Greece Notes #8

Greek, important philosophers

• Socrates
• Unlike most people at the time, he turned to science and logic--instead of mythological gods--for explanations on how the world worked.
• Socratic method: fostered critical thinking.
• "The unexamined life is not worth living."
• "I cannot teach anybody anything. I can only make them think."
• Charged with serious crimes of:
• Impiety (disrespecting the gods) and
• Corruption of Athens' youth.
• At his trial, he descripted himself as the stinging gadfly of the lazy old horse that Athens was.
• He did not deny what he had done, but instead had asked for free dinners for life.
• Found guilty by Athenian jury and sentenced to death by drinking poison hemlock.
• Plato
• Was a student and follower of Socrates.
• He wrote out Socrates' teachings and described his trial in Apology (which at the time meant explanation).
• Another famous book of his was called Republic.
• In it, he wrote about Socrates' discussion of justice and an ideal state.
• Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle believe the perfect society would be one were philosophers such as themselves lead the government.
• It is one of the most influential books on philosophy ever written.
• Aristotle
• A student of Plato (who was a student of Socrates)
• Helped to foster the idea of Athens as an intellectual destination.
• His school--the Lyceum--focused on cooperative research--building on knowledge gathered from all over the world.
• Did Aristotle invent the internet?
• Not exactly, although he did dream of having sum of mankind's knowledge easily accessed in one location.
• He wrote extensively on numerous topics such as:
• Logic, physics, biology,
• Ethics, politics, rhetoric,
• Motion, theatre, poetry,
• Metaphysics, psychology, dreams, et cetera.
• Also tutored Alexander the great.