Ancient Philosophers

1. Ancient Philosophers James Van Slyke

2. The beginning of philosophy… • Ancient Greeks were the first philosophers • 6th century BC • Attempted to use reason to construct arguments about the nature of the universe • Moved beyond mythology and religion (ancient Greek gods) seeking knowledge for its own sake

5. The Milesians • Thales • Earliest forms of geometry and math • Predicted a solar eclipse using reason • Asked first metaphysical questions about the structure of the universe • Political and Military advisor • Anaximander • Pupil of Thales • Metaphysics based on the Infinite

6. Pythagoras • Founder of Geometry as a Systematic study • Metaphysics based on souls inhabiting different forms of life • Transmigration of the soul – souls migrates through different material forms of life – human souls are reincarnated • Morality was based on the harmony of the soul

7. Heracleitus • Metaphysics of becoming rather than being • Universe held together through the Great Logos • Universe constructed through paradox • divisible and indivisible • Mortal and immortal • Word and Eternity • Universe in constant flux

8. Zeno • One of the first to use logical forms • Constructed a series of paradoxes • Paradox of Motion • Argued that it was impossible to measure motion • Legend claims that Zeno met Socrates at a festival in Athens ushering in the golden age of philosophy

9. Democritus • Theory of Atomism • Matter is not infinitely divisible • Smallest part of an object must have magnitude • Matter is composed of tiny bodies (called atoms) • Early form of Materialism • Material substances are the only forms of existence • Different objects are merely the aggregates of different combinations of atoms

10. Rise of Greek Culture • In 5th century BC, Athens becomes cultural landmark • Rise in secularism • Rise in Political theory and discussion • Sophists • Pragmatic use of philosophy • Moved away from metaphysics to political and logical issues

11. The Sophists • Secularists • Atheists • Against the use of religion as persuasion • Experts in the Art of Rhetoric • Used logical arguments • Offered education for a fee • Philosophy became a commodity

12. The Sophists • Pragmatists • Not interested in metaphysical speculation • Skeptical about explanations of ultimate reality • Egoism • Life should be lived in the service of one’s own self-interest • This was the natural state of humanity • Relativists • Each person understands truth according to their own subjective understanding • Reason is not objective

13. Socrates • Birth of the Golden Age of Philosophy • First major figure associated with philosophy • Rejected the extremes of speculative philosophy of the pre-Socratics and the cynical pragmaticism of the sophists • Provided free instruction • Developed the Socratic method of questioning • Virtue is obtained through knowledge

14. The Crito • Plato recorded the words ofSocratesin several dialogues • It is difficult to know how much is fact and how much is idealization • Socratesrefuses to let his friends help him to escape • The only life worthy living is a good life • A life purchased through disobedience to the law is not a life worth living • ‘Think not of life and children first, but think of justice’ • ‘Let us fulfill the will of God and follow whither he leads’

15. The Phaedo • Provides an account of Socrates last days and the nature of immortality and death • A true philosopher does not fear death, nor will they seek to take their own life to avoid life’s hardships • The body is a hindrance for the soul and the contemplation of knowledge, death frees the soul from its cage • Various arguments for the existence of the soul • The soul brings life • Life is the opposite of death • Therefore, death cannot overtake that which is immortal

16. The Two Schools of philosophy • Socrates’ student Plato and Plato’s student Aristotle formed two divergent schools of thought after the time of Socrates • Plato set up his academy as an educational institution that taught both academics and political leaders • In 367 B.C Aristotle at the age of 17 moved to Athens and studied at Plato’s academy for 20 years • Aristotle later set up his own school, the Lyceum, which had many free lectures

18. Theory or Common sense? • Plato • Pointing towards the sky • Emphasized theoretical knowledge • Clothed in red the volatile element of fire • Aristotle • Feet firmly on the ground • Clothed in the colors of green (earth) and blue (water) • Emphasized the empirical, what can be demonstrated and observed

19. Plato • Theory of Ideas • Detailed treatment in the Timaeus • The allegory of the cave • Something must exist (the forms) that has a reality independent of the physical manifestation of things • Forms – • similar to a ratio or mathematical formula • Concept or Essence of something • Philosophy is concerned with the contemplation of ideas • Cosmology based on a hierarchy forms

20. Plato’s Cosmology Form of the Good Forms stars/planets = divinities humans animals plants inorganic material more order, goodness, beauty, less corruptibility as we go up the hierarchy

21. Aristotle • More interested in the empirical • Classification of animal behavior • Theories of causation • Efficient causation – sculptor • Material cause - stone • Formal cause – forms • Final cause – function something serves • Expanded and reformed Plato’s thought • Hylomorphic view of matter • Form and matter work together; interdependent

22. Aristotle • Understanding of the soul • Hierarchy of the soul • Different types of souls provide different functions • plants have vegetative/nutrition – about nutrient, reproductive, grow • animals have animal/sensitive – sensation, locomotion, • humans rational soul – intellect