Sophoi Ekkritoi

The Sophoi Ekkritoi or "Chosen wise ones" are remarkable philosophers who have been chosen above others for special attention. This is because of their special usefulness to us in helping us develop our own wisdom.

The Sophoi are 'clever people', but they are not automatically treated as of perfect virtue, and are not considered Hemidiva or saints, but rather Adiva. In other words we attend to them because of the usefulness of their writings, rather than because we consider that they were perfect people. We consider their writings very useful, but not that they are necessarily without fault in every way.

Heptasophoi

The Heptasophoi are a particular list of seven Sophoi Ekkritoi.

They are: Zartus (Zoroaster), Heraclitus, Plato, Aristotle, Hegel, Nietzsche and Carl Jung.

Wisdom Traditions

Zartian Mazdeans may study one or more of multiple wisdom traditions which in general will be associated with at least one of the tetramagi or heptasophoi.

For instance Buddhism and Stoicism (considered a Greek counterpart to Buddhism) - associated with Gotama.

Ancient Gnosticism associated with both Zoroaster and Plato, and also the later Neoplatonism and Neoplatonic Sufism.

Thomism and Catholic Social Teaching - associated with Aristotle.

The writings of Marcus Aurelius can be a good way in to Stoicism. The writings of Inayat Khan are recommended for students of Neoplatonic Sufism. The modern Cathar movement around John Bogomil is also recommended.

Modern Sophoi

Zartian Mazdeans may also study modern philosophers of renown. There is no canonical list but in addition to Nietzsche on the more political side these might include names like Proudhon, Karl Marx, Gramsci and Erich Fromm for example.

Updated August 4026 ZHE