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Classical Philosophy
Philosophy took its greatest flight during the time of the three
great Greek triumvirate, namely: Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle.
These three had influenced almost, if not all, philosophical thoughts
and schools that people came to know today.

SOCRATES
Socrates was one of the greatest philosophers who wrote
nothing. Much of what the world knew about him and his
philosophy were all reconstructions from the different accounts
of the people who had personal affiliations with him. One of
these was his greatest disciple, Plato.
Unlike the other philosophers who came before him,
Socrates focused more on the cultivation of the soul. Perhaps, it
is but fitting to recognize him as the first major philosopher of
ethics. He introduced a system of critical thinking and reasoning
to draw the line between right and wrong, between and moral
and evil.
Socrates was firm in his belief that philosophy must
accomplish sensible and realistic results for the greater good of
society. Being a philosopher of ethics, Socrates attempted to
institute a system of ethical standards primarily based from
human reason and not from religious doctrines. He contended
that one’s choices were inspired by his/her desire for happiness.
According to him, the highest possible wisdom came from the
mastery of the self or from fully knowing oneself, and that the
more knowledgeable and wiser person becomes, the closer
he/she is to true and genuine happiness. Because of this,
Socrates was misunderstood as someone advocating extreme
intellectualism.
He popularized the Socratic method, a form of dialog which
bring forth solutions to certain problems. He compared his
method to that of midwifery.
Because of his deviant way of teaching, Socrates was
accused of polluting the minds of the youth and was sentenced
to death by poison.

PLATO
Plato was Socrates’ best student and perhaps the most popular and
highly influential philosopher of all time. Plato’s philosophy was
highlighted by his claims of the existence of the greater realm of reality
apart from the humans’ own physical world, making him contend that
the world perceived by the senses (sensible reality) were mere
representations of the pure ideal form existing elsewhere. This was also
known as Platonic realism. He claimed that the road towards the true
life of the soul was a path of purification, where man should exert effort
to reach genuine wisdom. The soul was purified as it reached higher
degrees of knowledge.
Plato’s political philosophy was encapsulated in his political
treatise known as The Republic, where he believed that an ideal society
 must be composed of workers and warriors ruled by a philosopher -
king.

ARISTOTLE
The third of classical philosophy’s amazing three was Plato’s student
Aristotle. He was more of an empiricist compared to Plato and Socrates,
and was known for criticizing Plato’s theory of forms. Aristotle was known
as the “The Father of Logic” as he was the first to formalize a system of
reasoning. He contented that the validity of ones judgement could be
determined, not necessarily by its content, but by its structure. He called
this argument syllogism(where a conclusion or synthesis is inferred from
two premises, the thesis and antithesis). Aristotle also popularized the
doctrine of the Golden mean or a life of moderation.
Aristotle’s philosophy provided the people with a systematic concept of
logic which is a system of reasoning. He also introduced the Nichomachean
Ethics, by which he laid down a certain code of conduct anchored on a
person’s strong sense of conviction on what was supposed to be “good
living.” Aristotle viewed ethics as instrumental to humans’ quest for the
highest good and happiness.

VALUE OF PHILOSOPHY
Philosophy may not be able to give all the certainties that people seek
in the world of uncertainty. But in their pursuit for what is certain (truth),
people are developed in a highly qualitative aspect. While they cast their
doubts on the knowledge they acquire, and while they investigate and
speculate all the phenomena of their experience, people are expanding the
horizons of their minds.