Great Thinkers

Meet the great minds whose ideas have shaped the world — philosophers, scientists, artists, leaders, and revolutionaries whose thinking still matters today.

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Biology 5 Chemistry 6 Physics 4 Mathematics 8 Medicine & Health 7 Technology & Engineering 6 Psychology 2

Philosophy 42 History 9 Literature 33 Language & Linguistics 5 Arts 5

Anthropology & Culture 6 Sociology 7 Religion 9 Education 7 Politics 19

Law 10 Economics 7 Business & Management 7

Era: Ancient × Critical thinking ×

384-322 BCE · Ancient Greece (Stagira, Macedonia)

Aristotle was an ancient Greek philosopher. He is one of the most important thinkers in the history of Western philosophy and science. He was born…

Critical thinking Ethical thinking Problem solving Research skills +1

"All human beings by nature desire to know."

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c. 45-c. 117 CE · China (Han dynasty)

Ban Zhao was a Chinese historian, poet, and teacher of the Eastern Han dynasty. She is the first known woman historian of China. She was…

Research skills Creative expression Ethical thinking Cultural heritage and identity +1

"Yet only to teach men and not to teach women — is this not ignoring the essential relationship between them?"

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106-43 BCE · Roman Republic (Italy)

Marcus Tullius Cicero was a Roman lawyer, statesman, philosopher, and writer. He is one of the most influential figures in the history of Western law…

Critical thinking Ethical thinking Creative expression Research skills +1

"The safety of the people shall be the highest law."

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c. 484-425 BCE · Halicarnassus, Asia Minor (now Turkey)

Herodotus (c.484-425 BCE) was an ancient Greek writer, born in Halicarnassus, a city on the southwestern coast of what is now Turkey. He lived during…

Research skills Critical thinking Cultural heritage and identity Storytelling and narrative +1

"Herodotus of Halicarnassus here presents his research so that human events do not fade with time, and that great and…"

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Medicine & Health

c. 460-370 BCE · Cos, Ancient Greece

Hippocrates (c. 460-370 BCE) was an ancient Greek physician, born on the island of Cos. He is one of the most important figures in the…

Health literacy Scientific thinking Ethical thinking Research skills +1

"Life is short, the art long, opportunity fleeting, experience treacherous, judgment difficult."

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Hypatia of Alexandria

c.350-415 CE · Alexandria, Roman Egypt

Hypatia of Alexandria (c.350-415 CE) was a mathematician, astronomer, and philosopher who taught in the Egyptian city of Alexandria during the late Roman Empire. She…

Scientific thinking Critical thinking Cultural heritage and identity Research skills +1

"Reserve your right to think, for even to think wrongly is better than not to think at all."

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c. 371-289 BCE · China

Mencius was a Chinese philosopher. His Chinese name was Meng Ke, which means 'Master Meng'. Later Chinese tradition called him the 'Second Sage', meaning second…

Ethical thinking Critical thinking Emotional intelligence Cultural heritage and identity +1

"The feeling of pity is the beginning of kindness. The feeling of shame is the beginning of doing right. The…"

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c. 150-250 CE · India, South Asia

Nagarjuna (approximately 150-250 CE) was an Indian Buddhist philosopher, widely considered one of the most important and influential thinkers in the entire history of Asian…

Metacognition Ethical thinking Scientific thinking Critical thinking +1

"Whatever is dependently arisen, that is explained to be emptiness. That, being a dependent designation, is itself the middle way."

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c. 470–399 BCE · Athens, Ancient Greece

Socrates (c. 470–399 BCE) was a philosopher in ancient Athens, Greece. He wrote nothing himself — everything we know about him comes from the writings…

Critical thinking Metacognition Collaboration Resilience

"I know that I know nothing."

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c. 369-286 BCE · China

Zhuangzi was a Chinese philosopher of the 4th century BCE. His name means 'Master Zhuang'. His personal name was Zhuang Zhou. He lived during a…

Critical thinking Creative expression Emotional intelligence Ethical thinking +1

"Once Zhuang Zhou dreamed he was a butterfly, a butterfly flitting and fluttering around, happy with himself and doing as…"

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