Overview of Ancient Greek Philosophy

Pre-Socratic (6th and 5th century BCE)

Pre-Socratic Period Background

Life and Philosophy of Pythagoras

Sophist and Socrates (469/470-399 BCE)

What is Sophist?
Life and Philosophy of Socrates

Plato & Aristotle (428 384 BCE)

Life, Works and Philosophy of Plato

Life, Works and Philosophy of Aristotle

Hellenistic Period (5th century BCE - 485 CE)

Hellenistic Period Background

Hellenistic Schools of thought

Pre-Socratic Period Background (6th and 5th century BCE)

The Pre-Socratic were 6th and 5th century BCE Greek thinkers who introduced
a new way of inquiring into the world and the place of human beings in it.
They were recognized in antiquity as the first philosophers and scientists of
the Western tradition. Pre-Socratic philosophy is ancient Greek philosophy
before Socrates (and includes schools contemporary to Socrates that were
not influenced by him). In Classical antiquity, the Pre-Socratic philosophers
were called physiologoi (Greek: ; in English, physical or natural
philosophers).

Pythagoras (About 569 BC - about 475 BC)

Made crucial contributions to modern

philosophy, as well as mathematics,
science, and religious mysticism.
Pythagorean Theorem, which states that
"a right-angled triangle the area of the square on
the hypotenuse is equal to the sum of the areas
of the squares of the other two sides," in other
words, A2 + B2=C2.
The first person to refer to himself as a
philosopher
Core principle of his religion: everything is
related to mathematics and numbers, a
principle held by his followers.
Concern should drive us into action and
not into a depression. No man is free
who cannot control himself.

Sophist and Socrates

Sophist (5th century BCE)
The Greek word sophists, formed from the noun sophia, wisdom or
learning, has the general sense one who exercises wisdom or learning.
In the course of the fifth century BCE the term, while retaining its original
unspecific sense, came in addition to be applied specifically to a new type
of intellectuals, professional educators who toured the Greek world
offering instruction in a wide range of subjects, with particular emphasis
on skill in public speaking and the successful conduct of life. The
increasing wealth and intellectual sophistication of Greek cities, especially
Athens, created a demand for higher education beyond the traditional
basic grounding in literacy, arithmetic, music and physical training.

Socrates (Around 470 399 BCE)

He always showcased his ignorance
instead of telling people what he knew.

Developed systemic ethics and formal logic

Socratic Method: This involved asking lots of
questions until finally reaching an answer, rather than
simply conveying information.

The unexamined life is not worth living

Plato and Aristotle

Plato (Around 428 347 BCE)

The nickname Plato (which means

broad or wide in Greek) was given to
him in reference to his broad shoulders.
He was also a wrestler and a playwright.
One of his brightest works was The
Republic which deals with questions of
virtue, justice, wisdom, courage, and
government.
Above the entrance to his Academy was
the following quote, Let none who has
not learned Geometry enter here.
Wise men talk because they have
something to say; fools, because they
have to say something.

Aristotle (384 322 BCE)

Aristotle is regarded by many as the most intelligent man to ever walk

on this planet.

As well as science, Aristotle wrote on

many other subjects including poetry,
music, theatre, logic, metaphysics,
rhetoric, ethics and politics.
When he was 17, Aristotle enrolled in
Platos Academy and spent 20 years of
his life acquiring knowledge from the
best teacher. Aristotle too was a gifted
student for Plato.
Aristotle had established a philosophical
school known as the Lyceum in 335 B.C.
It was famously known as the Peripatetic
School. The Lyceum also housed a
collection of manuscripts comprising one
of the worlds first great libraries.
He who has overcome his fears will truly

be free.

Hellenistic Period (5th century BCE - 485 CE)

Background
Hellenistic philosophers, therefore, devoted less attention than had Plato and
Aristotle to the speculative construction of an ideal state that would facilitate
the achievement of a happy life. Instead, the ethical thinkers of this later
period focussed upon the life of the individual, independently of the society
as a whole, describing in detail the kinds of character and action that might
enable a person to live well despite the prevailing political realities.

Selected Hellenistic School of Thoughts

Pythagoreanism

Influenced by mathematics and mysticism

Sophism

Category of teachers who specialized in using the tools of philosophy

and rhetoric for the purpose of teaching

Cynicism

Believed that one should live a life of Virtue in agreement with Nature.

Platonism

Theory of Forms: the transcendent, perfect archetypes, of which

objects in the everyday world are imperfect copies. The highest form
was the Form of the Good, the source of being, which could be known
byreason.

Epicureanism

Viewed the universe as being ruled by chance, with no interference

from gods.

Stoicism
Goal of life was to live in accordance with Nature
Neopythagoreanism

Attempt to introduce a religiouselement into Greek philosophy,

worshipping God by living an ascetic life, ignoring bodily pleasures and
all sensuous impulses, to purify the soul.

Neoplatonism

The summit of existence was the One or the Good, the source of all
things.