Classical Greek philosophers
91
Greek Philosophers Living Within the Context of the Greek Mythologies
Transcript of Classical Greek philosophers
Greek PhilosophersLiving Within the Context of the Greek Mythologies
Key Names:
AthensSpartaCorinthMacedoniaThermopylaeMarathonSalamis
PeloponneseAcaiaMacedoniaTroyEphesus
Key People
SocratesPlatoAristotle
Religion of Greece
MythologyZeusPoseidonHestiaAthena
Big Questions Asked by Greek Philosophers
Big Questions Asked by Greek Philosophers
• What is truth?
Big Questions Asked by Greek Philosophers
• What is truth?
• What is beauty?
Big Questions Asked by Greek Philosophers
• What is truth?
• What is beauty?
• What is justice?
Big Questions Asked by Greek Philosophers
• What is truth?
• What is beauty?
• What is justice?
DOES OUR GREEK
MYTHOLOGY REALLY GIVE
ANSWERS TO THE BIG
QUESTIONS OF HUMAN
EXISTENCE?
Two Philosophical Ideas the Greeks Gave to Western Civilization
These are unique to the Greeks and were not present to any great degree in the other ancient civilizations
• Rationality -- Reason through to conclusions rather than simply yielding to tradition and pagan religion
• Observation -- Don’t rely on blind tradition. Check it out, weight it, measure it, observe in again and again
“Man is the measure of all things.”
• There are no absolutes.• Everything is relative.
• Every situation is different.
• Every group, every generation sets its own
standards and definitions
Sophists “Man is the measure of all things.”
• There are no absolutes.• Everything is relative.
• Every situation is different.
• Every group, every generation sets its own
standards and definitions
Sophists
“Man is the measure of all things.”
• There are no absolutes.• Everything is relative.
• Every situation is different.
• Every group, every generation sets its own
standards and definitions
New School
“Knowledge is the measure of all things.”
• There ARE absolutes.• Truth is real and
unchanging.• Absolute standards of
right and wrong exist.• Apply to everyone,
everywhere, all the time.
• TRUTH can be discovered thru
observation, asking the right kinds of questions,
and carefully analyzing the answers
Sophists New SchoolSophists New School
Sophists New SchoolSophists
“Man is the measure of all things.”
New School
Sophists New SchoolSophists
“Man is the measure of all things.”
• There are no absolutes.• Everything is relative.
• Every situation is different.
New School
Sophists New SchoolSophists
“Man is the measure of all things.”
• There are no absolutes.• Everything is relative.
• Every situation is different.
New School
• Can be discovered thru asking the right kinds of questions and carefully analyzing the answers
Sophists New SchoolSophists
“Man is the measure of all things.”
• There are no absolutes.• Everything is relative.
• Every situation is different.
New School“Knowledge is the measure
of all things.”
• Can be discovered thru asking the right kinds of questions and carefully analyzing the answers
Sophists New School
• There ARE absolutes.• Truth is real and UNCHANGING.
• Absolute standards of right and wrong, good and
evil exist• Apply to everyone,
everywhere, all the time.
Sophists
“Man is the measure of all things.”
• There are no absolutes.• Everything is relative.
• Every situation is different.
New School“Knowledge is the measure
of all things.”
• Can be discovered thru asking the right kinds of questions and carefully analyzing the answers
Sophists New School
• There ARE absolutes.• Truth is real and UNCHANGING.
• Absolute standards of right and wrong, good and
evil exist• Apply to everyone,
everywhere, all the time.• Can be discovered thru asking the right kinds of questions and carefully analyzing the answers
Sophists
“Man is the measure of all things.”
• There are no absolutes.• Everything is relative.
• Every situation is different.
New School“Knowledge is the measure
of all things.”
• Can be discovered thru asking the right kinds of questions and carefully analyzing the answers
Sophists New School
• There ARE absolutes.• Truth is real and UNCHANGING.
• Absolute standards of right and wrong, good and
evil exist• Apply to everyone,
everywhere, all the time.• Can be discovered thru asking the right kinds of questions and carefully analyzing the answers
Sophists
“Man is the measure of all things.”
• There are no absolutes.• Everything is relative.
• Every situation is different.
New School“Knowledge is the measure
of all things.”
