List of Mononymous Philosophers (Philosophers Known By One Name)

One of the greatest Greek philosophers (considered the greatest Greek writer of prose by some), Plato, was born into an aristocratic Athenian family. He met Socrates around 407 BC and became his disciple in philosophy. Socrates was executed in 399 BC. Plato and fellow disciples took refuge under Euclid in Megara. Following that for a period of 12 years Plato traveled extensively to Egypt, Sicily and Italy. He met Dionysius I of Syracuse in 390 BC. And the Pythagorean mathematician Archytas of Taras (Tarentum) while in Italy, who was a follower of the semi-legendary Pythagoras of Samos (6th Cent. B.C.). He began teaching pupils near the grove of Academus outside Athens in 388 BC. His school was named Academy after the place. Plato was summoned to the court of Dionysuis II of Syracuse by Dion, the ruler's uncle, in 366 BC, and by Dionysius II himself in 362 BC. Plato's philosophical and literary activities extend over a period of 50 years. His main works falls into 2 categories viz. letters and dialogs. The 13 letters are mainly addressed to Dionysus the Tyrant of Syracuse and deal with political advice. The 26 dialogs fall into 3 broad categories - early, middle and late based on his travels. The more well known include the Protagoras, Gorgias, Ion, the Republic (where he attacks the power and pretension of literature), Cratylus, Phaedrus, Sophist and Laws. His death is reported by some authorities as having occurred at a wedding feast or while he was writing. He was buried at the Academy.

Founder of Astronism, philosopher and astrotheologian, lecturer, human rights scholar and specialist in freedom of religion or belief, Cometan was born Brandon Reece Taylor (later changed to Taylorian) in Preston in the county of Lancashire in England to hair salon owner Janet Louise Richardson (née Warbrick; later Counsell) and business owner Seán Frederick Taylor. Both his mother and father are of English ancestry. Cometan's ascent to fame began when, at age fifteen, he began to found a new religion that would come to be called Astronism. Before beginning to write seriously the first great Astronist treatise called the Omnidoxy, Cometan wrote mystery stories centring on a London teenager named Jesse Millette, an ideal young male hero figure during a futuristic age in which the human exploration of outer space has greatly advanced. Cometan's Jesse Millette books have since come to compliment and act as an auxiliary vehicle for his fundamental Astronist messages. During the period beginning when he was fifteen, Cometan began to experience an alarming amount ideations about the nature, function and destiny of humanity in the astronomical world. These ideations snowballed into writings strange and stupefying, climaxing with Cometan's experience of several astral ecstasies during his young adult years. Based on these deeply personal and thematically astral experience, Cometan began writing the Omnidoxy when he was seventeen years old. Upon the book's completion, which is now referred to as the "founding treatise of Astronism", it had grown to over 1.7 million words. The Omnidoxy gives an exposition of the Astronist view of existence and humanity's place within The Cosmos as Astronists should see it. Omnidoxical literature is both poetic and religious, sometimes difficult to follow and grasp, with a multitude of layered meanings ornamented with rich text throughout. The Omnidoxical treatise is a grand introduction to the Astronist belief system and its upcoming successor the Astrodoxy, which has already been dubbed the "central text of Astronism", continues on this tradition of writing over grand vistas of cosmic metaphor and transcensional instruction.

Cometan is blessed with a large family, the influence of whom over Cometan's founding of Astronism isn't to be understated, however, only small snippets are verifiably attributed to Cometan's family members and are only ever described as inspirational in order to preserve the sole development of Astronism to Cometan's original ideas and revelations. Cometan had two sets of grandparents whom he was more close to in different periods of his life. His paternal grandparents, Derrick and Irene Mary Taylor, were closer to Cometan during his childhood years especially his grandmother, Irene, a mother to ten children and a devout Roman Catholic whom instilled a strict religiosity into her grandchildren; it was this large presence of religion in his childhood that Cometan later attributed to his deep interests in exploring theology and philosophy. In his later years, after his paternal grandparents both passed away and his father's side of the family became bitterly divided over inheritance issues, Cometan became closer to his maternal grandparents, Hilda and William "Bill" Warbrick. After his parents' separation when he was four, Cometan's father remarried 7 years later and had five other children (Kieran Taylorian, Kent Taylorian, Zara Taylorian, Jay Taylorian, and Edie Taylorian), and his mother also remarried ten years later and had her second daughter after Lucia Natalie Richardson named Charlotte Sophia Louise Counsell.

