Greek PhilosophyGreek PhilosophyCHW3MCHW3M

PhilosophyPhilosophy From Greek philo (love) soph From Greek philo (love) soph

(wisdom)(wisdom) Can you name any Greek Can you name any Greek

philosophers?philosophers?

Key Philosophers from Key Philosophers from Classical GreeceClassical Greece

SocratesSocrates PlatoPlato AristotleAristotle

PhilosophyPhilosophy The Greek philosophers engaged in The Greek philosophers engaged in

debates over issues of morality, debates over issues of morality, government, the nature of the world, government, the nature of the world, and knowledge itselfand knowledge itself

They laid the foundation for Western They laid the foundation for Western philosophy as well as modern sciencephilosophy as well as modern science

SocratesSocrates Lived in Athens 470 BCE-499 BCELived in Athens 470 BCE-499 BCE

– The glory days of Athens (Pericles)The glory days of Athens (Pericles) Wandered through the streets Wandered through the streets

questioning citizensquestioning citizens The “Socratic” approach is to teach The “Socratic” approach is to teach

through asking questionsthrough asking questions

SocratesSocrates Had students but would engage in Had students but would engage in

discussion with anyonediscussion with anyone Didn’t charge any money – lived in a Didn’t charge any money – lived in a

state of povertystate of poverty Didn’t write anything, almost all of Didn’t write anything, almost all of

what we know of Socrates comes what we know of Socrates comes from his student Platofrom his student Plato

The End of SocratesThe End of Socrates Continually questioning accepted ideas Continually questioning accepted ideas

is a good way to run afoul of those in is a good way to run afoul of those in powerpower

Socrates’ endeavours were seen as Socrates’ endeavours were seen as destructive, and his loyalty to the state destructive, and his loyalty to the state questionedquestioned

He debated the existence of the He debated the existence of the gods/godessesgods/godesses– That got him charged with Atheism and That got him charged with Atheism and

sentenced to deathsentenced to death

Socrates: Key IdeasSocrates: Key Ideas Keenly interested in morality and Keenly interested in morality and

human naturehuman nature Believed that a person had a soul that Believed that a person had a soul that

strived for goodstrived for good– But what is “good”?But what is “good”?

Strive to define what is good versus evilStrive to define what is good versus evil– Intent vs outcomeIntent vs outcome

Antidemocratic (called for an oligarchy, Antidemocratic (called for an oligarchy, a society governed by the smartest)a society governed by the smartest)

Socratic ExerciseSocratic Exercise What is wisdom?What is wisdom? What is beauty?What is beauty? What is morally right?What is morally right?

PlatoPlato A pupil of Socrates (427 BCE-347 A pupil of Socrates (427 BCE-347

BCE)BCE) Very interested in politicsVery interested in politics Most famous work: Most famous work: The RepublicThe Republic

– Examines the ideal stateExamines the ideal state Founded the AcademyFounded the Academy

– School of philosophy and scienceSchool of philosophy and science

Plato: Key IdeasPlato: Key Ideas A state can only achieve good for all A state can only achieve good for all

if every citizen adheres to four basic if every citizen adheres to four basic principles:principles:– TruthTruth– WisdomWisdom– CourageCourage– ModerationModeration

The Allegory of the CaveThe Allegory of the Cave What’s the point Plato is trying to make?What’s the point Plato is trying to make? Does this remind you of any movies?Does this remind you of any movies?

AristotleAristotle A pupil of Plato’s (384 BCE-323 BCE)A pupil of Plato’s (384 BCE-323 BCE) Served as tutor to Alexander the Served as tutor to Alexander the

GreatGreat Established his own school (the Established his own school (the

Lyceum)Lyceum)

Aristotle: Key IdeasAristotle: Key Ideas More of a scientist than his More of a scientist than his

predecessorspredecessors Concerned with the observable worldConcerned with the observable world Collected samples of plants and animals Collected samples of plants and animals

and classified them, forming the basis of and classified them, forming the basis of modern biologymodern biology

Refined the scientific method and Refined the scientific method and contributed to physics, astronomy, and contributed to physics, astronomy, and psychologypsychology

What else stemmed from What else stemmed from Greek Philosophy?Greek Philosophy?

MathematicsMathematics MedicineMedicine AstronomyAstronomy

MathematicsMathematics Geometry:Geometry:

– Thales of Miletus (triangles/navigation)Thales of Miletus (triangles/navigation)– Pythagoras (pythagorean theorum)Pythagoras (pythagorean theorum)– Euclid (wrote 13 books on geometry)Euclid (wrote 13 books on geometry)– Archimedes (area of circle, concept of Archimedes (area of circle, concept of pipi))

Built on work of Persians, Built on work of Persians, Mesopotamians, and Egyptians (Euclid Mesopotamians, and Egyptians (Euclid and Archimedes both studied in and Archimedes both studied in Alexandria)Alexandria)

MedicineMedicine Also based on knowledge of the Also based on knowledge of the

EgyptiansEgyptians Like the Egyptians, early Greek doctors Like the Egyptians, early Greek doctors

did many amazing things, but relied did many amazing things, but relied heavily on spiritualityheavily on spirituality

Later Greek doctors were proficient in Later Greek doctors were proficient in the use of herbs, drugs and ointments, the use of herbs, drugs and ointments, as well as the impact of diet and as well as the impact of diet and exerciseexercise

HypocratesHypocrates The “Father of Medicine”The “Father of Medicine” Born in the south Aegean (460 BCE – Born in the south Aegean (460 BCE –

377 BCE)377 BCE) Founded a medical school, wrote a Founded a medical school, wrote a

lot on the treatment of illnesseslot on the treatment of illnesses Most famous for ideas about medical Most famous for ideas about medical

ethicsethics– Medical graduates still take the Medical graduates still take the

Hippocratic OathHippocratic Oath

AstronomyAstronomy Concept of a round earth, with the moon in Concept of a round earth, with the moon in

orbitorbit Concept of heliocentric universe (earth Concept of heliocentric universe (earth

and everything else revolves around the and everything else revolves around the sun)sun)

Were only off on their calculation of the Were only off on their calculation of the solar year by about 6 minutessolar year by about 6 minutes– Hipparchus was off by less than a second in his Hipparchus was off by less than a second in his

calculation of how long it took the moon to calculation of how long it took the moon to orbit the earthorbit the earth

Back to Plato and SocratesBack to Plato and Socrates Plato’s Plato’s CritoCrito

– An account of the trial and death of An account of the trial and death of SocratesSocrates

– Summarizes some of Socrates’ ideas of Summarizes some of Socrates’ ideas of truth, justice, moralitytruth, justice, morality