• Can be discovered thru asking the right kinds of questions and carefully analyzing the answers
Sophists New School
• There ARE absolutes.• Truth is real and UNCHANGING.
• Absolute standards of right and wrong, good and
evil exist• Apply to everyone,
everywhere, all the time.• Can be discovered thru asking the right kinds of questions and carefully analyzing the answers
Sophists
“Man is the measure of all things.”
• There are no absolutes.• Everything is relative.
• Every situation is different.
New School“Knowledge is the measure
of all things.”
• Can be discovered thru asking the right kinds of questions and carefully analyzing the answers
Socrates
Sophists New School
• There ARE absolutes.• Truth is real and UNCHANGING.
• Absolute standards of right and wrong, good and
evil exist• Apply to everyone,
everywhere, all the time.• Can be discovered thru asking the right kinds of questions and carefully analyzing the answers
Sophists
“Man is the measure of all things.”
• There are no absolutes.• Everything is relative.
• Every situation is different.
New School“Knowledge is the measure
of all things.”
• Can be discovered thru asking the right kinds of questions and carefully analyzing the answers
Socrates
Sophists New School
• There ARE absolutes.• Truth is real and UNCHANGING.
• Absolute standards of right and wrong, good and
evil exist• Apply to everyone,
everywhere, all the time.• Can be discovered thru asking the right kinds of questions and carefully analyzing the answers
Sophists
“Man is the measure of all things.”
• There are no absolutes.• Everything is relative.
• Every situation is different.
New School“Knowledge is the measure
of all things.”
• Can be discovered thru asking the right kinds of questions and carefully analyzing the answers
Socrates
Plato
Sophists New School
• There ARE absolutes.• Truth is real and UNCHANGING.
• Absolute standards of right and wrong, good and
evil exist• Apply to everyone,
everywhere, all the time.• Can be discovered thru asking the right kinds of questions and carefully analyzing the answers
Sophists
“Man is the measure of all things.”
• There are no absolutes.• Everything is relative.
• Every situation is different.
New School“Knowledge is the measure
of all things.”
• Can be discovered thru asking the right kinds of questions and carefully analyzing the answers
Socrates
Plato
Sophists New School
• There ARE absolutes.• Truth is real and UNCHANGING.
• Absolute standards of right and wrong, good and
evil exist• Apply to everyone,
everywhere, all the time.• Can be discovered thru asking the right kinds of questions and carefully analyzing the answers
Sophists
“Man is the measure of all things.”
• There are no absolutes.• Everything is relative.
• Every situation is different.
New School“Knowledge is the measure
of all things.”
• Can be discovered thru asking the right kinds of questions and carefully analyzing the answers
Socrates
Plato
Aristotle
Sophists New School
• There ARE absolutes.• Truth is real and UNCHANGING.
• Absolute standards of right and wrong, good and
evil exist• Apply to everyone,
everywhere, all the time.• Can be discovered thru asking the right kinds of questions and carefully analyzing the answers
Sophists
“Man is the measure of all things.”
• There are no absolutes.• Everything is relative.
• Every situation is different.
New School“Knowledge is the measure
of all things.”
• Can be discovered thru asking the right kinds of questions and carefully analyzing the answers
Socrates
Plato
Aristotle
Sophists New School
• There ARE absolutes.• Truth is real and UNCHANGING.
• Absolute standards of right and wrong, good and
evil exist• Apply to everyone,
everywhere, all the time.• Can be discovered thru asking the right kinds of questions and carefully analyzing the answers
Sophists
“Man is the measure of all things.”
• There are no absolutes.• Everything is relative.
• Every situation is different.
New School“Knowledge is the measure
of all things.”
• Can be discovered thru asking the right kinds of questions and carefully analyzing the answers
Socrates
Plato
Aristotle
RELATIVE
Sophists New School
• There ARE absolutes.• Truth is real and UNCHANGING.
• Absolute standards of right and wrong, good and
evil exist• Apply to everyone,
everywhere, all the time.• Can be discovered thru asking the right kinds of questions and carefully analyzing the answers
Sophists
“Man is the measure of all things.”
• There are no absolutes.• Everything is relative.
• Every situation is different.
New School“Knowledge is the measure
of all things.”
