Greek
Philosophers
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.”
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!
Pythagoras
582-500 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
Pythagoras
582-500 B.C.
c2
a2

b2
Pythagorean Theorem: a2 + b2 = c2
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:
1.
2.
3.
4.

Public speaking – oratory and rhetoric
Politics
Grammar – language
The art of being respectable
Plato named one of his dialogues
after him.
Hippocrates
460-377 B.C.



Founded a school of medicine
Rejected that sickness comes
from the gods
Careful observations of
symptoms



“Holistic” healing




Acute
Chronic
Hygiene
Diet
Curative powers of nature
The Hippocratic Oath
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”
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!”
Archimedes
287 - 212 B.C.





Greek mathematician – Geometry
War machines and other devices
Theory of buoyancy - “Eureka!”
Law of the lever
Archimedean screw
Archimedean Screw
Modern application of the Archimedean Screw
The Three Most Famous
Philosophers
Socrates
Plato
Aristotle
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
Socrates
469 - 399 B.C.
“The unexamined
life is not worth
living.”
- Socrates -
Socrates
469 - 399 B.C.
Socratic Method:
I.
II.
III.
IV.
V.
Admit ignorance.
Never rely on tradition.
Continuously question.
Formulate your own opinions.
Test your opinions with others.
Socrates
469 - 399 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
Socrates
469 - 399 B.C.
“The unexamined life is not worth living.”
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.”
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
Aristotle
384 - 322 B.C.

Views on Government

3 Good Governments:




Monarchy
Aristocracy
Democracy
3 Bad Governments:



Tyranny
Oligarchy
Mob Rule
Aristotle
384 - 322 B.C.


“All things in moderation”
“Man is by nature a
political animal.”
Alexander the Great
356 -323 B.C.
Alexander the Great
356 -323 B.C.