Change is a complete illusion.
Parmenides
All is change and in constant flow.
Heraclitus
The Logos principle governs the constant flow of change.
Heraclitus
Everything consists of atoms and nothing exists except atoms, which are governed by mechanistic laws.
Democritus
Everything consists of combinations of different seeds, the movement of which is governed by Nous (Mind).
Anaxagoras
This person is famous for answering questions with more questions, for saying "The unexamined life is not worth living," for describing himself as an intellectual midwife, and for saying "What medicine and exercise are to the body, good laws and the admin
Socrates
This philosopher considered his formulation of the Four Causes to be one of his most important contributions.
Aristotle
This philosopher's theory of forms and participation was essential for
Christian theology.
Plato
This philosopher adapted Aristotle's Four Causes for Christian theology but rejected the Material Cause in order to argue for creation ex nihilo.
St. Thomas Aquinas
These two philosophers rejected Platonic/Aristotelian ontology and in so doing cut the umbilical cord of Christian ontology that had understood all creation's existence as being dependent on and derived from the existence of God.
Dons Scotus and William of Ockham
This philosopher accepted a mechanistic view of the universe, argued that the universe could be understood through cause/effect relationships, and is famous for developing his Universal Laws of Nature.
Isaac Newton