Greek Philosophy: Its Concept

Greek philosophy is the collective term for ancient, or Presocratic, and Socratic ideas. It consists of major thoughts and ideas that were spread widely enough to be reported by many contemporaries, especially in the case of Presocratic philosophers. These ideas discuss the base cause and/or element of nature, politics, ethics, morals, and other topics. Presocratic philosophies are the teachings of philosophers who predated Socrates. These teachings are characterized by a focus on explaining the creation and makeup of the world and an interest in contradicting widely-believed mythologies. Socratic philosophy is the teachings of Socrates and Plato, as well as the expansions on their ideas that were created by their followers, including derivations created in the present day.

As a result of the deterioration of records, few verbatim quotes of Presocratic Greek philosophers exist, and those which do exist are of somewhat questionable origin. The gist of these ideas, however, were documented by others, so while we do not have the exact words of these philosophers, we do know their major themes. Socratic philosophies were recorded much more efficiently by his students, including Plato, who also recorded his own philosophies.

How Greek Philosophy Originated

One of the most significant facets of Presocratic philosophy was the push to perceive the world from a rational perspective rather than a mythological paradigm. Philosophers still worshipped the gods, but they insisted that the gods were not responsible for every earthly event. Their distinction between the mythologies of all cultures and their ideas meant that their theories could be refuted without offending religious leaders.

The first Greek philosopher was Thales of Miletus. He claimed that the primal element in the universe was water, the thing from which everything else was created. He was also the first Greek philosopher to theorize that the Earth was shaped like a globe. Additionally a mathematician and astronomer, he correctly predicting an eclipse in 585 B.C.E. In these ways, he connected philosophy to the physical world. Other philosophers, such as Anaximander and Anaximenes, also had theorized about how the world was built.

Xenophanes of Colophon deliberately opposed widely held teachings of mythology at the time. He claimed that the myths of all cultures portrayed their gods as people who had the same priorities and cultures as their own. Pythagoras developed a religious following of his own that also went against current mythology. He was so respected that many revered him as a god. Heraclitus replaced all of the gods in his theory with fire, claiming that the entire universe was born from, and consisted of, fire. This included metaphysical and psychological characteristics. Democritus revolutionized the way Grecians thought of the world when he stated that the world was not made out of any element known to man, but instead filled with an unknowable element called atomos.

Ancient Greek Philosophy

Each of the dates in this timeline are rough estimates:

• 624 B.C.E.: Thales, the first Greek philosopher, is born. He created the Milesian school of thought, which endured until the 520s B.C.E.
• 28 May 585 B.C.E.: A solar eclipse occurs, in fulfillment of a prediction of Thales.
• 570 B.C.E.: Xenophanes is born. He was influential in forming physical, rational explanations for physical and astronomical phenomena. Pythagoras is also born. He becomes an influential mathematician, thinker, and social leader.
• 540 B.C.E.: Heraclitus of Ephesus is born. He is known for speaking in riddles and believing that the entire universe was created by fire.
• 500-400 B.C.E.: Democritus is born. He was the first to theorize that the universe was made of something that was unknown to humans at the time.
• 469 B.C.E.: Socrates is born. His philosophies broke with much of the central tenets of the previous philosophies. His method of teaching, theories on life, and political ideas have influenced society up to the present day.
• 427 B.C.E.: Plato is born. His philosophies were significantly influenced by the teachings of Socrates, as well as the Peloponnesian War. He followed Socrates from an early age.
• 399 B.C.E.: Socrates is convicted and executed. This was the turning point in the life of Plato when he became a chronicler of the life and teachings of his teacher.

Great Greek Philosophers

Although Socrates and Plato are the most influential philosophers to modern society, Presocratic philosophies are also significant.

Presocratic Philosophy

Thales of Miletus

No direct quotes of Thales have been preserved, but one of his prominent themes was 'Know Thyself.' As the first philosopher in Greek history, he created the school of Milesian thinkers, from which sprang future philosophers. He was a pioneer in astronomy, correctly predicting an eclipse, separating years into seasons, and determining each of the Solstices. He also created several mathematical theorems. His wisdom was renowned throughout Greece, even until the 180s B.C.E. It is unknown what methods or cultures he based his ideas on.

Xenophanes

Xenophanes was influenced by the cultures of Ethiopia, Egypt, and many other countries and peoples, such as the Thracians. He discussed the nature of the deity and the human soul.

'God is one, supreme among gods and men, and not like mortals in body or in mind.'

'Homer and Hesiod attributed to the gods all things which are disreputable and worthy of blame when done by men; and they told of them many lawless deeds, stealing, adultery, and deception of each other.'

Heraclitus

Heraclitus was a significant philosopher, especially because he was among the first to state that no one really knew anything for certain.

'Having heard without comprehension, they are like the deaf; this saying bears witness to them: present they are absent. ... The many are base, while the few are noble.'

Heraclitus also theorized that the world was in a constant state of flux, that people needed to slow down and observe what was happening around them before they acted. This was a significant idea that influenced Socrates and Plato, among others.

