A Brief History of Greek Philosophy

Origin of Philosophy & its Historical Development

Sources: Internet Encyclopaedia of Philosophy/ Philo Notes

 WONDER

Wonder is the only beginning of philosophy

– Plato

It is owing to their wonder that men both

now begin and at first began to philosophize
- Aristotle
 WONDER

Philosophic wonder – the feeling of being perplexed

For men were first led to study philosophy, as

indeed they are today, by wonder. Now, he who is
perplexed and wonders believes himself to be
ignorant... They took to philosophy to escape
ignorance
- Aristotle
 A Brief History of Greek Philosophy
Origin of Philosophy & its Historical Development

Preliminaries

Need for a problem-

based historical
development
 Problem of the World (Cosmology)
Problem of Knowledge (Epistemology)
Problem of Freedom (Ethics)
Problem of Religion (Theodicy)___
Problem of the One and the Many
(Ontology)
Thales , The First Philosopher
(Pre-Socratic)

“First” to put his philosophy

in writing
DEVELOPMENT OF GREEK PHILOSOPHY

The Pre – Socratics

(Thales to Anaxagoras)

The Problem of the Universe/ World

DEVELOPMENT OF GREEK PHILOSOPHY

The Problem of the World

(Cosmology)
Explanation of the nature of
the world
 What is the basic material (stuff) of the world?

ALL IS WATER APEIRON Boundless ALL IS AIR

Thales Anaximander Anaximenes

c. 620 – c. 546 BCE c. 620 – c. 546 BCE d. 528 BCE

The Focus is only the

 In what consists its fundamental form,
its principle of order?

(Ancient Egyptians
conceived numbers as
Pythagoras
the underlying
(c. 570 – 495 BCE principle of things)
How do things arise?
World-process (movement)
EVERYTHING
IS CHANGE

We cannot REALITY IS ONE

step twice on
the same river
LOGOS – Fire What is, is and it
= universal is impossible for
principle it not to be

Heraclitus of Ephesus Parmenides of Elea

c. 500 BCE L. 6th cent.- Mid 5th cent. BCE
 The world-process, and the origin and formation
of all things must be explained once and for all

Something that lies at

the foundation of the
world-process
 FIRE, WATER, EARTH AND AIR
Fundamental Materials of the world

The Atomists ATOMS

= numberless
Empedocles = Primary beings
c. 492 – 432 BCE
= foundation
of the world
Democritus
Leucippus c. 460 - 370 BCE
5th century BCE

world-process
 What is the explanation of the form
and the order of things?

Primordial being
NOUS or MIND
Law giving motions
Anaxagoras c. 500 – 428 BCE

End of the period of natural philosophy

Something that lies at the foundation of the world-process
DEVELOPMENT OF GREEK PHILOSOPHY

Socratics
(Sophists , Socrates, Plato to Aristotle)

The Problem of Knowledge

 THE PROBLEM OF EPISTEMOLOGY
Empedocles
Parmenides Fundamental Anaxagoras
(Reality is one) Heraclitus (Fire) Materials Nous Mind

No world-process world-process Mechanical process Nous or Mind

No mental-process No knowing subject No mental-process No natural process
Nothing known of knowledge

Knowledge is impossible to attain

 No knowledge Nothing remains but subjective opinion
= No truth Nothing but the individual
as the measure of all things

Sophists = knowledge is impossible to attain

Man is the measure of all things,
of the reality of those which are,
and the unreality of those which are not

“As to the gods I cannot know

whether they exist or not; too many
Gorgias obstacles are in the way, the
obscurity of the subject and the
shortness of life”
Protagoras
 Everything that exists is just
With dialogue, universal Something cannot
a copy of the real. The
concepts – those in exist if it does not
world of ideas is the only
which all men agree- have both matter &
real world, the only real
are made possible form, if it is not
knowledge
complete
Socrates Plato Aristotle
469 – 399 BCE 427 – 347 BCE 382 – 322 BCE

Harmony or agreement How does matter

Dualism of
is inherent in acquire form?
Matter & form
disagreement
 Form actualizes PRIME MATTER
matter
source of
Principle of everything;
has possibility
Act & potency
of becoming
something

Classical period of Greek philosophy ends with Aristotle

DEVELOPMENT OF GREEK PHILOSOPHY

(Stoics, Epicureanism, Skepticism)

The Problem of Freedom

The Classical period
of ancient Greek philosophy
ended with Aristotle

Shifted to

PERSON’S
FREEDOM
from the
WORLD
Corruption of Human Nature
 The Problem of Freedom

Stoicism Epicureanism Skepticism

 STOICISM
Development of self-control and fortitude
As means of overcoming destructive emotions
Seeks to transform emotions by a resolute
Asceticism (a voluntary abstinence from
worldly pleasures)
Clear judgment,
Inner peace
& freedom from GOAL
suffering
Zeno of Citium
c. 300 BCE
Epicurus
341 - 271 BCE
EPICUREANISM vs HEDONISM
= modest pleasure = sensual pleasure

Tranquility & freedom “Eat now, drink now

From fear (ataraxia) be merry for
Absence of bodily
tomorrow you will
Pain (aponia) die”
SKEPTICISM
DOUBT
Humans have Doubt is the key
The inability To attaining
To gain knowledge Peace of mind
Of the world, (ataraxia)
And so the need
To suspend Pyrrho
judgment c. 365 to 270 BCE
STOICS
Virtue
Fortitude; Asceticism
One goal:
EPICUREANS
Happiness FREEDOM
Moderate Pleasure // From the
Hedonism – sensual pleasure WORLD
SKEPTICS
Doubt
Doubt is the key to peace of mind
STOICS
FREEDOM
EPICUREANS From the FAILED
SKEPTICS WORLD

DEVELOPMENT OF GREEK PHILOSOPHY

(Plotinus to Jesus Christ)

The Problem of Religion

DEVELOPMENT OF GREEK PHILOSOPHY

(Plotinus to Jesus Christ)

The Problem of Religion

THROUGH GOD, SALVATION IS POSSIBLE
ASCETICS

NEO-PLATONISTS

JEWISH PHILOSOPHY
 ASCETICS (monks)
Spiritual & religious goals are impeded
By indulgence in pleasures of the flesh

Ascetic practices are means toward

Mind-body transformation

Aims to achieve freedom from

Buddha
Compulsions & temptations, bringing
Practiced severe About peacefulness of mind and an
asceticism Increase in clarity & power of thought
Before his
enlightenment
Ammonius Saccas
175 – 242 CE NEO - PLATONISTS

The rational soul

Originates from the
DIVINE ESSENCE

Salvation is possible
Only if the rational soul
Is connected to the
Plotinus ONE (or GOD)
204 – 270 CE
JEWISH PHILOSOPHY = Salvation of the world
World-saving principle = LOGOS

Grecian Jewish
Philosophy Philosophy

= principle of = messiah MAN

World-order = Logos-Messiah

Mediator and
Savior of
The world
 “Do not let anyone
tell you what to do.”