DEBATE ON EDUCATION
Greco-Roman & Modern Philosophers’
Characters (By Appearance):
Spring 2026 · Torch: U.S. · PHILOSOPHERS' DEBATE ON EDUCATION
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SOCRATES: The founder of Western philosophy, he never published any works. All we do know about him and his philosophy come from contemporary writers such as Plato in his dialogues and Aristophanes in his play, “the Clouds”, which was a satire deriding him.
PLATO: A student of Socrates, Plato was also a philosopher in Athens. His most famous work today is his book titled “the Republic,” a book where he explores different forms of government, and proposes his own. He started a school of philosophy named “the Academy.”
ARISTOTLE: A student of Plato, Aristotle didn’t agree with a number of his philosophies, including Plato’s “Theory of Forms.” Aristotle went off to create his own school, “the Lyceum.” Many of his ideas are prevalent in contemporary times, such as his “Golden Mean,” and his work in virtue ethics.
FRIEDRICH NIETZSCHE: A German philosopher in the mid to late 1800s, Friedrich Nietzsche sought to challenge Western philosophy as a whole. A proponent of Nihilism/Existentialism, Friedrich Nietzsche preached usurping societal traditions, i.e. morality, norms, religion, etc..
IMMANUEL KANT: A German philosopher in the mid to late 1700s, Kant dived into how things were known, believing our experiences are based solely on our own minds’ perception of the world. He stressed the importance of reason, and morality through it.
EPICURUS: As another Athenian philosopher, Epicurus preached a philosophy where pleasure was the goal of life. He gained many followers due to the enticing nature of his philosophy. When he died, his students turned his school of thought into blatant hedonism (excessive self indulgence). The word “epicurean,” now describes an aficionado in food and wine.
PYTHAGORAS: Best known for his work in mathematics, Pythagoras was also the leader of a cult.
Owen Stropoli, Brother Rice High School, Michigan
Screenplay