Important philosophers to memorise

Karl Poppler

20th century Australian political philosopher who explicitly critiques Plato in his 1945 publication "the open society and its enemies".

Niccolo Machiavelli

Italian 14th century, thought that those who come into power may be egotistical and dangerous (Plato critique)

John Dewey

20th century American philosopher and educational reformer who was a pragmatist. He critiqued Plato from this perspective through his 1916 publication, "Democracy and Education". Paper 3 use of philosophy is pragmatic.

Eric Olson

American 20th and 21st century philosopher whose theory of animalism explains that we are irrational.

Gilbert Ryle

British 20th century philosopher who thought that consciousness is only based on behavioural tendencies. Rejection of Cartesian dualism.

JCC Smart

Australian 20th century physicalist. Mental states are identical to brain states.

Baron d’Holbach

18th century hard determinist

R.M Hare

20th century British non-rationalist and prescriptivist. Introduced the idea of Bilks.

AJ Ayre

20th century British emotivist philosopher. Logical positivist basing aptness in verification principle - analytic and synthetic.

Pierre-Joseph Proudhon

19th century French anarchist. What is property, property is theft through unearned income.

Johann Herder

18th century German nationalist. Volksgeist

Edmund Burke

18th century British conservative

G.E. Moore

20th century English intuitionist. Empirical morality is a naturalistic fallacy. Morality is truth in itself.

Martin Heidegger

20th century German existentialist. Dasein is being aware because we are In-der-Welt-sein. “Being in time” was major work. Ready-to-hand rather than present-at-hand.

Bertrand Russell

20th century English humanist. Reason over religion because it fosters rationality and responsibility.