Early Greeks (the pre-Socratics) I.Three forms of philosophy II.Problem with the gods III.6 TH century revolution in natural philosophy IV.The pre-Socratic natural philosophers A. The question of the Stuff B. The question of change C. The question of knowledge (epistemology)

I.Three forms of Philosophy Logic, ethics, natural (physics) philosophy Logic, ethics, natural (physics) philosophy all are ways of knowing all are ways of knowing Greeks valued knowledge Greeks valued knowledge rational animals rational animals macrocosm/ microcosm macrocosm/ microcosm "All men by nature desire to know." Aristotle

II. Problem with the gods pre-Socratic rationalism reaction against the gods (Socrates 470 – 399 BCE) gods capricious The 12 Olympian Gods The Death of Socrates - David

III. Pre-Socratic philosophers Burst of intellectual activity Burst of intellectual activity Questions never asked before Questions never asked before Natural explanations – no gods Natural explanations – no gods World is orderly and predictable World is orderly and predictable The Greek world 450 BCE The Greek world 450 BCE Critical analysis Critical analysis

A. The question of the Stuff “ That of which all things consist, from which they first come and into which they are ultimately resolved … the element and origin of all things.” Aristotle 1. Thales (624 – 546 BCE) The stuff is air The stuff is water

A. The question of the Stuff Mechanistic MechanisticMechanistic Deterministic DeterministicDeterministic 2. The Atomists Democritus (460 – 370 BCE)

A. The question of the Stuff 3. Empedocles ( ) By earth we earth perceive, By air bright air, by fire consuming fire, Love too by love, and strife by grievous strife. —Empedocles, On Nature LoveStrife (solid, gas, liquid, energy) Earth, air, water, fire

A. The question of the Stuff 4. The Pythagoreans Music of the spheres Pythagoras ( BCE) Geometry of Nature

B. The question of change Parmenides (520 – 480) Being and not being Being and not beingnot beingnot being All change is a logical impossibility All change is a logical impossibility Zeno of Elea (490 – 430) Change of place (motion) is Change of place (motion) is impossible impossible Zeno’s paradoxes Significance: Everyone following Parmenides must address Everyone following Parmenides must address Led to questioning how we know what we know Led to questioning how we know what we know (epistemology) (epistemology)epistemology Led to a confrontation: logic versus the senses Led to a confrontation: logic versus the senses

C. The question of knowledge Epistemology the senses versus the intellect the senses versus the intellect senses unreliable senses unreliable auditory auditory auditory auditory illusion illusion Real truth through the exercise of reason alone Real truth through the exercise of reason alone Importance: attention directed to reasoning, argumentation