Ancient Greek Philosophy

1
Ancient Greek Philosophy

• Socrates 470 BC 399 BC
• Plato 427 BC 347 BC
• Aristotle 384 BC 323 BC

2
Socrates 470BC 399BC

• Never wrote, taught orally through dialogue or
  conversation, via questions
• Taught publicly, questioned authority
• Is known through his student, Plato, who made
  Socrates the main character of all of his 39
  Dialogues or books.
• Died by drinking hemlock, after being jailed for
  corrupting youth, worshipping false gods

3
Plato 427 BC 347 BC

• Wrote his dialogues in defiance of the arrest and
  death of his teacher, Socrates.
• Socrates is Platos mouthpiece.
• Concerned with justice, virtue, character, the
  human soul.
• Founded The Academy in Athens, Greece
• Encouraged students to become their own authority
  think for self!

4
Platos Philosophy

• The only good life or life worth living is a life
  reasoned by your own mind, not others ideas and
  opinions-change your life and mind!
• Examine your life, history, and ideas, once you
  self examine, then you are ready for knowledge.
• All knowledge begins in not knowing. To state I
  dont know is the first step open to learning.

5
Platos Philosophy

• Everything has a truth or an essence, your job
  is to seek this truth. Life as an adventure and
  journey, not destination.
• The good teacher will spark you, lead you to the
  truth with integrity, reason, imagination
• Virtue is excellence, or doing your best
  reaching your highest potential for good.

6
Platos Philosophy

• All humans have potential for virtue, goodness,
  and to shape good character.
• The potential rests in the human soul (or
  psyche/mind), everyone born with a soul.
• Character is what is developed from this soul,
  and is molded and tested and shaped, a dynamic
  process.

7
Platos Philosophy

• Plato was the first to unify a system of thought
  in Western society.
• We all begin with common sense beliefs, opinions,
  we are lead further to ideas, and principles.
• Human life always involves our fellow man and our
  personal and societal destiny.
• Philosophy is not specialized nor technical but
  an way of life, requiring intellectual ability
  and moral goodness to pursue the good and truth.

8
Platos Philosophy

• Appearances are deceiving seeming isnt being.
• Society is our ultimate teacher, and it may
  produce errors and evils, as well as wrong
  values. Previous generation may have been wrong
  and transmitted bad ideas and practices.

9
Platos Philosophy

• Education is the conversion that leads us out
  of the dark of the cave into the light. This is
  a type of awakening, once we are enlightened, we
  recollect, develop knowledge, seek genuine
  well-being, happiness, and virtue.
• The good man makes you better not worse