Philosopher on Pitara Kids Network

Confucius: The philosopher-teacher who taught kings how to govern

Wed, 20 May 2020 00:00:00 +0000

Confucius (551 BC - 479 BC):

When the world thinks of traditional Chinese philosophy, they think of Confucius. He was the philosopher-teacher who taught kings and officials on how to govern. He was the man people turned to understand how to be good human beings.

Some may think Confucius was a traditional old man. After all, he was the master of rituals and believed deeply in their value. But Confucius wasn’t so simple. According to him, ritual and music were a way to learn values. For example, when we follow the rituals of mourning, we learn the value of life, and the reality of death. We mourn the dead and celebrate their life, through rituals.

Karl Marx

Tue, 14 Aug 2001 18:28:31 +0000

German economist, philosopher, and revolutionist, Karl Marx’s writings form the basis of the body of ideas known as Marxism. As one of the most original and influential thinkers of modern times, Karl Marx produced, with the aid of Friedrich Engels, much of the theory of modern socialism and communism.

Born on May 5, 1818, Marx lived in a period of unrestrained capitalism when exploitation and misery were the lot of the industrial working classes, and it was his and Engels’ humanitarianism and concern for social justice that inspired his work.

Dr Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan

Thu, 17 Aug 2000 04:57:43 +0000

Born on September 5, 1888 in Tirutlani (now in Andhra Pradesh), Dr Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan rose to become one of modern India’s most respected scholars and statesmen.

He was born to teach as a major part of his life was spent as an academic. He taught philosophy at the universities of Andhra, Mysore and Calcutta. He also held a professorship in eastern religion and ethics at Oxford.

His distinguished academic career included the Chancellorship of Delhi University and vice–chancellorship of Benares Hindu University.

Aristotle can’t remain Ignorant!

Fri, 17 Dec 2004 02:54:54 +0000

The Greeks were a passionately curious lot. When Alexander the Great set off in 334 BC on the famous expedition that took him over the Hindukush into Tashkent and Kashmir, he was accompanied not only by navigators, guides and surveyors, but historians and philosophers as well.

Aristotle can’t remain Ignorant! [Illustration by Shinod AP]

Alexander had been taught by the philosopher Aristotle, and we are told that he ordered everyone throughout Greece and Asia who made their living by hunting, fowling, fishing, beekeeping and so on, to make sure that “Aristotle should not remain ignorant of any animal born anywhere.”

Organic life, we are told, has developed gradually from the protozoon to the phi...

Wed, 04 Sep 2002 23:32:52 +0000

Bertrand Russell