• Can be discovered thru asking the right kinds of questions and carefully analyzing the answers
Socrates
Plato
Aristotle
RELATIVE
ABSOLUTE
Socrates?
Socrates
We learn truth by asking right questions and analyzing the answers?
• What do we know?• How do we know it?
• How do we know it is true?• How does it compare with what else
we know to be true?
Socrates
We learn truth by asking right questions and analyzing the answers?
• What do we know?• How do we know it?
• How do we know it is true?• How does it compare with what else
we know to be true?
Socrates
• Got into trouble because he taught pupils to question the traditions, leaders and elders of Athens. • Put on trial 399 BC -- Convicted -- Sentenced to drinking hemlock
We learn truth by asking right questions and analyzing the answers?
• What do we know?• How do we know it?
• How do we know it is true?• How does it compare with what else
we know to be true?
Socrates
• Got into trouble because he taught pupils to question the traditions, leaders and elders of Athens. • Put on trial 399 BC -- Convicted -- Sentenced to drinking hemlock
We learn truth by asking right questions and analyzing the answers?
• What do we know?• How do we know it?
• How do we know it is true?• How does it compare with what else
we know to be true?
Socrates
• Got into trouble because he taught pupils to question the traditions, leaders and elders of Athens. • Put on trial 399 BC -- Convicted -- Sentenced to drinking hemlock
We learn truth by asking right questions and analyzing the answers?
“Death of Socrates”
Socrates
Plato
Everything on earth is merely a copy of the Real or Ideal Above
(d. 399 BC)
(b. 430 BC - d. 399 BC)
?
Socrates
Plato
Everything on earth is merely a copy of the Real or Ideal Above
“The Republic”(d. 399 BC)
(b. 430 BC - d. 399 BC)
?
Socrates
Plato
Everything on earth is merely a copy of the Real or Ideal Above
“The Republic”
An ideal community exists above which we must copy.
(d. 399 BC)
(b. 430 BC - d. 399 BC)
?
Socrates
Plato
Everything on earth is merely a copy of the Real or Ideal Above
“The Republic”
An ideal community exists above which we must copy.
In this ideal community everyone does what best suits his/her abilities and needs.
(d. 399 BC)
(b. 430 BC - d. 399 BC)
?
Socrates
Plato
Everything on earth is merely a copy of the Real or Ideal Above
“The Republic”
An ideal community exists above which we must copy.
In this ideal community everyone does what best suits his/her abilities and needs.
(d. 399 BC)
(b. 430 BC - d. 399 BC) In it are 3 kinds citizens: (1) workers (work) (2) soldiers (protect) (3) philosophers (rule).
?
Socrates
Plato
Everything on earth is merely a copy of the Real or Ideal Above
“The Republic”
An ideal community exists above which we must copy.
In this ideal community everyone does what best suits his/her abilities and needs.
(d. 399 BC)
(b. 430 BC - d. 399 BC) In it are 3 kinds citizens: (1) workers (work) (2) soldiers (protect) (3) philosophers (rule).
?
No private property or rights. All subjected to the city-state. Education for good of state.
Socrates
Plato
Everything on earth is merely a copy of the Real or Ideal Above
“The Republic”
An ideal community exists above which we must copy.
In this ideal community everyone does what best suits his/her abilities and needs.
(d. 399 BC)
(b. 430 BC - d. 399 BC) In it are 3 kinds citizens: (1) workers (work) (2) soldiers (protect) (3) philosophers (rule).
?
(Question: W
as this h
is idea of heaven?)
No private property or rights. All subjected to the city-state. Education for good of state.
Plato(b. 430 BC - d. 399 BC)
Aristotle
Two tiers to reality and truth
Socrates
?
√√
Plato(b. 430 BC - d. 399 BC)
Aristotle
Two tiers to reality and truth
UpperSocrates
?
√√
Plato(b. 430 BC - d. 399 BC)
Aristotle
Two tiers to reality and truth
Upper
Lower
Socrates
?
√√
Plato(b. 430 BC - d. 399 BC)
Aristotle
Two tiers to reality and truth
Socrates
?
√√
Plato(b. 430 BC - d. 399 BC)
Aristotle
Two tiers to reality and truth
Socrates
?
