1. Socrates, Plato, & Aristotle
Greek Philosophy
Socrates, Plato, & Aristotle

2. Philosophy Philosophy  love of wisdom
Early Greek philosophers were concerned with the development of logic and reasoning, and how divine forces worked

3. Socrates (469-399 B.C.) “The unexamined life is not worth living.”
Beliefs
We contain all the knowledge of the world in our souls
Reincarnation
We lose touch with that knowledge after every rebirth
We DO NOT learn new things, but are reminded of what we already know

4. Socrates (469-399 B.C.) Beliefs
Good is not good because the gods say so
Good is measured by practical usefulness
Don’t need religious texts to tell us right from wrong
Monotheistic
Did not believe in the multitude of Greek gods & goddesses
Anti-authority
Wanted students to question society

5. Socrates (469-399 B.C.) Legacy The Socratic Method Death
Teaching by using question-and-answer format to lead pupils to understanding concepts through reasoning
Let students learn for themselves
Leads to modern school system
Death
Put on trial & convicted by an Athenian jury of corrupting the youth of Athens
Forced to drink hemlock and commit suicide

6. Considered the greatest philosopher in Western Civilization
Plato (437?-347 BC)
“Dictatorship naturally arises out of democracy, and the most aggravated form of tyranny and slavery out of the most extreme liberty.”
Socrates’ student
Wrote down all of Socrates beliefs
Considered the greatest philosopher in Western Civilization

7. Plato (437?-347 BC) Beliefs How do we know what’s real? The Republic
Earth is not real
Must live in a rational state
The higher world of eternity is real
The Republic
Does not trust democracy
Offers his ideal state
Philosopher kings – driven by wisdom
Warriors – provide courage
Peasants – driven by desire, but would produce
Argued against materialism

8. Plato (437?-347 BC) Beliefs Men and women should be educated
They should have equal access to all positions
Three Levels of Pleasure
Physical  i.e. sex
Sensual  i.e. admiring beauty or enjoying relationship in marriage
Ideal  intellectual love; connecting with another mind
No physicality to soil the relationship
Platonic love

9. Plato (437?-347 BC) Beliefs God is perfect
We must strive to resemble God
We move closer to God via reincarnation
He created the world out of raw materials
Sin is people being ignorant
Do not punish, but reform sinners via education

10. “The worst form of inequality is to try to make unequal things equal.”
Aristotle ( B.C.)
“The worst form of inequality is to try to make unequal things equal.”
Prized student of Plato
Teacher of Alexander the Great
Lyceum
Built school of philosophy
Beautiful grounds with covered walkways
Traditional college campuses based on the Lyceum

11. Aristotle (384-322 B.C.) Beliefs Three Souls Three forms of government
Plant Soul  essence of nutrition
Animal Soul  essence of pleasure, pain, & desire
Human Soul  essence of reasoning
People learn through reasoning
Three forms of government
Monarchy
Negative  could turn into tyranny
Aristocracy
Negative  could turn into an oligarchy
Constitutional Monarchy
Negative  could turn into anarchy

12. Aristotle (384-322 B.C.) Legacy System of Classification
The ologies: biology, zoology, etc.
Governments: democracies, oligarchies, tyrannies
Inventor of modern logic
p v q
Wrote the first book on psychology