- The philosophers were " seekers of wisdom" who tried to study the world in a systematic way.
- Believed people could understand the universe through logic and reason.
- The earliest group was known as sophists-men of wisdom.
- Their main concern was political and social success.
- Many were teachers who trained the children of the wealthy.
Heraclitus ( ca
. 540- ca. 480 BCE ): "One cannot step twice in the same river." His message was that reality is constantly changing, it's an on going process rather than a fixed and stable product. All reality is fleeting and impermanent. "The unapparent connection is more powerful than the apparent one."
Socrates (469-399-BC) Socrates, Ancient Greek, changed philosophy from a study of natural science
to ethics and politics, but didn't write anything. The Socratic Method is a question and answer technique of studying which was designed to make people examine their beliefs. Socrates is famous for arguing that one must know himself, that the unexamined life is not worth living. Therefore it is a cruel irony that he was condemned to death for corrupting the youth he was teaching to search the truth.
Plato ( 429
- 347 B.C ) Ancient Greek, student of Socrates, most influential philosopher of all time. Plato based his philosophy on two principles "Truth and simplicity" Plato was a brilliant man . one of the greatest philosophers of the past 2,500 years. Both Socrates and Plato knew that good society must be founded on wisdom derived from truth and reality. In the Republic-Plato outlines his ideas of the ideal society. He believed no one should have wealth or luxury. and all should do what they are best suited to. Plato also had a good understanding of human nature. He later began to develop his own philosophy The fundamental aspect of Plato's thought is the theory of " ideas" or "forms." Plato, like so many other Greek philosophers, was stymied by the question of change in the physical world. Plato's philosophy developed largely from that of his teacher Socrates. Under their influence Greek philosophy shifted its focus from problems of the physical world to ethics, politics, knowledge and ideas. In his great books, The Laws and The Republic, Plato elaborated his doctrines of education, the role of laws and the structure of the ideal state.
. 540- ca. 480 BCE ): "One cannot step twice in the same river." His message was that reality is constantly changing, it's an on going process rather than a fixed and stable product. All reality is fleeting and impermanent. "The unapparent connection is more powerful than the apparent one."
Socrates (469-399-BC) Socrates, Ancient Greek, changed philosophy from a study of natural science
to ethics and politics, but didn't write anything. The Socratic Method is a question and answer technique of studying which was designed to make people examine their beliefs. Socrates is famous for arguing that one must know himself, that the unexamined life is not worth living. Therefore it is a cruel irony that he was condemned to death for corrupting the youth he was teaching to search the truth.
Plato ( 429
- 347 B.C ) Ancient Greek, student of Socrates, most influential philosopher of all time. Plato based his philosophy on two principles "Truth and simplicity" Plato was a brilliant man . one of the greatest philosophers of the past 2,500 years. Both Socrates and Plato knew that good society must be founded on wisdom derived from truth and reality. In the Republic-Plato outlines his ideas of the ideal society. He believed no one should have wealth or luxury. and all should do what they are best suited to. Plato also had a good understanding of human nature. He later began to develop his own philosophy The fundamental aspect of Plato's thought is the theory of " ideas" or "forms." Plato, like so many other Greek philosophers, was stymied by the question of change in the physical world. Plato's philosophy developed largely from that of his teacher Socrates. Under their influence Greek philosophy shifted its focus from problems of the physical world to ethics, politics, knowledge and ideas. In his great books, The Laws and The Republic, Plato elaborated his doctrines of education, the role of laws and the structure of the ideal state.