List of Existentialists - Pre-Existentialist Philosophers

Pre-Existentialist Philosophers

Several thinkers who lived prior to the rise of Existentialism have been retroactively considered proto-Existentialists for their approach to philosophy and lifestyle.

Name Lived Nationality Occupation Notes
Augustine of Hippo 00354-11-13November 13, 354 – August 28, 430 Algeria Theologian At various times associated with Neoplatonism, Doctor of the Church
Mulla Sadra 01571-01-011571–1636 Persia Philosopher Islamic philosopher associated with Illuminationism and transcendent theosophy
Pascal, BlaiseBlaise Pascal 01623-06-19June 19, 1623 – August 19, 1662 France Philosopher, theologian
Rousseau, Jean-JacquesJean-Jacques Rousseau 01712-06-28June 28, 1712 – July 2, 1778 Switzerland Philosopher Foundational figure of Liberalism and social contract theory
Socrates -4 !469–399 BC Greece Philosopher Foundational figure of Western philosophy
Stoics -3 !fl. 3rd century BC – AD 529 Greece Philosophical school influenced by Socrates through Plato
Thoreau, Henry DavidHenry David Thoreau 01817-07-12July 12, 1817 – May 6, 1862 United States Author, poet Foundational figure of Transcendentalism

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