1. Philosophers and Writers of the Golden Age
Chapter 6 Section 2
Philosophers and Writers of the Golden Age

2. Philosophy The study of basic questions of reality & human existence
Great Greek achievement
“Lover of Wisdom”
Natural laws & truths could be discovered through reason

4. Socrates Athenian - Education – key to personal growth
Students should learn to think for themselves.
Socratic Method – questions to teach
Critic of democracy – unskilled rule

5. Socrates
Falsely accused of denying the existence of the gods and corrupting the youth
At trial refused to deny his teachings – Found guilty and executed
Drank hemlock

7. Plato Socrates’ greatest student Recorded Socrates’ ideas
Taught Socrates’ teachings
The Academy – school in Athens
Dialogues or Discussions
Dealt w/ Government, religion, justice, and education

8. Plato -“Theory of Forms”
Material things an imperfect expression of perfect ideas or forms
Perfection could never be reached in physical world
Humans consisted of two parts: body and soul

9. Plato - The Republic
Written dialogue of Plato’s view of a perfect society and government
Aristocracy – governed by upper class based on wisdom not wealth/birth - ideal

11. Aristotle Student of Plato at the Academy – opened school
All subjects should be studied logically
Classified things (science)
Facts organized into systems

12. Aristotle Ethics – What makes people happy?
Poetics – What makes a good or bad play
Studied politics – all forms could be corrupt
Wanted limited democracy

14. 1787 oil painting by Jacques-Louis David
Socrates taking the helock

15. Science No practical scientific knowledge developed
Foundations of anatomy, botany, and zoology laid by Aristotle
Greeks believed the world could be explained through natural laws
Reason v. Superstition

16. Math
Pythagoras: believed everything could be explained by math
Developed Pythagorean theorem
A2+b2=c2

17. Medicine Hippocrates: founder of medical science
Disease from natural sources not a punishment from the gods
“Hippocratic Oath”: still take this pledge today.
Code of Ethics

18. History Greeks 1st to take written history seriously
Herodotus – “father of history”
Traveled around world
Thucydides – understand Human nature through history
History of the Peloponnesian War
Made history accurate and fair.

19. Drama Plays containing action, dialogue, conflict, emotion
Plays in poetic form
2-3 actors speak lines
Chorus describes action
All men no women
Plays performed in outdoor theaters carved into hillside

21. Tragedies Main character struggles against fate or events
Usually defeated in the end.
Punished for hubris (pride)
Sophocles and Euripides: famous tragic writers

22. Comedies Made fun of ideas and people Tragic and humorous figures
Aristophanes: most famous writer of Greek comedy