GREEK PHILOSOPHYSocrates, Plato and Aristotle

Socrates (469-399 BC)Socrates is credited as being

one of the founders of Western philosophy

Plato’s Dialogues are the most comprehensive account of Socrates

Well known for his “Socratic Method” of questioning.

Contributions to the field of epistemology and logic.

Socrates’ Life and Death

Socrates lived during the height of Athenian military success and the defeat of it during the Peloponnesian War.

He was considered to be a social “gadfly” in Athenian. Questioning the government, democracy.

This title emerges when his friend ask the oracle at Delphi if anyone is wiser than Socrates.

The oracle declares that no on is and Socrates tests this claim by approaching other men who are considered to be wise in Athenian society and questions them.

After speaking to these “wise” men he realized that the oracle was correct as these men thought they were wise but they were not.

After Athens’ defeat in the Peloponnesian war, Socrates was an scapegoat, charged for corrupting the youth.

He was sentenced to death by drinking hemlock poisoning.

The Socratic Method A dialectic method of inquiry To solve a problem, it should be broken down into a

series of questions. The answers to these questions would help one

discover the answer they are seeking. The questions help one understand their underlying

beliefs and the extent of their knowledge. It is a negative method of idea elimination by

identifying ideas that led to contradictions. Used in courtrooms today.

Explanation:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W4I2lfcZUnM&feature=related

Now try the Socratic method yourself!

The Socratic Method in Court

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=acUFdP7N1vw

Plato (428/27-348/347 BC)

Founded the Academy in Athens, the first institution of higher learning.

Smarter students would become “guardians”---go onto further education.

Major ideas include: Categories or archetypes, theories of politics outlined in the Republic (an attempt to find and define the nature of justice and whether it is always better to be just than unjust).

Aristotle criticized his view for overvaluing political unity and embracing a sense of communism that neglects the happiness of the individual.

Allegory of the Cave

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UQfRdl3GTw4

The Matrix

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=te6qG4yn-Ps

Aristotle (384-322 BC) He was born in Macedonia and

studied at Plato’s Academy. Expected to be Plato’s successor in

running the school. However, Plato named his nephew successor.

He started his own school called the Lyceum.

Thousands of students. Taught Alexander the Great. He had to flee from Athens when

Alexander died.

His Paradigm of an Ideal/ non-Ideal Constitution

Published in his book Politics. Constitution: a certain way of organizing those

who inhabit the city-state.

Good (Correct) Bad (Deviant)

ONE Ruler Kingship/ Monarchy- ruler with best interest of people in mind.

Tyranny- the interest of the ruler only

FEW Rulers Aristocracy- ruled by the “well-born”, those of noble family.

Oligarchy (rich)- seeks to further the interest of the wealthy few.

MANY Rulers Polity (Middle Class)- all inclusive political government, everyone has a share in it.

Democracy (poor)- “rule by the people”, Aristotle referred to it as “rule exclusively by the poor, in their own interest.”