Greek Classical Philosophy “Western philosophy is just a series of footnotes to Plato.”

A BRIEF Overview The Major Players The Major Players What they believe… What they believe… Some examples… Some examples…

The 3 Great Minds... Socrates (469 BC- 399 BC) Socrates (469 BC- 399 BC) Plato (428 BC-347 BC) Plato (428 BC-347 BC) Aristotle (384 BC- 322 BC)* Aristotle (384 BC- 322 BC)*

Socrates One of the founders of Western Philosophy One of the founders of Western Philosophy Not known for his writing, but through other observers----- Plato’s dialogues Not known for his writing, but through other observers----- Plato’s dialogues Major concept: the Socratic method Major concept: the Socratic method “Gadfly of the state”----Death “Gadfly of the state”----Death

Socratic Method or “Elenchus” To solve a problem, it would be broken down into multiple questions. To solve a problem, it would be broken down into multiple questions. The answer eventually comes to the forefront The answer eventually comes to the forefront Perfect for assessing personal beliefs and the extent of someone’s knowledge Perfect for assessing personal beliefs and the extent of someone’s knowledge “The highest form of human excellence is to question oneself and others.” “The highest form of human excellence is to question oneself and others.”

The Steps of the Method… Socrates' interlocutor asserts a thesis, for example 'Courage is endurance of the soul', which Socrates considers false and targets for refutation.interlocutor Socrates secures his interlocutor's agreement to further premises, for example 'Courage is a fine thing' and 'Ignorant endurance is not a fine thing'. Socrates then argues, and the interlocutor agrees, that these further premises imply the contrary of the original thesis, in this case it leads to: 'courage is not endurance of the soul'. Socrates then claims that he has shown that his interlocutor's thesis is false and that its contrary is true.

Socrates and Philosophy A little difficult… Why? A little difficult… Why? The Soul & Immortality The Soul & Immortality Virtue & Moral Stature Divine Bequest Virtue & Moral Stature Divine Bequest Knowledge: Wrongdoing was a consequence of not knowing better Knowledge: Wrongdoing was a consequence of not knowing better Virtue & Ideal life in search of the good Virtue & Ideal life in search of the good Politics: Government of Philosophers a “Philosopher King” Politics: Government of Philosophers a “Philosopher King”

Plato Student of Socrates & Recorder of the Dialogues Student of Socrates & Recorder of the Dialogues Founder of the Academy in Athens Founder of the Academy in Athens Platonism Platonism

Platonism The senses… Reality??? The senses… Reality??? “He who sees with his own eyes is blind.” “He who sees with his own eyes is blind.” Physical objects and physical events are shadows of their ideal or perfect forms, and exist only to the extent that they instantiate the perfect versions of themselves. Physical objects and physical events are shadows of their ideal or perfect forms, and exist only to the extent that they instantiate the perfect versions of themselves. Perfect Justice exists… But not clear where… Perfect Justice exists… But not clear where…

The Theory of Forms (Ideas) The material world as it appears to us is not real, but only a shadow of the real world. The material world as it appears to us is not real, but only a shadow of the real world. The forms are unknown, because we cannot fully grasp them… The forms are unknown, because we cannot fully grasp them… A Form is an Abstract Quality A Form is an Abstract Quality

6 Concepts of Forms: Forms are transcendent- do not exist as a part of space or time Forms are transcendent- do not exist as a part of space or time The forms are pure- Are separated from all other qualities The forms are pure- Are separated from all other qualities The forms are archetypes- perfect models for all of the properties that are present in material objects The forms are archetypes- perfect models for all of the properties that are present in material objects The forms are ultimately real. Material objects are images or copies of the forms. The forms are ultimately real. Material objects are images or copies of the forms. The forms are the causes of all that exist in the world. The forms are the causes of all that exist in the world. Systematically Interconnected- They are all connected to one another and flow down from the form of good Systematically Interconnected- They are all connected to one another and flow down from the form of good

How it works…

The Theory of Forms Was meant to Solve: How can humans live a happy life in a changing world, where everything they attach themselves to can be taken away? How can humans live a happy life in a changing world, where everything they attach themselves to can be taken away? How can the world appear permanent and changing? How can the world appear permanent and changing?

An Example…

The Basketball… For example, if you separate the roundness of a basketball from its color, its weight, etc. and consider just roundness by itself, you are thinking of the form of roundness. Plato held that this property existed apart from the basketball, in a different mode of existence than the basketball. The form is not just the idea of roundness you have in your mind. It exists independently of the basketball and independently of whether someone thinks of it. All round objects, not just this basketball, participate or copy this same form of roundness.

“As for me, all I know is that I know nothing.” “As for me, all I know is that I know nothing.”