Socrates (470-399 BC) was a Greek philosopher from Athens who is credited as the founder of Western philosophy and among the first moral philosophers of the ethical tradition of thought. An enigmatic figure, Socrates authored no texts and is known mainly through the posthumous accounts of classical writers, particularly his students Plato and Xenophon. These accounts are written as dialogues, in which Socrates and his interlocutors examine a subject in the style of question and answer; they gave rise to the Socratic dialogue literary genre. Contradictory accounts of Socrates make a reconstruction of his philosophy nearly impossible, a situation known as the Socratic problem. Socrates was a polarizing figure in Athenian society. In 399 BC, he was accused of impiety and corrupting the youth. After a trial that lasted a day, he was sentenced to death. He spent his last day in prison, refusing offers to help him escape.

Homer is the name traditionally ascribed to the brilliant Greek bard that authored, most notably, the Iliad and the Odyssey (Western civilization's first complete stories). Nothing concrete is known of his life, but he is traditionally thought to be blind and was probably born in either Chios or Smyrna. His epic poems were most likely memorized and recited in bardic lays and only later written down. While the details and dates of Homer's life have been lost in the mists of time, the Iliad and Odyssey were probably composed in the late eighth century B.C.

Ancient Greek poet and comic dramatist Aristophanes was the son of Philippus of Athens. A leading exponent of the Athenian "Old Comedy," Aristophanes lived most of his life during the Peloponnesian War against Sparta (431-404). Some of his works include "Acharnians" (425), "Knights" (424), "In the Clouds" (423), "In the Wasps" (422), "The Peace" (421), "The Birds" (414), "In Lysistrata" (411), "The Thesmophoriazusae" (411), "In the Frogs" (405; it won the first prize at the Lenaean festival), "In the Ecclesiazusae" (392) and "In the Plutus" (388). He is the only exponent of the Athenian Old Comedy who has left us complete plays. In his day comic plays were performed at Athens annually at the festivals of Dionysus and Lenaea, at which occasions five poets competed, each producing a single play. The targets of Aristophanes' humor includes notable politicians (Pericles, Cleon, Hyperbolus), poets (Euripides) and philosophers (Socrates), to name a few. Aristophanes often makes fun of cultural innovators (although the construction of his plays shows that he was one of them himself), whereas the characters with whom he expresses sympathy are usually people who just want to be left to enjoy themselves in traditional ways.

Jalaluddin Rumi, Scholar in Religious Sciences and famed Sufi Mystic Poet, was born on September 29th 1207 A.D. in Balkh (modern day Afghanistan). Escaping Mongol invasions he travelled extensively to Muslim lands, Bagdad, Mecca, Damascus, Malatia (Turkey). Married Gevher Khatun of Samarquand and moved to Quonya (Konya in present day Turkey). Encountering the wandering dervish and Saint Shamsuddin Tabrezi, who introduced him to the path of mystical and spiritual knowledge. Author of six volumes of didactic epic works. His most famous work in seven books and 24,660 couplets is written in Dari and Arabic and commonly referred to as the "Persian Quran" by Jami. His son was killed with the mystic dervish Shams. He himself died on December 16th 1273 A.D. and his bier was followed by men of five faiths. The night became the "Sebul Arus" or "Night of Union", and ever since the Mawlawi Dervishes celebrate this date as a Festival. Rumi leaves the world a legacy of profound poetry and writings of the most intense spirituality and simplicity ever to be written. Rumi's "Divan-e-Shams" and "Mathnawi" are his most popular works worldwide.

