Chapter 8 Hellenic Culture

1. Chapter 8Hellenic Culture

2. Philosophy: the Love of Wisdom • Pre-Socratic Philosophy • Interested in origin, nature of physical world • Thales of Miletus was first philosopher • Some of their general concepts have been proven correct • Greatest contribution was concept of law in the universe • What happened in cosmos was result of laws, thus understandable and predictable • Did not look to gods for explanations of phenomena • Natural law – set of phenomena in nature which explain why certain things happen • Anaximander – theory of natural evolution of species • Hippocrates • Founded of scientific medicine • First great empiricist in natural sciences

3. Classical AgeSocrates, Plato, Aristotle • Socrates • Focused on questions of ethics and truth • Systematic questioning is essence of Socratic method • He challenged students to examine, justify everything before accepting it • Was accused of poisoning their minds, found guilty, committed suicide • Plato (Socrates’ pupil) • Tried to solve problem of how to recognize truth and reality • Concluded it cannot be done beyond certain point • Analyss of how politics were, and should be

4. Classical Age • Aristotle (Plato’s pupil) • Interested in every form of science, formal analysis of thought, action • Best-known works are Politics, Physics, Metaphysics • Also mathematician, astronomer, botanist, student of medicine • Philosophy marked by strong sense of self-confidence • Humans were capable of understanding everything • Not overawed by gods

5. Greek Religion • Polytheistic • Gods included Zeus, Hera, Poseidon, Athena, Apollo, Demeter • Religion was different • Gods were less threatening, omnipotent • No priestly class • Gods not taken too seriously • Comparison with modern religion • Not revealed by supernatural authority • No holy book, system of moral conduct • No centralized ecclesiastical authority • Largely series of rituals, participation was act of patriotism

6. Greek Religion • No speculation or fear about afterlife • Philosophy took place of religion • Each polis had its own local deities • Golden Mean – middle ground between extremes • Greeks distrusted radical measures • Believed person who claimed to have perfect solution was guilty of over-confidence (hubris)

7. Arts and Literature • Three major art forms • Drama • Lyric poetry • Classical architecture • Pictorial, architectural art • Harmony, symmetry • Ideal beauty of human body • Grace, strength • Most art was anonymous • Artist simply did what he did best • Parthenon was ordered build by Pericles

8. Literature • Literature took several forms • Poetry highly developed • Drama one of most popular arts – citizens expected to take part • Dance, music intensely cultivated • Many references to them • Reed, string instruments • Greeks prized craftsmanship • Ceramics in great demand • Clay jugs used in export trade

9. Society and Economy • Country of small farmers • Polis was usually small, homogenous • Education level was high, primarily urban • Work • Manual labor considered undignified • But not all people could afford slaves • Machinery was unknown • Most workers were free men and women

10. Slavery • Slaves were numerous • Not normally abused, many were highly prized, skilled • Many employed directly by the state • Most others were domestic servants • Usually only 1-2 per household • No civil rights, could not serve in military

11. Gender Relations • Women generally excluded from politics, economy • Greeks distrusted, disliked women • Women worked through father, husbands, sons • Some variations – Spartan women were free, equal • Athenian women limited to the home • Rarely seen in public • Their job was household, children, servants • Segregated within the house

12. Women in Athens • Poor and rural women somewhat more free • Legally inferior to men, had only limited citizenship • Prostitution was common – hetaerae were well-paid, well-educated performers • Homosexuality relatively common

13. Sports • Greeks admired healthy body • Had first organized athletic events open to all men – Olympic Games • Began as more religious observance, added sports • Competitions for honor of home towns • Sort of patriotic reunion • Declined after Macedonian conquest

14. Greek Legacy • Romans adopted much of Greek heritage • Style, content of arts, philosophy, science, government spread over Europe • Peculiar form of civilization composed of mix of Greek and non-Greek developed

15. Discussion Questions • 1. Choose a controversial issue in your life and world-view. Now, examine it by the Socratic Method, questioning every aspect of both sides of the issue. Ask a question, then ask another question about the answer to the first. Repeat the process for at least ten questions. How does this method help to define the problem and find a definitive answer? • 2. Consider your immediate and extended family. What commonalities do you see with the Greek family? What differences?