Philosophers and Writers of the Greek Golden Age

CH 6 Section 2

Section 1 review

• What did the Greeks use to make their statues more lifelike?

• The Greeks used more ______ _______ than the Egyptians in their art

The Rise of Philosophy

• One of the Greeks greatest achievements was the development of Philosophy

• Philosophy- is the study of the basic questions of reality and human existence

• {Philosopher means “Lover of wisdom”}• The Greeks used philosophy to better

understand the world around them• {Early philosophers were called Cosmologists

because they studied the nature of the universe}

Philosophy continued…• According to Greek tradition the first philosopher

was Thales of Miletus• He and others like him wanted to understand the

universe• They set up formal rules of logic for

philosophical arguments• Democritus developed atomic theory by using

logic and mathematics• Atomic theory stated that everything is made up

of tiny bits of matter called atoms

Socrates

Bill and Ted’s Socrates

Socrates• One of the most important thinkers of the new

era• He taught that education was the key to

personal growth• {Socrates insisted that students think for

themselves}• He asked questions that forced students to test

their own values and ideas• Socrates way of teaching through questions

became known as the Socratic method• His questions often made public officials look

foolish

• He made many enemies who accused him of corrupting the youth

• He criticized democracy, saying unskilled people should not hold positions of power

• He was brought to trial by his enemies and did little to defend himself

• He was found guilty and executed• He was forced to drink a poison called hemlock

Plato• Later generations learned of Socrates writings

through Plato• He was a young aristocrat and one of Socrates

students• He founded the Academy a special school in

Athens for teaching philosophy• He wrote dialogues or imaginary conversations

between several people • These dealt with government, education, justice

and religion• Most featured Socrates teaching and asking

questions

Plato continued• {Plato believed that the soul and body were

separate but would reunite through reincarnation}

• {Plato also wanted a govt. ruled by an aristocracy or an intellectual upper class}

• The ideal rulers were philosophers not just the wealthy

Aristotle

• One of Plato's students at the academy• Aristotle founded his own school in Athens in

335 BC• He believed that every field of study needed to

be studied logically• He collected as many facts as possible and

organized them into systems• {Aristotle believed that logical study led to truth}• He investigated every field of study known to his

time• He analyzed Greek drama to understand what

made a good or bad play

Math Medicine and Science• The Greeks covered all fields of knowledge

including math and science • {Pythagoras was a philosopher that believed

the world could be explained through math}• He was best remembered for his theorem for the

right triangle

Natural Science• Greek philosophers did not specialize in any one

field of study which kept them from fully developing scientific knowledge until much later

• Aristotle laid the foundations of anatomy, botany, and zoology

• The Greeks, in contrast to the Egyptians, believed the natural world could be explained in terms of natural law

• They also held that rules that govern our universe could be identified, observed and defined

Greek Science

Hippocrates• Considered to be the founder of medical science• It is believed that Hippocrates wrote between 60

and 70 medical studies• He helped to collect medical knowledge in a

useable form• {His work sums up Greek science because it

bases treatment on reason not magic}• He thought that disease comes from natural

causes not a punishment from the gods• He taught that rest, fresh air, and proper diet

made the best cures

Herodotus• The Greeks became the first people to take the

writing of history seriously• Herodotus the first historian of the western world• He traveled to Babylonia, Phoenicia, and Egypt

and included his views of the countries and their people in his histories

• He was careful to note if he had seen something himself or someone had told him about it but did exaggerate at times

• He is often called the father of history

Greek Theater

Drama• These are plays containing action or conflict of

emotion• The Greeks wrote plays in poetic form• Male actors played the women's roles• A group of singers, called the chorus, described

the scene and commented on the action• Their theaters were carved into hillsides • The flat bottom of the Greek theater is known as

the Orchestra• Plays were often performed in connection with

religious festivals they would have competitions between playwrights

What theater looks like with people

Tragedies• This is when the main character struggles

against fate or events• Main characters are usually punished for

displaying Hubris• {Hubris is the sin of Pride}• Oedipus Rex, written by Sophocles, was called

the perfect example of tragedy by Aristotle• Euripides was a realist playwright• He questioned many of the old ideas and beliefs

and in his plays showed the pain and misery of war

Comedies

• These made fun of ideas and people• Comedies included both tragic and humorous

figures• Aristophanes was known for his wit and would

poke fun at Socrates for his theories about education

• Un like tragedies, the main characters usually solved their problem

Section Review

• What is another name for a lover of wisdom?

• What were lovers of wisdom originally known as?

• Who was Socrates student?

• Who believed that logical study led to truth?

• Another name for the sin of pride

Speaking of Comedies