- Cicero (106–43 BCE)
- A statesman, orator, and philosopher, Cicero was known for his eloquence and his works on rhetoric, politics, and ethics. He bridged Greek philosophy with Roman thought.
- Seneca the Younger (c. 4 BCE–65 CE)
- A Stoic philosopher, Seneca served as an advisor to Emperor Nero. He wrote extensively on ethics, virtue, and the human condition.
- Epictetus (c. 55–135 CE)
- A former slave who became a Stoic philosopher, Epictetus emphasized the importance of accepting what we cannot control and focusing on our own moral character.
- Marcus Aurelius (121–180 CE)
- Roman Emperor and Stoic philosopher, Marcus Aurelius is best known for his private reflections on Stoic philosophy, collected in his work “Meditations.”
- Lucretius (c. 99–c. 55 BCE)
- Though he lived in the late Roman Republic, Lucretius was a Roman poet and philosopher known for his epic poem “De Rerum Natura” (On the Nature of Things), which expounds the philosophy of Epicureanism.
- Plotinus (c. 204–270 CE)
- A philosopher of the late Roman period, Plotinus is considered the founder of Neoplatonism, a philosophical system that synthesized elements of Plato’s philosophy with later developments.
- Boethius (c. 480–524 CE)
- A Roman senator, philosopher, and Christian theologian, Boethius wrote “Consolation of Philosophy” while imprisoned, which explores questions of fate, free will, and the nature of happiness.
- Augustine of Hippo (354–430 CE)
- Although Augustine was from Roman Africa (modern-day Algeria), he is a significant figure in Roman philosophy and early Christian thought. His works, such as “Confessions” and “City of God,” had a profound influence on Western philosophy and theology.
- Pseudo-Dionysius the Areopagite (Late 5th to early 6th century)
- An influential Christian philosopher and theologian who wrote under the pseudonym of Dionysius the Areopagite, drawing heavily on Neoplatonic ideas.
Roman Philosophers and Their Timeline
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