√√
“Existentially Learned”
Plato(b. 430 BC - d. 399 BC)
Aristotle
Two tiers to reality and truth
“Pragmatically Learned”
Socrates
?
√√
“Existentially Learned”
• Aristotle was hired by Phillip to be the private instructor of Alexander the Great when he was a boy.
• When Alexander died in 323 BC, though, there were revolts against Macedonian rule in Athens. People accused Aristotle of being secretly on the side of the Macedonians (and maybe he was; he was certainly, like Plato, no democrat). He left town quickly, and spent the last years of his life back in the north again where he had been born.
Plato(b. 430 BC - d. 399 BC)
Aristotle
Two tiers to reality and truth
“Politics”
“Pragmatically Learned”
Socrates
?
√√
“Existentially Learned”
There is knowledge to be learned thru observation of the natural world. (Lower Level)
There is knowledge to be learned by speculating on the Cause of all things. (Upper
Level)
Plato(b. 430 BC - d. 399 BC)
Aristotle
Two tiers to reality and truth
“Pragmatically Learned”
Socrates
?
√√
“Existentially Learned”
Plato(b. 430 BC - d. 399 BC)
Aristotle
Two tiers to reality and truth
“POLITICS”
“Pragmatically Learned”
Socrates
?
√√
“Existentially Learned”
Plato(b. 430 BC - d. 399 BC)
Aristotle
Two tiers to reality and truth
“POLITICS”
“Pragmatically Learned”
Socrates
?
√√
“Existentially Learned”
Average citizens only discern common sense or pragmatic ideas at a lower level of
“knowing” and are therefore not really fit to govern.
Plato
Aristotle
Socrates
?
√√
Plato
Aristotle
Innate knowledge
Socrates
?
√√
Plato
Aristotle
Innate knowledge
Socrates
?
√√
Don’t trust the senses. Knowledge thru the senses is confused and corrupted. The soul
alone can capture the Forms.
Plato
Aristotle
Innate knowledge
Socrates
?
√√
Don’t trust the senses. Knowledge thru the senses is confused and corrupted. The soul
alone can capture the Forms.
Observe, measure, weigh. Early foundations of scientific method.
First Cause of motion is God.
Socrates
Plato
Aristotle
Epicureans
Stoics
“Oh, phooey! My head hurts from all this ‘thinking’!”
√√
?
Socrates
Plato
Aristotle
“Our answers to the big questions of life
are pretty simple and not complicated.”
√√
?
Socrates
Plato
Aristotle
“Our answers to the big questions of life
are pretty simple and not complicated.”
√√
?
Socrates
Plato
Aristotle
Epicureans
“Our answers to the big questions of life
are pretty simple and not complicated.”
√√
?
Socrates
Plato
Aristotle
Epicureans
“Pleasure”“Our answers to the big questions of life
are pretty simple and not complicated.”
√√
?
Socrates
Plato
Aristotle
Epicureans
“Pleasure”“Our answers to the big questions of life
are pretty simple and not complicated.”
Eat, drink, be merryfor tomorrow we die!
√√
?
Socrates
Plato
Aristotle
Epicureans
“Pleasure”“Our answers to the big questions of life
are pretty simple and not complicated.”
Eat, drink, be merryfor tomorrow we die!
√√
?
Socrates
Plato
Aristotle
Epicureans
“Pleasure”“Our answers to the big questions of life
are pretty simple and not complicated.”
Eat, drink, be merryfor tomorrow we die!
√√
?
Socrates
Plato
Aristotle
Epicureans
Stoics
“Pleasure”“Our answers to the big questions of life
are pretty simple and not complicated.”
Eat, drink, be merryfor tomorrow we die!
√√
?
Socrates
Plato
Aristotle
Epicureans
Stoics
“Pleasure”
“Pain”
“Our answers to the big questions of life
are pretty simple and not complicated.”
Eat, drink, be merryfor tomorrow we die!
√√
?
Socrates
Plato
Aristotle
Epicureans
Stoics
“Pleasure”
“Pain”
“Our answers to the big questions of life
are pretty simple and not complicated.”
Eat, drink, be merryfor tomorrow we die!
“Grin and bear it. This is all there is to life!”
√√
?
