Comprehensive Guide to Ancient Philosophical Currents

Ancient Philosophy: From Myth to Logos

Ancient Philosophy spans the long historical period between the $V I$ century B.C. and the $V$ century D.C. This era of intellectual development was born in Greece and is defined by the fundamental transition from "myth to logos." This transition represents a shift away from mythological explanations toward the active pursuit of rational explanations regarding the nature of the world and the essence of being.

Dogmatism

Dogmatism is a philosophical current that took place specifically during the $V I I$ and $V I$ centuries B.C. It is defined largely by its opposition to other schools of thought such as idealism and escepticismo (skepticism). The core foundation of dogmatism is the belief in the absolute possibility of human reason to know the entire truth and to interpret reality effectively. To achieve this, dogmatism relies on the acceptance of certain dogmas without allowing for any questioning or doubt regarding their validity. A dogmatic individual is characterized by a blind trust in reason, failing to admit or recognize its inherent limits.

Historical representatives of this current include Tales de Mileto, Anaximandro, Anaximenes, Heráclito, Pitágoras, and Parménides.

Subjectivism

Subjectivism is a doctrine that emerged in antiquity and uses the individual as a starting point, specifically viewing them as the "congnoscente" (knowing) subject. This school of thought maintains that knowledge is entirely dependent on each individual person. Consequently, the truth or falsehood of any particular judgment is determined by the subject who is knowing and judging, rather than by external reality. This framework explicitly rejects the existence of absolute or universal truths that are applicable to everyone or independent of the observer.

Key representatives listed for this current include Protágoras, Georgias de Leontinos, and Nietzsche.

Relativism

Relativism is a philosophical movement that began in Ancient Greece, spearheaded by the Sofistas. This current denies the existence of any absolute truths that remain independent of human influence. Similar to subjectivism, relativism argues that truth depends on the individual who experiences it; however, it also incorporates the idea that various external factors significantly influence the formation of knowledge. A central tenet of relativism is the belief that all different ways of knowing the world possess the same degree of validity.

Significant representatives of relativism include Protágoras and Pitágoras.

Cynicism

Cynicism was founded by Antístenes around the year $400$ B.C. This philosophy is highly characterized by its ascetic nature, seeking to locate happiness outside of ephemeral or fleeting things such as luxury, wealth, or power. For Cynic thinkers, true happiness is found outside of fortuitous or accidental events. Instead, happiness is achieved through the practice of virtue and by leading a simple life that remains intentionally distanced from social conventions.

Notable representatives of Cynicism include Antístenes and Diógenes.

Epicureanism

Epicureanism is a philosophical movement initiated by Epicuro de Samos, who lived from $341-270$ B.C. This school of thought posits that true wisdom resides in learning to master pleasures properly so that one is never dominated by them. The primary objective for humans, according to this view, is to reach a state of well-being through both the body and the mind. The ultimate goal of this pursuit is to achieve "ataraxia," which is defined as the "ausencia de turbación" (absence of perturbation).

Representatives associated with Epicureanism include Horacio, Lucrecio Caro, Metrodoro de Lápsaco (el joven), and Zenón de Sidón.

Stoicism

Stoicism focuses on the ideal of the autárquico (autarkic) human being, emphasizing the value of being a self-sufficient entity. In Stoic thought, wisdom is found in the ability of a being to reach happiness without the need for anything or anyone else. Individuals who achieve this level of self-sufficiency, particularly those who do not require material goods, are considered the wisest. Stoicism was founded by Zenón de Citio and is historically divided into three distinct stages: the ancient stage (spanning the $I V-I I$ centuries B.C.), the middle stage (during the $I I$ century B.C.), and the new stage, which took place during the Roman Empire.

Primary representatives include Zenón de Citio, Posidonio, and Séneca.

Scepticism

Scepticism is a philosophical current fundamentally built upon the concept of doubt. Proponents of this school believe that human reason and the senses are unreliable, leading to the conclusion that absolutely nothing can be affirmed or denied with total firmness. As a result, these thinkers maintain a skeptical attitude toward everything, including the validity of judgments, the extent of human capacity, and the value of external standards. Scepticism is categorized into three stages, the first of which originated in antiquity.

Key representatives of this school of thought include Pirrón, Timón el Silógrafo, and Sexto Empírico.