Greek Greek PhilosophersPhilosophers

Greek Greek PhilosophersPhilosophers

Philosophers – “lovers of wisdom”Philosophers – “lovers of wisdom”

Sophists Sophists – “workers of wisdom”– “workers of wisdom”

– – TeachersTeachers

phileo = lovephileo = love

sophia = wisdomsophia = wisdom

If sophia = wisdom and moron = fool, then a sophomore is a If sophia = wisdom and moron = fool, then a sophomore is a “wise fool.”“wise fool.”

Thales of MiletusThales of Miletus636-546 636-546 B.CB.C..

Earliest known philosopherEarliest known philosopher Studied Egyptian and Studied Egyptian and

Babylonian astronomy and Babylonian astronomy and mathematicsmathematics

Believed that the universe Believed that the universe was controlled by fixed was controlled by fixed lawslaws

Basic element – water.Basic element – water. Got rich with olive presses!Got rich with olive presses!

PythagorasPythagoras582-500 582-500 B.CB.C..

The universe could only be The universe could only be understood thru numbers.understood thru numbers.

Sun, moon, and earth Sun, moon, and earth revolved around a central fire.revolved around a central fire.

Each planet produces a tone!Each planet produces a tone! Famous for the Pythagorean Famous for the Pythagorean

Theorem: Theorem: aa22 + + bb22 = = cc22

PythagorasPythagoras582-500 582-500 B.CB.C..

Pythagorean Theorem: Pythagorean Theorem: aa22 + + bb22 = =

cc22

a2

c2

b2

ProtagorasProtagoras485 - 410 485 - 410 B.CB.C..

Most famous of the SophistsMost famous of the Sophists Believed that reason and Believed that reason and

knowledge should be used to knowledge should be used to achieve a comfortable, safe, achieve a comfortable, safe, and happy life.and happy life.

Teachings to equip citizens Teachings to equip citizens for life in the polis:for life in the polis:

1.1. Public speaking – oratory and Public speaking – oratory and rhetoricrhetoric

2.2. PoliticsPolitics3.3. Grammar – languageGrammar – language4.4. The art of being respectableThe art of being respectable

Plato named one of his Plato named one of his dialogues after him.dialogues after him.

HippocratesHippocrates460-377 460-377 B.CB.C..

Founded a school of Founded a school of medicinemedicine

Rejected that sickness Rejected that sickness comes from the godscomes from the gods

Careful observations of Careful observations of symptomssymptoms

AcuteAcute ChronicChronic

““Holistic” healingHolistic” healing HygieneHygiene DietDiet Curative powers of natureCurative powers of nature

The Hippocratic OathThe Hippocratic Oath

DemocritusDemocritus460? - 360 460? - 360 B.CB.C..

Developed the atomic Developed the atomic theory.theory.

Taught that the universe Taught that the universe was formed out of chaos was formed out of chaos through the joining of through the joining of atoms of like shape and atoms of like shape and size.size.

Atoma = indivisible Atoma = indivisible particles.particles.

““the laughing philosopher”the laughing philosopher”

EuclidEuclidc.300 c.300 B.CB.C..

One of the most One of the most prominent prominent mathematiciansmathematicians

Wrote Wrote The ElementsThe Elements Widely used till about 1903.Widely used till about 1903. 22ndnd only to the Bible in only to the Bible in

numbers of translations, numbers of translations, publications, and studypublications, and study

Greek – Arabic – Latin Greek – Arabic – Latin

Said to Ptolemy: “There Said to Ptolemy: “There is No Royal Road to is No Royal Road to geometry!”geometry!”

ArchimedesArchimedes287 - 212 287 - 212 B.CB.C..

Greek mathematician – Greek mathematician – GeometryGeometry

War machines and other War machines and other devicesdevices

Theory of buoyancy - Theory of buoyancy - “Eureka!”“Eureka!”

Law of the leverLaw of the lever Archimedean screwArchimedean screw

Archimedean Archimedean ScrewScrew

Modern application of the Modern application of the Archimedean ScrewArchimedean Screw

The Three Most Famous The Three Most Famous PhilosophersPhilosophers

Socrates Plato Aristotle

SocratesSocrates469 - 399 469 - 399 B.CB.C..

Critic of the SophistsCritic of the Sophists Encouraged students to thinkEncouraged students to think Left no writings – skepticalLeft no writings – skeptical Dialectic method Dialectic method

ConversationalConversational Based upon reason and logicBased upon reason and logic

Popular among the youthPopular among the youth a “gadfly” in Athensa “gadfly” in Athens Placed on trial for impiety and Placed on trial for impiety and

corrupting the youthcorrupting the youth Was executed in 399 – drank Was executed in 399 – drank

poison hemlockpoison hemlock

SocratesSocrates469 - 399 469 - 399 B.CB.C..

“The unexamined life is not worth living.” -

Socrates -

SocratesSocrates469 - 399 469 - 399 B.CB.C..

Socratic Method:Socratic Method:I.I. Admit ignorance.Admit ignorance.

II.II. Never rely on tradition.Never rely on tradition.

III.III. Continuously question.Continuously question.

IV.IV. Formulate your own Formulate your own opinions.opinions.

V.V. Test your opinions with Test your opinions with others.others.

SocratesSocrates469 - 399 469 - 399 B.CB.C..

Socrates’ dialectic method Socrates’ dialectic method was a departure from earlier was a departure from earlier philosophers.philosophers.

Earlier philosophers were Earlier philosophers were interested in the nature of interested in the nature of the universe and basic the universe and basic elements.elements.

Socrates’ approach was Socrates’ approach was more rigorous and was the more rigorous and was the forerunner of logic.forerunner of logic.

Most famous student: PlatoMost famous student: Plato

SocratesSocrates469 - 399 469 - 399 B.CB.C..

“The unexamined life is not worth living.”

PlatoPlato427 - 347 427 - 347 B.CB.C..

Preserved and Preserved and perpetuated the work of perpetuated the work of SocratesSocrates

Most important source of Most important source of info on Socratesinfo on Socrates

Founded the AcademyFounded the Academy Wrote dialoguesWrote dialogues

Universal Forms was a recurring Universal Forms was a recurring themetheme

The Republic – most important The Republic – most important dialoguedialogue

“Those things which are beautiful are also difficult.”

AristotleAristotle384 - 322 384 - 322 B.CB.C..

Most famous student of Most famous student of PlatoPlato

Most famous teacher of Most famous teacher of Alexander the GreatAlexander the Great

Developed Logic as a Developed Logic as a field of studyfield of study

Devised a complex Devised a complex system of classificationsystem of classification

Used in biologyUsed in biology

Views on GovernmentViews on Government

AristotleAristotle384 - 322 384 - 322 B.CB.C..

Views on Views on GovernmentGovernment

3 Good Governments:3 Good Governments: MonarchyMonarchy AristocracyAristocracy DemocracyDemocracy

3 Bad Governments:3 Bad Governments: TyrannyTyranny OligarchyOligarchy Mob RuleMob Rule

AristotleAristotle384 - 322 384 - 322 B.CB.C..

““All things in All things in moderation”moderation”

““Man is by nature a Man is by nature a political animal.”political animal.”

Alexander the GreatAlexander the Great356 -323 356 -323 B.CB.C. .

Alexander the GreatAlexander the Great356 -323 356 -323 B.CB.C. .