1. Philosophy “Lover of Wisdom” Areas of Study: Nature of the world
Reasons for existence
Support ideas with logical arguments

2. Legacies of the Greco-Roman World
Rationalism
Philosophy, science and History
Humanism
Truth, art and athletics
Inherent Order
Natural law, physics and taxonomy
Politics
Government, civic responsibility and democracy

3. Socratic Philosophers (470-322 BCE) “Truth and reality are absolute”
“The unexamined life is not worth living”
Socrates
Truth is in the mind but hidden by false impressions
You can only know the truth through inquiry

4. Socratic Method Questions to stimulate the mind!
Discover the underlying truth or belief
Play the “Devil’s advocate”
Questions got him in a heap of trouble:
Questioned status quo
Charged with corrupting youth
Executed

5. Plato Student of Socrates “Ideal Forms” Reality behind appearances
“True, Good, and Beauty”
The Allegory of the Cave:
Imagination
Belief
Understanding
Leadership
A “philosopher king”

6. The Republic Plato’s vision of a perfectly governed society
Not a democracy
3 groups:
Farmers and artisans
Warriors
Ruling class
Greatest intellect and insight from ruling class = the Philosopher King

7. Aristotle Student of Plato
Original Renaissance Man: hands in everything
Math, Science, natural world
Golden Mean
Perfect balance and moderation
Logic and Evidence
Key to happiness and knowledge
Inductive reasoning
Observed many examples and found an underlying principle

8. Hellenistic Philosophers (340 BCE)
Epicureans
knowledge originates and stops in the senses
pleasure is the sole good and that pain is the sole evil
man must moderate himself in reference to these desires
But, eating an entire cake would make you sick. That’s evil.
Cake is yummy!