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Post-Aristotelians

Post-Aristotelians. After defeat of Athens… a period of pessimism and concern with everyday well-being. The Skeptics Pyrrho of Elis (ca 365-275 BC) considered founder, although there are no surviving writings much in common with sophists

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Post-Aristotelians

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  1. Post-Aristotelians

  2. After defeat of Athens… a period of pessimism and concern with everyday well-being • The Skeptics • Pyrrho of Elis (ca 365-275 BC) considered founder, although there are no surviving writings • much in common with sophists • attack on dogmatism (claim of irrefutable truth); argued for suspension of judgment, since all claims of truth seem equivocal. • No point, therefore, for moral agonizing; well-being is doing whatever is convenient at the time- seek life of “quietude” • Two primary guides for living: • appearances: simple sensations and feelings • convention: customs, traditions, laws of society

  3. The Cynics (Antisthenes and Diogenes) • well-being is found in a life of self-denial, simplicity, removal from society. Happiness comes from acting naturally. Similar to some modern religious communes. • Epicureanism (Epicurus of Samos) • the goal of life is individual happiness… long-term happiness requires moderation and striving for tranquility • well-being is found in freedom, simplicity, pursuit of moderate pleasure and avoidance of pain; avoid extremes. Everything in moderation. • Hedonism… but only that which results from having basic needs satisfied

  4. Stoicism (Zeno , Epictetus, Marcus Aurelius) • Stoa = porch at Zeno’s school) • world governed by a divine plan and we are all here for a reason.. There are no accidents; everything happens for a reason • thus, we should live in accordance with nature; man is part of a greater scheme • well-being founded on rationality, objectivity, and acceptance. Emotional reactions are unjustified. Each person is part of a greater natural scheme and each person should play their part as well as possible. Humility and acceptance. • In Roman Empire, Stoicism was compatible with Roman emphasis on law and order… popular philosophy. With the decline of Empire, people looked for other definitions of “the good life”.

  5. Neoplatonism • Philo (25BC-50AD), Plotinus (204-270 AD), Hypatia (370-415) • As for Plato, truth and reality are not material • Replaced Plato’s forms with divine explanations: God is the source of all truth and knowledge. Knowledge comes from divine revelation. • Spiritual world is more perfect than the physical world. • Through intense meditation, soul can be released from the body and live among the eternal and changeless • Elements of this philosophy were adopted by Christianity

  6. So….. • Stoicism: live a life of accepting things as they are • Epicurianism: seek pleasure, but in moderation • Neoplatonism: turn away from empirical world in order to enter a union of eternal things beyond the material world • Galen (131-301 AD) • Roman physician • Proposed that there are physical causes for emotional states and mental illness • Imbalance of humors • Recommended counseling for emotional problems

  7. From Rome to the Renaissance • Long period of stability • In western world, dominated by Christianity • Roman church: man is inherently sinful and salvation is possible through repentance/faith • Mind-body dualism • Subordination of all knowledge to the revealed word of God • Perfection found in another world

  8. St. Augustine (354-430) • North African • Confessions acknowledge wild life as a young man and later conversion. • Focus on spiritual world • Shifted beliefs about human motivation from external to internal causes. • Action based on free will. • Thus, guilt, responsibility, sin, salvation become possible • However, observations about causes of behavior become impossible.

  9. St. Augustin (cont) • Reason/observation subordinated to faith, emotion, and introspection of subjective states. • Writings touchd on infant motivation (asocial, self-seeking), reward and punishment, memory, dreams

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