Philosophers and Writers of the Greek Golden Age

Philosophers and Writers of the Greek Golden Age CH 6 Section 2

Section 1 review • What did the Greeks use to make their statues more lifelike? • The Greeks used more ______ _______ than the Egyptians in their art

The Rise of Philosophy • One of the Greeks greatest achievements was the development of Philosophy • Philosophy- is the study of the basic questions of reality and human existence • {Philosophermeans “Lover of wisdom”} • The Greeks used philosophy to better understand the world around them • {Early philosopherswere called Cosmologists because they studied the nature of the universe}

Philosophy continued… • According to Greek tradition the first philosopher was Thales of Miletus • He and others like him wanted to understand the universe • They set up formal rules of logic for philosophical arguments • Democritus developed atomic theory by using logic and mathematics • Atomic theory stated that everything is made up of tiny bits of matter called atoms

Socrates

Bill and Ted’s Socrates

Socrates • One of the most important thinkers of the new era • He taught that education was the key to personal growth • {Socrates insisted that students think for themselves} • He asked questions that forced students to test their own values and ideas • Socrates way of teaching through questions became known as the Socratic method • His questions often made public officials look foolish

He made many enemies who accused him of corrupting the youth • He criticized democracy, saying unskilled people should not hold positions of power • He was brought to trial by his enemies and did little to defend himself • He was found guilty and executed • He was forced to drink a poison called hemlock

Plato • Later generations learned of Socrates writings through Plato • He was a young aristocrat and one of Socrates students • He founded the Academy a special school in Athens for teaching philosophy • He wrote dialogues or imaginary conversations between several people • These dealt with government, education, justice and religion • Most featured Socrates teaching and asking questions

Plato continued • {Plato believed that the soul and body were separate but would reunite through reincarnation} • {Plato also wanted a govt. ruled by an aristocracy or an intellectual upper class} • The ideal rulers were philosophers not just the wealthy

Aristotle

One of Plato's students at the academy • Aristotle founded his own school in Athens in 335 BC • He believed that every field of study needed to be studied logically • He collected as many facts as possible and organized them into systems • {Aristotlebelieved that logical study led to truth} • He investigated every field of study known to his time • He analyzed Greek drama to understand what made a good or bad play

Math Medicine and Science • The Greeks covered all fields of knowledge including math and science • {Pythagoras was a philosopher that believed the world could be explained through math} • He was best remembered for his theorem for the right triangle

Natural Science • Greek philosophers did not specialize in any one field of study which kept them from fully developing scientific knowledge until much later • Aristotle laid the foundations of anatomy, botany, and zoology • The Greeks, in contrast to the Egyptians, believed the natural world could be explained in terms of natural law • They also held that rules that govern our universe could be identified, observed and defined

Greek Science

Hippocrates • Considered to be the founder of medical science • It is believed that Hippocrates wrote between 60 and 70 medical studies • He helped to collect medical knowledge in a useable form • {His work sums up Greek science because it bases treatment on reason not magic} • He thought that disease comes from natural causes not a punishment from the gods • He taught that rest, fresh air, and proper diet made the best cures

Herodotus • The Greeks became the first people to take the writing of history seriously • Herodotus the first historian of the western world • He traveled to Babylonia, Phoenicia, and Egypt and included his views of the countries and their people in his histories • He was careful to note if he had seen something himself or someone had told him about it but did exaggerate at times • He is often called the father of history

Greek Theater

Drama • These are plays containing action or conflict of emotion • The Greeks wrote plays in poetic form • Male actors played the women's roles • A group of singers, called the chorus, described the scene and commented on the action • Their theaters were carved into hillsides • The flat bottom of the Greek theater is known as the Orchestra • Plays were often performed in connection with religious festivals they would have competitions between playwrights

What theater looks like with people

Tragedies • This is when the main character struggles against fate or events • Main characters are usually punished for displaying Hubris • {Hubris is the sin of Pride} • Oedipus Rex, written by Sophocles, was called the perfect example of tragedy by Aristotle • Euripides was a realist playwright • He questioned many of the old ideas and beliefs and in his plays showed the pain and misery of war

Comedies • These made fun of ideas and people • Comedies included both tragic and humorous figures • Aristophanes was known for his wit and would poke fun at Socrates for his theories about education • Un like tragedies, the main characters usually solved their problem

Section Review • What is another name for a lover of wisdom? • What were lovers of wisdom originally known as? • Who was Socrates student? • Who believed that logical study led to truth? • Another name for the sin of pride

Speaking of Comedies

Philosophers and Writers of the Greek Golden Age