Social Studies 9R – Mr. Berman
Greek Philosophy Activity
Introduction
How did the world begin? What is the right way for people to live?
Most ancient people thought that only the gods could answer such questions. But many Greeks,
especially those who lived in Athens, thought differently. They believed people themselves
could answer such questions through reason. They believed people could use their minds to
answer questions about the world and human beings.
The Greeks called people who searched for such answers philosophers, or ''lovers of
knowledge.” Greek philosophers made important contributions to the growth of modern
science and philosophy.
1. How did the Greek philosophers believe they could find answers to questions about the world?
Why were these ideas groundbreaking?
Socrates
Some philosophers were interested in ethics, or ideas about the right way to live. One of those
philosophers was Socrates.
Socrates was a teacher who lived in Athens. He taught that people must learn to think for
themselves. Only through clear thinking could people discover the right wav to live.
Socrates taught his students to think clearly by asking them questions (for example: “What is
courage?” “What is truth?”). When Socrates was not satisfied with an answer, he asked more
questions. He believed that argument and discussion were the keys to learning. That method of
teaching by asking questions became known as the Socratic Method.
Socrates urged students to question all their old beliefs. Some Athenians thought such teaching
was dangerous. They accused Socrates of turning his students away from the gods. Socrates was
put on trial. A jury found Socrates guilty. His penalty was death. In 399 B.C., Socrates was forced
to drink a cup of hemlock (poison) and died.
2. What is the Socratic method? Do you think this is an effective way to teach? Why or why not?
3. One of Socrates most famous quotes is that “the unexamined life is not worth living.” Based
on what you know about Socrates, what do you think he meant by this? Do you agree with this
statement?
4. Athens decided to kill Socrates in 399 B.C., just five years after they lost the Peloponnesian
War to Sparta. Why do you think many people in Athens would be scared of someone like
Socrates at this moment in history?
5. Did Athens live up to the values Pericles discussed in In Praise of Athens when dealing with
Socrates? Why or why not?
Plato
After Socrates died, his student Plato carried on his work. He opened “The Academy,” the first
university in history, to train students and philosophers and continue Socrates search for
wisdom.
Unlike Socrates, who never recorded any of his ideas, Plato was a great writer. His most famous
book is The Republic. It is still read today. In this book, Plato argued that democracy was not the
best kind of government. He did not believe that most people could make good decisions about
government. Instead, Plato imagined an ideal government where a small group of wise men that
were educated and trained to be philosophers (called “philosopher kings”) would hold all the
power and make decisions for the common good.
6. What did Plato write about government in The Republic? Are his ideas about government
similar to any other philosophers we have learned about in this class? How?
7. Based on his life experiences, why do you think Plato had little faith in democracy?
Aristotle
The last great philosopher of Athens was Aristotle. He was a student of Plato. Aristotle was a
brilliant man who explored all areas of learning. He wrote hundreds of books on science,
government, philosophy, and other subjects.
He believed a person could gain knowledge by making hypotheses and then testing those
hypotheses through observation, experimentation and classifying information. This became
known as The Scientific Method.
Aristotle studied existing governments in his book Politics (unlike Plato, he did not try to come
up with an ideal one). The form of government that he felt was best for society was a
constitutional democracy (a system where the people have a voice in the government, and
limits on the power of the government are established by a constitution).
His books had a great influence on later philosophers and scientists. Aristotle even became the
personal tutor to Alexander the Great when Alexander was a boy!
8. Name three significant achievements of Aristotle. How were his ideas about government
different from Plato’s?