Chapter 6Section 2

Philosophers and Writers of the Golden Age

Philosophy• The study of basic questions

of reality & human existence• Great Greek achievement• “Lover of Wisdom”• Natural laws & truths could be

discovered through reason

Socrates• Athenian - Education – key to

personal growth• Students should learn to think for

themselves.• Socratic Method – questions to

teach• Critic of democracy – unskilled

rule

Socrates• Falsely accused of denying

the existence of the gods and corrupting the youth

• At trial refused to deny his teachings – Found guilty and executed

• Drank hemlock

Plato• Socrates’ greatest student• Recorded Socrates’ ideas• Taught Socrates’ teachings• The Academy – school in Athens• Dialogues or Discussions• Dealt w/ Government, religion,

justice, and education

Plato -“Theory of Forms”• Material things an imperfect

expression of perfect ideas or forms

• Perfection could never be reached in physical world

• Humans consisted of two parts: body and soul

Plato - The Republic

• Written dialogue of Plato’s view of a perfect society and government

• Aristocracy – governed by upper class based on wisdom not wealth/birth - ideal

Aristotle• Student of Plato at the

Academy – opened school• All subjects should be studied

logically• Classified things (science)• Facts organized into systems

Aristotle• Ethics – What makes people

happy?• Poetics – What makes a

good or bad play• Studied politics – all forms

could be corrupt• Wanted limited democracy

ScienceNo practical scientific knowledge

developedFoundations of anatomy, botany,

and zoology laid by AristotleGreeks believed the world could

be explained through natural lawsReason v. Superstition

Math

Pythagoras: believed everything could be explained by math

Developed Pythagorean theoremA2+b2=c2

MedicineHippocrates: founder of

medical scienceDisease from natural sources

not a punishment from the gods

“Hippocratic Oath”: still take this pledge today.

•Code of Ethics

History►Greeks 1st to take written history seriously

►Herodotus – “father of history”Traveled around world

►Thucydides – understand Human nature through historyHistory of the Peloponnesian War

Made history accurate and fair.

DramaPlays containing action, dialogue, conflict, emotion

Plays in poetic form2-3 actors speak lines

Chorus describes actionAll men no womenPlays performed in outdoor theaters carved into hillside

TragediesMain character struggles against fate or events

Usually defeated in the end.

Punished for hubris (pride)Sophocles and Euripides: famous tragic writers

Comedies

Made fun of ideas and people

Tragic and humorous figures

Aristophanes: most famous writer of Greek comedy