Philosophers

Philosopher and historian of human extinction. Published a book defending existential-risk reduction in 2017, then became the most-cited critic of longtermism, the view that the overriding moral priority is fulfilling humanity's long-term potential.

British philosopher and logician (1872 to 1970), also a social critic; co-author with Alfred North Whitehead of Principia Mathematica (1910 to 1913), author of The Problems of Philosophy (1912), awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1950.

Philosopher born in Vienna (1889 to 1951); author of the Tractatus Logico-Philosophicus, drafted during the First World War, and of Philosophical Investigations, published after his death.

Philosopher (1806 to 1873), a utilitarian and liberal; worked for the East India Company for almost thirty-five years; elected Member of Parliament for Westminster in 1865.

Chinese thinker traditionally named as the author of the Daodejing, also called the Laozi; said in Chinese sources to have flourished in the sixth century BCE, though some modern scholars hold that he is entirely legendary; that authorship is traditional and legendary.

German-born American political theorist (1906 to 1975); author of The Origins of Totalitarianism (1951), The Human Condition (1958) and Eichmann in Jerusalem (1963), her report on the 1961 trial of Adolf Eichmann.

Greek Stoic philosopher (born in the 50s CE, died around 135); once a slave in Rome, he later taught at his own school at Nicopolis; his teaching survives in the Discourses and Encheiridion written up by Arrian of Nicomedia.

German philosopher (1844 to 1900); professor of classical philology at Basel from 1869 to 1879; author of Thus Spoke Zarathustra, Beyond Good and Evil and Twilight of the Idols.

Christian philosopher and theologian (354 to 430), born in Thagaste in Roman Africa; bishop of Hippo Regius from about 396 to 430; author of the Confessions.

American philosopher of mind and cognitive scientist (1942 to 2024), co-director of the Center for Cognitive Studies at Tufts University; author of Consciousness Explained, Darwin's Dangerous Idea and Breaking the Spell.

Confucian philosopher of the fourth century BCE, said to have been born in the state of Zou; known for the claim that human nature is good, his teaching survives in the Mengzi, a collection of his dialogues, debates and sayings probably compiled by his disciples.

French essayist and philosopher (1533 to 1592); mayor of Bordeaux; author of the Essays, in three books.

Former option trader and risk analyst, now a distinguished professor at NYU. Author of the Incerto essay series, including The Black Swan and Fooled by Randomness.

Athenian philosopher (469 to 399 BCE) who wrote nothing; his words survive second-hand, chiefly in Plato's dialogues; tried and executed by the Athenian democracy on a charge of irreverence toward the gods.

Tamil poet traditionally credited as the author of the Tirukkural, a classic Tamil text of 1,330 couplets on virtue, wealth and love; almost nothing authentic is known of his life.

Persian philosopher, theologian, jurist and mystic of Sunni Islam (c. 1056 to 1111); taught at the Nizamiyya Madrasa in Baghdad until 1095 and in Nishapur from 1106; author of Deliverance from Error.

Roman statesman, orator and philosopher (106 to 43 BCE); consul in 63 BCE; author of On Duties.

German philosopher (1724 to 1804), born in Königsberg, where he taught at the university; author of the three Critiques and the Groundwork of the Metaphysics of Morals.

Philosopher at Oxford who co-founded Giving What We Can, 80,000 Hours and the Centre for Effective Altruism, and who named effective altruism. Author of Doing Good Better and What We Owe the Future; now writes at Forethought.

French philosopher and mathematician (1596 to 1650); author of the Discourse on the Method (1637), the Meditations on First Philosophy (1641) and the Principles of Philosophy (1644).

Australian moral philosopher, Professor of Bioethics emeritus at Princeton University; author of Animal Liberation, Practical Ethics and The Life You Can Save.