Greek Philosophy World History Mrs. Brewer
What is philosophy? Means the love of wisdom. Questions reality and human existence What are some questions about life that you have thought of? Why don’t we teach philosophy in H.S.?
Philosophers 2 Types Cosmologists- study origins of nature and universe. –Pythagoras- explained universe in ratios (Pythagorean Theorem) –Parmenides- develops rules of logic for arguments –Democritus- Atomic theory
Type # 2 Those that study the human nature and society
Socrates- 470BCE-399BCE Motto “Know Thyself” Criticized Athenian education- wanted it to be free Socratic questioning and not memorization Accused of denying the existence of some Greek gods
Socrates Cont. Accused of corrupting youth Sentenced to death - drinks hemlock
Plato Socrates' student Founded The Academy- school that teaches philosophy Writes dialogues on gov’t. education, justice, religion etc. -Ex. The Crito, Republic
More Plato… What we know about Socrates comes from Plato’s writings. Ideal gov’t. is Aristocracy of Intelligence
Aristotle Plato’s student at The Academy Alexander the Great’s tutor Collected facts and classified things- botany, zoology Ideal gov’t. is a limited democracy with a strong middle class.
Greek Drama Plays with action and dialogue 2-3 actors and chorus Theater in the round Little scenery
Tragedy Struggles against fate Hubris- excessive pride Dramatic Irony- Audience knows before the character Famous tragedians- Aeschylus, Sophocles, Euripides
Comedies Mock people and ideas Most famous writer of comedies is Aristophanes