1. Greek Philosophers

2. Greek Philosophers Philosophers – “lovers of wisdom”
Sophists – “workers of wisdom”
– Teachers
phileo = love
sophia = wisdom
If sophia = wisdom and moron = fool, then a sophomore is a “wise fool.”

3. Thales of Miletus 636-546 B.C. Earliest known philosopher
Studied Egyptian and Babylonian astronomy and mathematics
Believed that the universe was controlled by fixed laws
Basic element – water.
Got rich with olive presses!

4. Pythagoras B.C.
The universe could only be understood thru numbers.
Sun, moon, and earth revolved around a central fire.
Each planet produces a tone!
Famous for the Pythagorean Theorem: a2 + b2 = c2

5. Pythagoras B.C. c2 a2 b2
Pythagorean Theorem: a2 + b2 = c2

6. Protagoras 485 - 410 B.C. Most famous of the Sophists
Believed that reason and knowledge should be used to achieve a comfortable, safe, and happy life.
Teachings to equip citizens for life in the polis:
Public speaking – oratory and rhetoric
Politics
Grammar – language
The art of being respectable
Plato named one of his dialogues after him.

7. Hippocrates 460-377 B.C. Founded a school of medicine
Rejected that sickness comes from the gods
Careful observations of symptoms
Acute
Chronic
“Holistic” healing
Hygiene
Diet
Curative powers of nature
The Hippocratic Oath

8. Democritus 460? - 360 B.C. Developed the atomic theory.
Taught that the universe was formed out of chaos through the joining of atoms of like shape and size.
Atoma = indivisible particles.
“the laughing philosopher”

9. Euclid c.300 B.C. One of the most prominent mathematicians
Wrote The Elements
Widely used till about 1903.
2nd only to the Bible in numbers of translations, publications, and study
Greek – Arabic – Latin
Said to Ptolemy: “There is No Royal Road to geometry!”

10. Archimedes 287 - 212 B.C. Greek mathematician – Geometry
War machines and other devices
Theory of buoyancy - “Eureka!”
Law of the lever
Archimedean screw

11. Archimedean Screw

12. Modern application of the Archimedean Screw

13. The Three Most Famous Philosophers
Socrates Plato Aristotle

14. Socrates 469 - 399 B.C. Critic of the Sophists
Encouraged students to think
Left no writings – skeptical
Dialectic method
Conversational
Based upon reason and logic
Popular among the youth
a “gadfly” in Athens
Placed on trial for impiety and corrupting the youth
Was executed in 399 – drank poison hemlock

15. “The unexamined life is not worth living.” - Socrates -
Socrates B.C.
“The unexamined life is not worth living.” - Socrates -

16. Socrates 469 - 399 B.C. Socratic Method: Admit ignorance.
Never rely on tradition.
Continuously question.
Formulate your own opinions.
Test your opinions with others.

18. Socrates B.C.
Socrates’ dialectic method was a departure from earlier philosophers.
Earlier philosophers were interested in the nature of the universe and basic elements.
Socrates’ approach was more rigorous and was the forerunner of logic.
Most famous student: Plato

19. Socrates B.C.
“The unexamined life is not worth living.”

21. Plato 427 - 347 B.C. Preserved and perpetuated the work of Socrates
Most important source of info on Socrates
Founded the Academy
Wrote dialogues
Universal Forms was a recurring theme
The Republic – most important dialogue
“Those things which are beautiful are also difficult.”

22. Aristotle 384 - 322 B.C. Most famous student of Plato
Most famous teacher of Alexander the Great
Developed Logic as a field of study
Devised a complex system of classification
Used in biology
Views on Government

23. Aristotle 384 - 322 B.C. Views on Government 3 Good Governments:
Monarchy
Aristocracy
Democracy
3 Bad Governments:
Tyranny
Oligarchy
Mob Rule

24. Aristotle 384 - 322 B.C. “All things in moderation”
“Man is by nature a political animal.”

25. Alexander the Great 356 -323 B.C.

27. Alexander the Great 356 -323 B.C.