VII. Philosophers & Writers

Philosophy: the study of basic questions of reality and human existence

A. Socrates

1. Education is key to personal growth

2. Socratic Method - learning through questioning

B. Plato

1. Student of Socrates

2. Founded Academy

3. Wrote dialogues

4. Theory of Forms

a. Material things were imperfect expressions of perfect & universal things

5. Religious philosophy

a. “Divine worker” - God

b. Realm of perfection separate from reality

c. Reincarnation - reunite soul & form

6. Government

1. Republic

a. Views of perfect society

b. Aristocracy - rule by upper class

c. Ruler - philosopher

1) Wisdom

2) Ability

3) High ideals

C. Aristotle

1. Student of Plato

2. Everything studied logically

a. Organization system: classification

3. Ethics - what brings happiness

4. Poetics - analyzed Greek plays

5. Politics

a. Corruptible

b. Limited Democracy

D. Writing history

1. Herodotus - Father of History

a. 1st Western historian

b. Noted observed vs. retold

2. Thucydides

a. History of the Peloponnesian War

b. Past helps understanding of human nature (accurate)

E. Drama - plays containing action or dialogue; involve conflict or emotion

1. Men only

2. Chorus - narrators

3. Orchestra - “stage”

4. Coincided w/ festivals (Great Dionysia)

5. Tragedies - struggle against fate

a. Hubris - sin of pride

b. Aeschylus - religion (gods & people)

c. Sophocles - Greek values

1) Oedipus Rex

d. Euripides - realist

1) The Trojan Women

6. Comedies - made fun of people & ideas

a. Aristophanes - sharp wit, antiwar

1) Clouds - poked fun at Socrates