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PHL 203 Theories of Reality

Explore the journey of philosophical inquiry into reality through Ancient Greek thinkers, from the myths of Persephone to the rational explanations of the pre-Socratic philosophers like Anaximander and Democritus. Discover the profound impact of Socrates as he faced trial and embraced the pursuit of truth. Unravel the complexities of the Delphic Oracle and witness the legacy of Socratic wisdom through dialogues of Plato and teachings of Aristotle.

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PHL 203 Theories of Reality

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  1. PHL 203Theories of Reality Prof. Borrowdale

  2. Week One Log into Moodle by THURSDAY 11:55pm or you may be dropped Pick up the text: Theories of Reality, 5th Edition Edit your profile in Moodle Read the syllabus Read the “What is Truth?” Handout Read Ch. 1

  3. Course Requirements First Midterm Exam 30% Second Midterm Exam 35% Final Exam 35% Multiple choice T/F Taken in testing lab over a week (4 days for the Final)

  4. What is Truth? See Handout in Moodle and Whiteboard Notes

  5. The History of PhilosophyThe Natural Philosophers Before Philosophy • Mythos - Religion • Ethnos - Culture Natural Philosophers/Pre-Socratics • First "Scientists” • Sought rational explanations for the workings of nature

  6. Mythos(Religious Explanation) Why do the seasons change? The Myth of Persephone

  7. Persephone Kidnapped by Hades

  8. Persephone Kidnapped (Bernini)

  9. Persephone KidnappedGreek Vase Painting

  10. Persephone Kidnapped by Hades (Greek Relief Sculpture)

  11. Hades Makes His Getaway

  12. The Persephone Myth • Hades kidnaps Persephone • Takes her to the underworld • Makes her his wife

  13. The Persephone Myth • Demeter, the Earth Mother, searches for her daughter, discovers her fate • She falls into deep depression

  14. The Persephone Myth • Demeter neglects her work • Plants die, nothing grows • Her tears fill the earth • Zeus has to intervene

  15. The Persephone Myth • Zeus decrees Persephone spend part of the year with her mother • Some versions involve technicality of Demeter eating pomegranate seeds

  16. Anaximander Rational Explanation • No stories about gods • Natural, impersonal forces • Cold & Wet vs Hot & Dry forces seeking equilibrium • Not factually correct but on the right track • The right KIND of explanation

  17. Anaximander Human evolution from more primitive form Theories based on observation and rational inference

  18. Democritus Atomism (atomos = unsplittable) Materialism Mechanistic world view Element of Probability in Nature

  19. Anaxagoras “The Sun is a rock and the earth a moon.” Celestial bodies are not divine They are made of the same stuff as terrestrial objects

  20. The Sophists(lit. “wise men”) Teachers of argument and rhetoric for a fee Reputation for trickery, subterfuge, low morals, opportunism Said to “make the weaker argument defeat the stronger” Prospered in Athenian lawsuit and politics obsessed culture

  21. Socrates Combined the rational theory-building of natural philosophy with argumentative techniques of the Sophists Father of Philosophy

  22. Socrates Socrates wanted to understand the world as a whole, not just astronomy, biology, physics, etc. Especially interested in virtue & knowledge

  23. Socrates Put on Trial as an old man by 3 ambitious young men Prosecutors self-appointed: Antyus, Meletus, Lycon The Apology (“Defense) • By Socrates student Plato • Biased account

  24. Socrates Charges against Socrates 1. Irreligious Scientist 2. Subversive Sophist 3. Corrupting the Youth (main charge) 4. Religious Heretic

  25. Artist Conception of Delphi Complex in Socrates’ Time

  26. Delphi Today

  27. Delphi Today

  28. The Oracle at Delphi • “Pythian Priestess” of Apollo would speak under his inspiration • Ancient Fortune-telling • Visions caused by natural gas seeps

  29. Message from the Oracle • Socrates friend Chaerephon asks the Oracle if there is anyone wiser than Socrates • The Oracle answers “No one is wiser.”

  30. Message from the Oracle Reaction to the Oracle’s message Quest for a wiser man leads to “corruption” of the youth and bad reputation Socrates was on a mission from Apollo, had good intentions

  31. Heresy Charge Doesn’t answer directly Little known about Socrates’ positive religious views Skeptical about traditional religion as were many intellectuals Reductio ad absurdum argument Reveals contradiction in charges

  32. Socrates Found Guilty Old man, prefers death to banishment Practically dares the jury to give him the death penalty Refuses to escape when given the chance • Procedural justice vs. justice of outcome • Social contract

  33. The Death of Socrates

  34. Socrates Sentenced to Death by Poisoning (Hemlock) Death is either • An endless sleep or • A transition to a better life Neither is bad, so fear of death is irrational. False dilemma? Is an endless sleep bad after all? Argument picked up later by Epicurus

  35. Socrates’ Legacy Dialogues of Plato Plato’s Academy Aristotle The Examined Life Epistemic Humility The Quest for Truth Socratic Method Basic Branches of Philosophy

  36. Branches of Philosophy Epistemology Metaphysics Ethics Political & Social Philosophy Logic Aesthetics History of Philosophy Many subcategories

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