Onset to the Hellenistic Era to End of the Classical World

Here’s a summary of the philosophers from your document, focusing on their beliefs and impact on psychology:

1. Pyrrho of Elis (c.360-270 BCE) – Founder of Skepticism. He taught that one should avoid certainty and suspend judgment to achieve inner peace (ataraxia). His philosophy influenced later ideas on critical thinking and open-mindedness in psychology.

2. Epicurus of Samos (c.341-270 BCE) – Advocated for a life free from fear and pain by seeking moderate pleasures. He denied the existence of an afterlife and believed the world was made of atoms. His emphasis on pleasure, happiness, and avoiding distress influenced early hedonistic and humanistic psychology.

3. Antisthenes (c.445-365 BCE) – Founder of Cynicism, a philosophy that rejected societal conventions and materialism in favor of self-sufficiency. His ideas influenced later existential and minimalist perspectives on well-being.

4. Diogenes of Sinope (c.400-325 BCE) – Most famous Cynic, known for his radical rejection of social norms. He emphasized living naturally and disregarding societal expectations, which influenced later discussions on authenticity and self-acceptance in psychology.

5. Zeno of Citium (c.335-263 BCE) – Founder of Stoicism. He taught that virtue and reason were the keys to happiness and that emotions should be controlled through rational thought. His philosophy influenced cognitive-behavioral approaches in psychology.

6. Plotinus (c.204-270 CE) – Founder of Neoplatonism, which emphasized a hierarchical universe with a divine “One” at the top. He viewed happiness as independent of the physical world and attainable through reason and introspection. His ideas influenced early Christian and mystical psychological thought.

7. Galen (129-c.200 CE) – A physician who expanded on Hippocrates' four humors theory, linking bodily fluids to personality types (sanguine, choleric, melancholic, phlegmatic). His work shaped early personality psychology and theories of mental health.

8. Augustine of Hippo (354-430 CE) – Integrated Neoplatonism, Stoicism, and Christian theology, emphasizing free will, inner moral struggle, and the pursuit of divine truth. His ideas influenced early discussions on guilt, morality, and the psychology of faith.

These philosophers shaped psychology by exploring concepts like skepticism, emotional regulation, personality, and human purpose, many of which continue to influence modern psychological thought.