Philosopher Biographies

Modern era

Sree Narayana Guru

1856 – September 20, 1928

Indian spiritual leader and social reformer (1856–1928)

Modern era

Sri Aurobindo

August 15, 1872 – December 5, 1950

Indian Bengali philosopher, yogi, maharishi, poet and nationalist (1872–1950)

Modern era

Paramahansa Yogananda

January 5, 1893 – March 7, 1952

Yogi, Kriya Yoga guru and founder of Self-Realization Fellowship (1893-1952)

Modern era

Ahmad Nadeem Qasmi

November 20, 1916 – July 10, 2006

Pakistani writer (1916–2006)

Modern era

Jaun Elia

December 14, 1931 – November 8, 2002

Pakistani poet and writer (1931-2002)

Thiruvalluvar

Tamil poet and philosopher

Modern era

Wasif Ali Wasif

January 15, 1929 – January 18, 1993

Pakistani scholar (1929–1993)

Medieval era

Zhu Xi

October 18, 1130 – April 23, 1200

Chinese historian, neo-Confucian philosopher, poet, and politician during the Song dynasty (1130–1200)

Medieval era

Wang Yangming

October 31, 1472 – January 9, 1529

Chinese philosopher and general (1472–1529)

Modern era

Fukuzawa Yukichi

January 10, 1835 – February 3, 1901

Modern Enlightenment thinker, educator, philosopher, scholar, author, writer, journalist, translator, entrepreneur, and founder of Keio University in Japan's Meiji era (1835-1901)

Early Modern era

Yi Hwang

1501 – 1570

Korean Confucian scholar (1502 -1571)

Early Modern era

Yi I

December 26, 1536 – 1584

Joseon civil servant & Neo-Confucianist (1536 – 1584)

Early Modern era

Jeong Yak-yong

1762 – 1836

Korean scholar and philosopher (1762 - 1836)

Medieval era

Nguyen Trai

1380 – September 28, 1442

Vietnamese scholar and poet (1380–1442)

Modern era

Ki Hajar Dewantara

May 2, 1889 – April 28, 1959

Indonesian educator, activist (1889-1959)

Medieval era

Alisher Navoi

February 9, 1441 – January 3, 1501

Turkic poet and politician (1441–1501)

Modern era

Ilia Chavchavadze

October 27, 1837 – August 30, 1907

Georgian public figure and writer; a saint of Georgian Orthodox Church (1837-1907)

Medieval era

Nizami Ganjavi

1141 – 1209

Persian poet

Medieval era

Attar of Nishapur

1145 – April 26, 1221

Persian Sufi poet (c. 1145 – c. 1221)

Early Modern era

Usman dan Fodio

December 15, 1754 – 1817

Founder of the Sokoto Caliphate

Modern era

Octavio Paz

March 31, 1914 – April 19, 1998

Mexican writer, poet an diplomat (1914–1998)

Early Modern era

Andres Bello

November 29, 1781 – October 15, 1865

Venezuelan humanist, diplomat, poet, legislator, philosopher, educator and philologist (1781-1865)

Medieval era

Ibn Hazm

November 7, 994 CE – August 15, 1064

Andalusian Muslim polymath, historian, jurist, philosopher and theologian (994–1064)

Medieval era

Ibn Tufail

1110 – 1185

Arab Muslim polymath (c. 1105–1185)

Medieval era

Al-Zahrawi

936 CE – 1010

Arab Andalusian physician, surgeon and chemist (936–1013)

Medieval era

Brunetto Latini

1220 – 1294

Italian scholar and statesman, c. 1220–1294

Medieval era

Marsilius of Padua

1275 – 1342

Italian philosopher (1275–1342)

Medieval era

Peter Chelcicky

1390 – 1460

15th century Bohemian Christian radical

Medieval era

Anselm of Canterbury

1033 – April 21, 1109

11th‑century Benedictine monk, Archbishop of Canterbury, philosopher and theologian

Medieval era

Alcuin

724 CE – May 19, 804 CE

8th-century Northumbrian scholar, clergyman, poet, and teacher

Medieval era

Isidore of Seville

560 CE – April 4, 636 CE

Hispano-Roman scholar, theologian and bishop (c. 560–636)

Medieval era

John of Damascus

675 CE – December 4, 749 CE

Christian monk, priest, hymnographer and apologist (675/6-749)

Medieval era

Albertus Magnus

1193 – 1280

German-Dominican friar and saint (c. 1200–1280)

Medieval era

Duns Scotus

1265 – November 8, 1308

Priest, friar, philosopher, theologian, college teacher

Medieval era

William of Ockham

1285 – April 9, 1349

English Franciscan friar and theologian (c.1287–1347)

Medieval era

Roger Bacon

1220 – 1292

English polymath, philosopher and friar (c.1219/20–c.1292)

Medieval era

Meister Eckhart

1260 – January 28, 1328

German philosopher and theologian

Medieval era

Nicholas of Cusa

1401 – August 11, 1464

German philosopher (1401 – 1464)

Medieval era

Marsilio Ficino

October 19, 1433 – October 1, 1499

Italian philosopher and Catholic priest (1433–1499)

Medieval era

Pico della Mirandola

February 24, 1463 – November 17, 1494

Italian Renaissance philosopher (1463–1494)

Medieval era

Bridget of Sweden

1303 – July 23, 1373

Swedish nun, mystic, and saint (c.1303–1373)

Pope Adrian IV

d. September 1, 1159

Pope from 1154 to 1159

Medieval era

Solomon ibn Gabirol

1021 – 1058

11th-century Andalusian poet and Jewish philosopher

Medieval era

Michael Psellos

1018 – 1078

11th-century Byzantine monk, writer and court official

Medieval era

John Scotus Eriugena

c. 800 CE – 877 CE

Irish Catholic philosopher and theologian (c. 800 – c. 877)

Medieval era

Peter Damian

1007 – 1072

Eleventh-century Benedictine monk

Medieval era

Lorenzo Valla

1407 – August 1, 1457

Italian Renaissance humanist (c. 1407–1457)

Medieval era

Leonardo Bruni

1369 – 1444

Italian humanist historian (c. 1370–1444)

Medieval era

Poggio Bracciolini

February 11, 1380 – October 30, 1459

Italian scholar, writer and humanist (1380–1459)

Medieval era

Gemistus Plethon

1355 – June 26, 1452

15th-century Byzantine Greek philosopher

Medieval era

Basilios Bessarion

January 2, 1403 – November 18, 1472

Greek theologian, cardinal bishop and Latin Patriarch of Constantinople (1403-1472)

Medieval era

Manuel Chrysoloras

1350 – September 15, 1415

Byzantine Greek scholar, diplomat, and professor (c. 1350–1415)

Medieval era

Bartolus de Saxoferrato

1313 – July 21, 1357

Italian law professor (1313–1357)

Medieval era

Adelard of Bath

1075 – 1160

12th-century English natural philosopher

Medieval era

John of Salisbury

c. 1110 – October 25, 1180

English philosopher and theologian (ca 1115-1180)

Medieval era

Alain de Lille

c. 1117 – December 29, 1202

French theologian and poet

Medieval era

Vincent of Beauvais

1190 – 1264

13th century French encyclopedist

Medieval era

Siger of Brabant

1235 – November 10, 1284

Belgian philosopher, c. 1240–1284

Medieval era

Henry of Ghent

1217 – June 29, 1293

Scholastic philosopher

Medieval era

Giles of Rome

1243 – December 22, 1316

Roman Catholic archbishop