Future proponent for victims of injustice and tyranny during the years prior to the French Revolution, Voltaire (born François Marie Arouet on November 21, 1694 in Paris) was educated in Paris by the Jesuits. For a time he studied law, then decided to become a writer. Witty, thought-provoking and socially critical, his unique writings inspired France's common people but angered the royalty. In 1717 he was imprisoned in the Bastille for 11 months for ridiculing Duc d'Orléans. While in prison he rewrote his tragedy "Oedipe", which upon its publication brought the young author and philosopher enormous fame and ominous notoriety; in 1726 he was forced to go into exile in England. There he became fascinated with the plays of William Shakespeare, and while shocked by their "barbaric" nature (calling Shakespeare "a drunken savage"), he was deeply affected by their genius, energy and human drama. He felt that France had much to learn from England's literature. Three years later he returned to France, writing plays and poetry as well as historical and scientific treatises, his brilliant 1734 "Lettres philosophiques" was published. Scandal followed this work, which harshly criticized the religious and political institutions. A warrant for his arrest was issued in 1734, and he fled, taking refuge at Cirey in Champagne in the home of Gabrielle Emilie Le Tonnelier de Breteuil Marquise du Châtelet, the 28-year-old wife of the Marquis Florent du Châtelet. Here he began his professional liaison with the young, intelligent woman. Gabrielle worked with him on many philosophical and scientific topics. Her one major work was a translation of Isaac Newton's "Principia." Voltaire lived with her in the château he had renovated at his own expense. After 15 years as his guide and supporter, tragedy struck when Gabrielle died in childbirth on September 10, 1749. The baby was the presumed child of her lover, poet Jean-François de Saint-Lambert. Her husband, Voltaire, and Saint-Lambert were present at her death bed. Voltaire was overwhelmed with grief, often waking in the middle of the night calling her name. He eventually regained favor at the French court and was appointed its royal historiographer.

In 1755 he was living near Geneva, Switzerland, and wrote his most famous work, the satirical "Candide," in 1759. He later produced many anti-religious writings and his 1764 "Dictionnaire philosophique." His fame became worldwide. He was called "Innkeeper of Europe," and he entertained chic philosophers of the day and such literary figures as James Boswell, Giovanni Casanova and Edward Gibbon. Always impassioned about injustice, he took a keen interest in the case of Jean Calas, whose innocence he helped to establish. In 1761 Calas was accused, on trivial evidence, of murdering his eldest son to prevent him becoming a Roman Catholic. Calas was found guilty and executed by being broken on the wheel. Voltaire, in his late 60s by this time, spearheaded a fervent campaign, resulting in a revision of the trial. It was determined that the son had committed suicide, and the Parisian parliament declared Calas innocent in 1765. Voltaire finally returned to Paris in 1778, 28 years after leaving. He had become a beloved national celebrity, and it's believed that the frenzied excitement of such adoration from the French people aggravated his precarious health, reportedly, more than 300 people called on him the day after his arrival. He died a painful death on May 30 of uremia, only a few months after his celebrated arrival, at age 83. His nephew, the Abbé Mignot, had his body, clothed as it was the day he died, quickly transported to the Abbey of Scellières, where Voltaire was given a Christian burial; the prohibition of such a burial came after the ceremony. Because of his lifelong criticism of the church, Voltaire was denied burial in church ground. He was finally buried at an abbey in Champagne. His heart was removed from his body, and now lays in the Bibliotheque nationale in Paris. His brain was also removed, but after a series of moves during the next hundred years, it disappeared following an auction. Voltaire's remains were moved to the Panthéon in Paris during the Revolution in July 1791. In 1814, a group of right-wing religious "ultras" stole Voltaire's remains from his enormous sarcophagus and dumped them in a garbage heap. The theft went undetected for about 50 years.

Novalis was born on 2 May 1772 in Schloss Oberwiederstedt, Harz Mountains, Saxony [now Germany]. Novalis was a writer, known for Karanliga Övgüler (2016), Die Nacht (1985) and Novalis - Walzer (1983). Novalis died on 25 March 1801 in Weißenfels, Saxony [now Germany].