Democritus

Democritus created his philosophies to respond to those who claimed the universe was motionless and one solid, complete whole that could not be partitioned. He claimed that the shape and form of particles of atomos influenced the interactions which humans had with the world. For instance, round atoms produced smooth surfaces and sweet tastes, while square-like atoms made rough surfaces and sour tastes. Contentment and ethical behavior came from interacting appropriately with these atoms.

'By convention bitter, by convention hot, by convention cold, by convention color, but in reality atoms and void. ... We perceive what changes in relation to the disposition of the body as things enter or resist.'

Democritus influenced not only Socrates but also Skepticism, which expanded upon his ideas.

Socrates vs. Plato

Socrates

Socrates directly contradicted the teachings of the dominant philosophical school of his day, the Sophists. He noted that what people consider to be good acts were not thought of as good because they were obedient to the will of the gods, but because they were useful to individuals and society as a whole. He was persistent in teaching others that they really did not have certain knowledge. As a result of his methods and teachings, he was put to death by a popular form on the charge of corrupting the morals of the youth of Athens. Socrates influenced philosophy for years after his death. His Socratic Method, responding to questions with questions repeatedly until students arrive at answers for themselves, is extremely influential among educators today.

Plato

Plato was the founder of the Academy, the first physical school of higher thought in Greece. One of his prominent ideas is the Theory of Forms. He holds that the universe is made up of two parts. The first is the physical 'reality.' This is constantly in flux, and seen and experienced by humans. The second is the transcendental realm, which is only accessible to the mind. This transcendental realm is permanent and holds the ideal forms of all items and beings. He also had significant thoughts on politics, society, mathematics, and morals.

One of Plato's significant disagreements with Socrates was that society was meant to do things that were useful. He stated that the State should exist to provide 'the greatest happiness of the whole, and not that of any one class.' He also somewhat agreed with the forum of Athens that excessive philosophy corrupted the youth of today and caused them to be too critical of their governments. However, he did not believe that Socrates should have been killed.

Socrates and Plato were influential in the theories of several schools that followed them, including those who directly contradicted them. For instance, Epicurus and his followers, Epicureans, taught that happiness can only be realized through avoidance of all forms of pain. Additionally, Hellenistic philosophers claimed that complete knowledge of the universe was impossible to achieve, regardless of the rational conclusions one tried to achieve through the Socratic method or dividing the world into physical and incorporeal parts. Classical philosophers such as Socrates and Plato believed that it could be attained through reason.

Influences of Ancient Greek Philosophers

Ancient Greek philosophy has influenced the formation of politics, recreation, business, and many other facets of life. For instance, the Socratic method mentioned above has helped many professors teach their students to learn for themselves. The main political tenets written about by Plato in Republic endured until today and were significant influences on the writing of the American Declaration of Independence and the Constitution of the United States. Aristotle, a student of Plato, expanded philosophy to the realm of scientific analytics. He invented the first scientific method, and his method of animal classification influenced modern systems of taxonomy and zoology.

Politics, science, and methods of interpretation and thinking are not the only facets of modern life that have been influenced by ancient Greek philosophy. Alexander the Great was a fantastic military leader whose maneuvers inspire military leaders today.

Greek philosophy affects the working class. Mary Pendergraft of Wake Forest University notes that the Apology of Plato was influential in the decisions of protesters during the Vietnam War and Watergate, especially his argument that individuals should prioritize acting according to their conscience rather than doing what everyone else does to save their own life.

Lesson Summary

Greek philosophy is the collective term for ancient, or Presocratic, and Socratic ideas. It consists of major thoughts and ideas that were spread widely enough to be reported by many contemporaries, especially in the case of Presocratic philosophers. Presocratic philosophies are the teachings of philosophers who predated Socrates. These teachings are characterized by a focus on explaining the creation and makeup of the world and an interest in contradicting widely believed mythologies. Socratic philosophy is the teachings of Socrates and Plato, as well as the expansions on their ideas that were created by their followers, including derivations created in the present day.

Presocratic philosophers include:

• Thales of Miletus
• Xenophanes
• Heraclitus
• Democritus

Socrates and Plato drew upon Democritus to base their philosophies, which criticized most of the Presocratic foundations. They also disagreed with each other on several subjects, mostly the nature of morals and the intent of societies. On a larger level, they disagreed with Hellenistic philosophers. Hellenistic philosophers claimed that complete knowledge of the universe was impossible to achieve, regardless of the rational conclusions one tried to achieve through the Socratic method or dividing the world into physical and incorporeal parts. Classical philosophers such as Socrates and Plato believed that it could be attained through reason. Their ideas are still widely influential today.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is the most famous Greek philosopher?

The most famous Greek philosopher is Socrates. Socrates directly contradicted previous philosophers and has influenced popular perspectives in politics, ethics, morals, science, and other fields for centuries.

What is the meaning of Greek philosophy?

Greek philosophy consists of the concepts of Pre-Socratic and Socratic philosophy. These ideas often focused on the primal cause of the universe, the base element of the universe, and the ethics, morals, and education of humanity.