Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy

Chinese Room Argument Chinese Room Argument- John Searle's thought experiment is one of the best known counters to claims of artificial intelligence. Husserl, Edmund Husserl, Edmund- Leader of the German phenomenological movement. Hölderlin, Johann Christian Friedrich Hölderlin, Johann Christian Friedrich- Examines the poet's role in the development of German Idealism. Eclecticism Eclecticism- Group of ancient philosophers who sought to reach by selection the highest degree of probability in the search for truth. Egoism, Psychological and Ethical Egoism, Psychological and Ethical- Maintains that the individual self is the motivating moral force and the end of moral action. Emanation Emanation- The theory that all derived or secondary things flow from the primary. Euclides Euclides- 4th century BCE native of Megara, and founder of the Megarian or Eristic sect. Epicurus Epicurus- 4th century BCE materialist, empiricist, and hedonist. One of the major philosophers of the Hellenistic period. Epictetus Epictetus- Eminent Stoic philosopher, born as a slave at Hieropolis in Phyrgia in 55 CE. Empedocles Empedocles- 5th century BCE philosopher who combined medical study with Orphic mysticism. Evolution Evolution- Introduces evolution through the ages, from the ancient Greeks, through Leibniz and Descartes to Darwin and Spencer. Diogenes Laertius Diogenes Laertius- 3rd century biographer of ancient Greek philosophers. Diderot, Denis Diderot, Denis- The most prominent of the French Encyclopedists and one of the leaders of the Enlightenment. Dewey, John Dewey, John- Leading light of the 20th century American school of thought known as pragmatism. Demonax Demonax- Philosopher of the second century CE. who tried to revive the philosophy of the Cynic School. Cleanthes Cleanthes- Stoic philosopher of Assus in Lydia, disciple of Zeno of Citium. Cumberland, Richard Cumberland, Richard- 17th century critic of Hobbes and the neo-Platonists. Berkeley, George Berkeley, George- Influential 18th century Irish philosopher. Bolingbroke, Henry St. John Bolingbroke, Henry St. John- 18th century Tory disciple of Locke. Chrysippus Chrysippus- Prolific stoic of Soli, and disciple of Cleanthes. Butler, Joseph Butler, Joseph- 18th century icon of a highly intellectualized theology. Bentham, Jeremy Bentham, Jeremy- Extensive article on the 18th century 'founder' of utilitarianism. Behaviorism Behaviorism- Theory in philosophy of mind which maintains that talk of mental events should be translated into talk about observable behavior. Augustine Augustine- Extensive article on the life and work of the 4th century ecclesiastical author. Aquinas, Thomas Aquinas, Thomas- The life and work of the major figure in scholastic philosophy. Animals and Ethics Animals and Ethics- Consideration of moral status of non-human animals. Academy Academy- Description of the philosophical institution founded by Plato, which advocated skepticism in succeeding generations. Hempel, Carl Gustav Hempel, Carl Gustav- A leading member of logical positivism, the German philosopher died in 1997. Bacon, Francis Bacon, Francis- 16th century philosopher and politician. Pythagoras Pythagoras- The 6th century BCE philosopher.