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9.4 Ancient Greek Learning. Greek Philosophy. The Importance of Reason The Greeks important questions like “What is the nature of the universe?” “What is a good life?” “How do we know what is real?” “What is true?”
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Greek Philosophy • The Importance of Reason • The Greeks important questions like • “What is the nature of the universe?” • “What is a good life?” • “How do we know what is real?” • “What is true?” • The difference between the Greeks and other philosophers at the time was how they answered these questions • REASON • LOGIC
Greek Philosophy • Socrates and Plato • Many philosophers lived in Athens • Socrates • Used discussions to reach logical conclusions to many questions • He lead the discussions by asking question after question • Some of these discussions challenged the beliefs of the ancient Greeks • Socrates was charged with corrupting the youth of Athens and put to death
Greek Philosophy • Socrates and Plato • Plato • One of Socrates’ students • Wrote down many of Socrates’ discussion • Founded a school of philosophy -the Academy (a school of higher learning)
Greek Philosophy • Stoicism • Founded by Zeno • Believed that divine reason ruled the universe • People should live in harmony with nature • Keep their emotions under control
History and Politics • Greek Historians • Herodotus • The Father of History • He wanted to know why events happened • Wrote about the Persian Wars and the cultures of the Greeks and Persians • Thucydides • Wrote about the Peloponnesian War • Wrote while the events were fresh in the minds of the people - visited the battle sites and interviewed people • Wanted to avoided the mistakes of the past
History and Politics • Greek Historians • Xenophon • Traveled the Greek and Persian world • Wrote the 1st known autobiography • Thought history could help people live moral lives
History and Politics • Political Thinkers • Plato – The Republic • He thought the ideal government would be ruled by philosopher kings (he was a philosopher) • they would be wise enough to make the right decisions • Be elected by the people • Aristotle - Politics • Compared the different types of governments • He thought the best would be balanced and not have extremes
Science and Technology • The Power of Observation • They made observations • Then made hypotheses • This was new in the ancient world • The foundation of modern science
Science and Technology • The Natural Sciences • They believed that natural laws governed the universe • Thales of Miletus • He asked a lot of questions, like what shape is the earth • Wasn’t always correct • Inspired other thinkers to try to answer these questions • Like Democritus who suggested the world was made of small particles called atoms
Science and Technology • Aristotle • Studied at Plato’s Academy • Started his own called the Lyceum • Used observation to gain knowledge • Analyzed data about and classified plants and rocks • studied mathematics and logic
Science and Technology • Technology • The Greeks used their observations • Invented many items • Water clocks • Watermills • Locks • Steam power • Archimedes may have used light from the sun to set fire to ships?
Mathematics and Medicine • Mathematics • Many Philosophers like Thales also studied other things like math • Hellenism brought not only cultural exchange but knowledge to the Greeks Thales was said to have studied math in Egypt • Pythagoras believed that numbers were the key to understanding the universe • He invented: • Squaring numbers • Pythagorean Theorem
Mathematics and Medicine • Medicine • Began to look for natural causes to diseases instead of blaming the gods • Performed dentistry and surgery • Hippocrates was the most famous • Wrote books • Trained new drs. • Diagnosed patients by asking questions and making observations • Had his students take the Hippocratic oath
Mathematics and Medicine • Greeks and the Egyptians • Greeks learned many medical ideas from the Egyptians • Took their ideas further and tried to understand the reason behind the illness • Greek society did not like dissection, but for the Egyptians (mummies) it was part of their belief system • Realized the brain was the center of thought and the pulse was blood being pumped through the body