Socrates
Plato
Aristotle
Epicureans
Stoics
“Pleasure”
“Pain”
“Our answers to the big questions of life
are pretty simple and not complicated.”
Eat, drink, be merryfor tomorrow we die!
“Grin and bear it. This is all there is to life!”
√√
?
Epicureans
Eat, drink, be merryfor tomorrow we die!
Epicureans
Eat, drink, be merryfor tomorrow we die!
“Live it up! Do what you want! There is nothing left after you die!”
Everything important is learned through the senses of pleasure.
Epicureans
Eat, drink, be merryfor tomorrow we die!
“Live it up! Do what you want! There is nothing left after you die!”
Everything important is learned through the senses of pleasure.
“Be sober and self-disciplined. Deprive yourself of the earthly pleasures, do not give way to the physical senses,
and you will be accepted in the afterlife.”
Epicureans
Eat, drink, be merryfor tomorrow we die!
“Live it up! Do what you want! There is nothing left after you die!”
Everything important is learned through the senses of pleasure.
“Be sober and self-disciplined. Deprive yourself of the earthly pleasures, do not give way to the physical senses,
and you will be accepted in the afterlife.”
Epicureans
Eat, drink, be merryfor tomorrow we die!
“Grin and bear it. This is all there is to life!”
“Live it up! Do what you want! There is nothing left after you die!”
Everything important is learned through the senses of pleasure.
“Be sober and self-disciplined. Deprive yourself of the earthly pleasures, do not give way to the physical senses,
and you will be accepted in the afterlife.”
Epicureans
Eat, drink, be merryfor tomorrow we die!
“Grin and bear it. This is all there is to life!”
“Live it up! Do what you want! There is nothing left after you die!”
Everything important is learned through the senses of pleasure.
“Be sober and self-disciplined. Deprive yourself of the earthly pleasures, do not give way to the physical senses,
and you will be accepted in the afterlife.”
Epicureans
Eat, drink, be merryfor tomorrow we die!
“Grin and bear it. This is all there is to life!”
“Live it up! Do what you want! There is nothing left after you die!”
Everything important is learned through the senses of pleasure.
“Be sober and self-disciplined. Deprive yourself of the earthly pleasures, do not give way to the physical senses,
and you will be accepted in the afterlife.”
Stoics
Plato(b. 430 BC - d. 399 BC)
Aristotle
“You both are crazy! You are irresponsible, Epicureans!You are lifeless zombies, Stoics!”
“There is reason and purpose in life. Live for others and for the state.
Seek to become wise. Life and purpose consist in wisdom.”
Socrates
?
√√
Plato
Aristotle
Socrates
?
√√
Plato
Aristotle
Innate knowledge
Socrates
?
√√
Plato
Aristotle
Innate knowledge
Socrates
?
√√
Don’t trust the senses.
Plato
Aristotle
Innate knowledge
Socrates
?
√√
Don’t trust the senses.
Observe, measure, weigh.
Plato
Aristotle
Innate knowledge
Socrates
?
√√
Don’t trust the senses.
Observe, measure, weigh.
Plato
Aristotle
Innate knowledge
Socrates
?
√√
Don’t trust the senses.
Observe, measure, weigh.
Epicureans
Plato
Aristotle
Innate knowledge
Socrates
?
√√
Don’t trust the senses.
Observe, measure, weigh.
Epicureans
“Pleasure”
Plato
Aristotle
Innate knowledge
Socrates
?
√√
Don’t trust the senses.
Observe, measure, weigh.
Epicureans
“Pleasure”
Plato
Aristotle
Innate knowledge
Socrates
?
√√
Don’t trust the senses.
Observe, measure, weigh.
Epicureans
“Pleasure”
Plato
Aristotle
Innate knowledge
Socrates
?
√√
Don’t trust the senses.
Observe, measure, weigh.
Epicureans
Stoics
“Pleasure”
Plato
Aristotle
Innate knowledge
Socrates
?
√√
Don’t trust the senses.
Observe, measure, weigh.
Epicureans
Stoics
“Pleasure”
“Pain”
Plato
Aristotle
Innate knowledge
Socrates
?
√√
Don’t trust the senses.
Observe, measure, weigh.
Epicureans
Stoics
“Pleasure”
“Pain”
Question
Who was right?
