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PAGES 115-119
SETTING THE SCENE
Philosopher translates “lovers of wisdom” Greek thinkers were called philosophers
Greeks had confidence in the power of the human mind
They were driven by curiosity and a belief in reason.
Greek thinkers, artist, and writers explored the nature of the universe and the place people held in it.
GREEK PHILOSOPHERS
Greek thinkers challenged the belief that events were caused by the whims of gods.
They used observation and reason to find causes instead.
Modern science traces its roots to the Greek search for such principles.
Some Greek philosophers were interested in ethics and morality.
They wanted to know things such as: The best type of government The standards that should rule human
behavior
SOCRATES
Athenian stonemason & philosopher He wrote no books Socratic method
He posed a series of questions to students Challenged them to examine the implications of their
answers Such questioning was a threat to accepted
Athenian traditions At the age of 70, he was put on trial for corrupting
the city’s youth & failing to respect the gods. He was found guilty & sentenced to death. Athenian law’s death penalty was death by poison. He drank a cup of hemlock for the death penalty
Poisonous herb found in the Mediterranean region
PLATO
After Socrates was sentenced to death, Plato no longer trusted democracy.
He left Athens for 10 years, but returned to set up a school called the Academy.
He emphasized the importance of reason. Author of The Republic, which described his idea of an
ideal state. He argued for a state that regulated every aspect of its
citizens’ lives in order to provide for their best interests. His ideal society was divided into three classes:
Workers- who were used to produce necessities to life Soldiers- used to defend the state Philosophers- to think and rule and would be highly trained to
ensure order and justice. Wisest ruler- Philosopher-king– would have ultimate authority
Talented women could be educated & serve the state Plato’s Allegory of the Cave is included in this book
ARISTOTLE
Was Plato’s most famous student Developed his own ideas about government
He did so by analyzing every form of government Found good and bad examples of each form Though democracy could lead to mob rule (like Plato)
He favored rule by a single strong, virtuous leader
He thought people ought to live in good conduct to pursue the “golden mean” which was a moderate course between extremely good and extremely bad.
He also set up a school, but his was named, the Lyceum
The Lyceum
Set up by Aristotle For the study of all branches of
knowledge Left writings on
Politics Ethics Logic Biology Literature
1,500 years later European universities evolved and courses
were based on the works of Aristotle
ARCHITECTURE
Greek architects Goal was to convey a sense of perfect
balance Balance was between the harmony & order
of the universe
The Parthenon Most famous example of Greek architecture Temple dedicated to goddess Athena
ART
Sculpture & Painting Early sculptures were of people in rigid
poses from the Egyptian style 450 BC Greeks sculpted in natural poses
was lifelike & idealistic by carving gods, goddesses, athletes, & famous men in a way the showed people in a perfect & grateful form
Only surviving Greek paintings are on pottery
POETRY & DRAMA
Greek literature began with the epics of Homer
Drama was the most important Greek contribution to literature
1st plays evolved out of religious festivals Plays were performed in large outdoor
theaters with little or no scenery They had elaborate costumes and masks Playwrights discussed moral & social
issues or explored the relationship between people and the gods
TRAGEDY
Aeschylus, Sophocles, & Euripides All 3 are playwrights that wrote tragedies or
plays that told stories of human suffering that usually end in disaster
The purpose was to stir emotions of pity & fear
Euripides survived the Peloponnesian War and is believed to have led him to question his accepted ideas
His plays suggest people not the gods are the cause of human misfortune.
THE WRITING OF HISTORY
Greeks applied observation, reason, & logic to the study of history
Herodotus Author of The Persian Wars Called the “Father of History” in the western
world He visited many lands and collected information
from people who remembered the events he chronicled
He noted bias and conflicting accounts He invented conversations & speeches for
historical figures This set standards for future historians by
stressing the importance of research and the need to avoid bias
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