Pythagoras is known for I Agapi Mas (1968), Sapila kai aristokratia (1967) and The Wire (2002).

Aristotle is known for The Beachcombers (1972).

Chinese philosopher who was born Kong Qiu, with the formal name Kong Zhongni, in the state of Lu in what is now Shandong province. The second son of a minor aristocratic family that had fallen from power, Confucius was orphaned as a child and grew up in relative poverty. A voracious reader, he educated himself, eventually becoming a private tutor for the sons of wealthy gentlemen. Distressed by the division of China into fiercely competitive and often warring states, Confucius, like many other thinkers of his era, devoted much time to pondering ways to restore order to the chaotic world in which he lived. For a decade beginning when he was about 55, Confucius wandered through neighboring states, attempting to convince various rulers of his worthiness for political positions through which he could introduce his planned reforms. Though by most accounts his travels never resulted in an offer for political office (some sources say he became a minister of state), Confucius was able to gather a substantial number of students who devoted themselves to his school of thought. Though it has been described as a religion, Confucianism is more of a political and social philosophy based on humanism, rationality, education, and virtuous example. During imperial times, Confucius was lauded as the "First Teacher" and the "Uncrowned King".

Laozi is known for Stalker (1979).

Sri Mata Amritanandamayi is an Indian Hindu spiritual leader, guru and humanitarian, who is revered as 'the hugging saint' by her followers, a.k.a. Amma. At the age of 7, she starts composing devotional songs about Lord Krishna, learns tailoring at a Christian Institution, and is considered mentally deranged by her family because of her chanting, crying, meditating and deep devotion for Krishna. In 1979 she is followed by young spiritual seekers and meet her first western disciple Neal Rosner. In 1981 Amma is formally given the name Mata Amritanandamayi Devi. Small Ashram buildings - Dhyana mandiram with the first floor as Amma's resting room and Vedanta Vidyalayam are constructed, funded by Neal Rosner. In 1985 Amma's biography and teachings in English "The Mother of Sweet Bliss" by Br. Balu is published. "A day with Amma" and "Amrita Sagaram" two short films are made by Neal Rosner for the purpose of introducing Amma to the west. Two years later in 1987 Amma goes to the United States for her first world tour.

Starhawk was born as Miriam Simos in Saint Paul, Minnesota. Both her parents were the children of Jewish immigrants from Russia. In 1973, while she was a film student at UCLA, Starhawk won the Samuel Goldwyn Award for her novel, "A Weight of Gold", a story about Venice, California, where she then lived.

Starhawk lives in San Francisco, where she works with Reclaiming, a tradition of Witchcraft that she co-founded in the late 1970s. She is internationally known as a trainer in nonviolence and direct action, and as an activist within the Peace Movement, Women's Movement, Environmental Movement, and Anti-Globalization Movement.

Starhawk has authored 10 books, which have have been translated into over 11 languages. Her essays are reprinted across the world, and have been included in numerous anthologies. Her book "Truth or Dare: Encounters with Power, Authority, and Mystery" won the Media Alliance Meritorious Achievement Award for non-fiction in 1988. Her first novel, "The Fifth Sacred Thing", won the Lambda Award for best Gay and Lesbian Science Fiction in 1994. Her non-fiction book "Webs of Power" won a 2003 Nautilus Award.

Starhawk appeared in and consulted on to the popular trio of films known as the Women's Spirituality Series, directed by Donna Read for the National Film Board of Canada: "Goddess Remembered" (1989), "The Burning Times" (1990), and "Full Circle" (1993). Starhawk and Donna Read recently formed their own film company, Belili Productions. Their first release was "Signs Out of Time" in 2004, a documentary on the life of archaeologist Marija Gimbutas. They released their second film "Permaculture: The Growing Edge" in 2010.

Starhawk has also made several short documentaries which can be found on YouTube: "The Spiral Dance Ritual", "Reclaiming's Spiral Dance: Three Decades of Magic", "Permaculture in the City" and "Permaculture: Principles at Work."