chilo of Sparta

minor

Also known as Chilo the Lacedaemonian

One of the Seven Sages of Greece, a Spartan lawgiver.

Antigonus of Carystus

minor

Also known as king Antigonus, Carystus

Greek writer and biographer of philosophers.

Apollodorus of Athens

minor

Also known as Apollodorus of Cyzicus

Greek scholar and writer, known for his chronicle of philosophers.

Phavorinus

minor

Greek philosopher and sophist, known for his eclectic works.

Hermippus of Smyrna

minor

Greek biographer and historian of philosophy.

Demetrius of Magnesia

minor

Also known as Demetrius the Magnesian

Greek grammarian and biographer of philosophers.