Objectives

The objective of the discussion is to:

1. To know the different ancient philosophers and their philosophies

2. To know the importance of Philosophy in education
3. To develop critical thinking
4. To provide tools for assessing ethical issues
5. To understand the perspectives of other people
6. To analyze information easily and using it to form logical conclusions
7. To develop writing and analytical skills

Discussion

Ancient Philosophers and their Philosophy

1. Mozi

 Love in the way that would do for all

 Mohism- school thought that became a bitter opponent of Confucianism and
Daoism
 Preach bo- ai (universal love) which calls for the impartial or equal care for all
people
 Advocated judging ideas and objects through the constant standards of nature
and utility
 Strongly against aggression and war

2. Democritus

 Everything is atoms in the void

 Believed that all substance is material and the true elements of the natural
world are the tiny, invisible, unobservable solid bodied called atoms
 Everything that happened in the world is a result of the inevitable microscopic
collisions among atoms and nit because of divine order
 As the movement of atoms can be predicted by natural laws, so is the future
actions and passions of human life
 There is nothing except atoms and the empty space
 Nothing is different from No- Thing
 3. Sunzi or Sun Tzu

 Knowledge of how to wage war is of vital importance to the state “it is the
matter of life and death, a road either to safety or to run.” (Understand the
nature of war)
 His mode of argumentation also moves in the direction of what we recognize
today as “scientific thinking”
 He avoids unnecessary assumptions; he emphasizes the importance of
observation and proceeds with systematic explanation of his ideas.

4. Plato

 the truth is the World of Forms

 Believed that people are not created equal and hence, not everyone is fit to rule
 Believed that the ideal state compromises members of three distinct classes (1)
the rulers, (2) the soldiers, (3) the rest of the people who must follow their
leaders
 Held that every human being includes three souls that compromise that
correspond to the three classes of citizen in the state.

Summary

 In the philosophy of Mozi, he taught that everyone is equal in the eyes of heaven. His
philosophy emphasizes the universal love, social order, the will of heaven, sharing and
honoring the worthy. Mohism, stressed that rather that adopting different attitudes
towards different people, love should be unconditional and offered to everyone without
regard to reciprocation, not just to friends, family and other Confucian relations.

 In the philosophy of Democritus, there are multiple unchanging material principles

which constantly rearrange themselves in order to affect what we see as changes, these
principled are very small, indivisible and indestructible building blocks known as
“atoms”. All of reality and all the objects in the universe are composed of different
arrangements of these eternal atoms and an infinite void, in which they form different
combinations and shapes.
  In the philosophy of Sun Tzu, he had some key points of philosophy in the Art of War: (1)
know enemy as yourself (2) know your enemies’ weaknesses and vulnerabilities (3)
know the difference between strategy and tactics (4) analyze and make good use of
intelligence when planning (5) employ diplomacy in order to garner allies (6) engage in
building morale (7) develop your character as a leader to maximize the potential of your
men (8) be organize and capable. It is more about the practical military principles by Sun
Tzu. These ideas have been relevant and useful in social, political and commercial fields,
with most prevalent being concept of winning without actually going to battel engaging
in confrontation.

 In the Philosophy of Plato, asserts that there are two realms: the physical realm and the
spiritual realm. The physical realm us the material stuff we see and interact with on daily
basis; this physical realm is changing and imperfect. The spiritual realm, however, exits
beyond the physical realm. Plato calls this spiritual realm the Realm of Forms. Plato’s
theory of forms asserts that the physical realm is only a shadow, or image, of the true
reality of the Realm of Forms. Forms are abstract, perfect, unchanging concepts or
ideals that transcend time and space.

References

 Mozi, 2018,http://en.m.wikepedia.org

 Individual Philosopher, The Basics of Philosophy, 2008,

http://www.philosophers_demucritus.html

 Z. Hereford, Essential Life Skills, 2016, http://www.essentiallifeskills.net/SunTzu-

philosophy.html

 “Study.com”, The Theory of Forms by Plato, 2019,

http://study.com/academy/lesson/the-theory-of-forms-by-plato-definition-lesson-
quiz.html