Final answer:
Erasmus admired Plato, Socrates, and Aristotle for their enduring philosophical contributions that have significantly shaped intellectual thought and inquiry.
Step-by-step explanation:
Erasmus admired classical authors like Plato, Socrates, and Aristotle for their philosophical contributions. These ancient Greek thinkers are celebrated for their significant intellectual advancements in understanding the world, human nature, politics, and society. Socrates developed a method of questioning that sought to discover truths about ethics and the human condition. Plato, a student of Socrates, emphasized the role of philosophers in governance, envisioning a society led by philosopher-kings as detailed in his work, The Republic. Aristotle, a student of Plato and teacher to Alexander the Great, contributed to a vast array of subjects including logic, metaphysics, ethics, biology, and physics, thereby earning the moniker 'the Philosopher' during the Middle Ages.