Unit Two - Transcript of Powerpoint Presentation

About the Course "This course is a philosophical survey of the most important writings and figures from the birth of Western philosophy and science. We shall investigate materials dating from approximately 600bc to 300bc, all from the ancient Greek world. The course will have three main parts: (1) pre-Socratics, (2) Socrates and Plato, and (3) Aristotle. "The primary goal of this course is to gain a familiarity with the main philosophical ideas of the period, as they were originated and developed by several of the period’s key figures. These three hundred years were extremely fruitful in both ideas and thinkers, and so we must necessarily give only the merest sketch. Indeed, we will have to make a ruthless selection, eliminating from the reading lists many works that, were there world enough and time, would ideally be included in a complete study of Ancient philosophy. Nevertheless, we shall do our best to gain an understanding of the outlines of the period. "A secondary goal of this course is to introduce students to the philosophical method, which includes the ability to evaluate a philosophical argument. Our readings include some of the first attempts to understand what philosophy is, and hence to distinguish philosophy from non-philosophy. We shall thus spend a fair amount of time sorting that out. In particular, we shall investigate philosophical arguments—what counts as an argument (and what does not), what are good arguments (and what are not), and so forth." (Thanks to Professor James Otteson, University of Alabama, Ref.)

 

Philosophy before Socrates: Introduction Philosophy before Socrates is piecemeal. We are left to discern the philosophical accomplishments of the earliest philosophers mainly from the reports of those who followed them, including, most notably, Aristotle, who was the first systematic historian of philosophy. So, we face formidable problems of interpretation. In the first instance, this means that we read today only fragments of what they actually wrote - snippets of works now long lost, wrenched from their original contexts and often quoted for plainly polemical purposes. Still, all is not lost. In some cases, we posses reasonably lengthy quotations; in others, it is possible to conjecture the likely positions of the earliest thinkers on the basis of paraphrases and reports whose primary purpose was the transmission of the views of the ancients to posterity, so that we can see directly, without inference, what they intended to maintain. (Christopher Shields, The Blackwell Guide to Ancient Philosophy, p. 1)

The Pre-Socratics are a Bridge It is sometimes difficult to determine the actual line of argument some pre-Socratics used in supporting their particular views. While most of them produced significant texts, none of the texts have survived in complete form. All we have are quotations by later philosophers, historians, and the occasional textual fragment. The pre-Socratic philosophers rejected traditional mythological explanations for the phenomena they saw around them in favor of more rational explanations. Many of them asked: Where does everything come from? What is it really made out of? How do we explain the plurality of things found in nature? How might we describe nature mathematically? Others concentrated on defining problems and paradoxes that became the basis for later mathematical, scientific and philosophic study. (www.reference.com)

Greek Philosophy, by Thomas Knierim (This link is to a 25 page .pdf file and contains essays on Thales, Anaximander, Pythagoras, Heraclitus, Parmenides, Zeno, Empedocles, Anaxagoras, Leucippus, and Democritus.  Or if you would prefer to view these essays on the web, click here). "Astonishing advances in art, science and politics were made in the eastern part of the Mediterranean sea about 2,500 years ago. Greek philosophers were among the first in the West to explore nature in a rational way and to make educated guesses about the creation of the world and the universe. This is why Greece is often referred to as the birthplace of Western culture. "Some of the ancient philosopher's speculations have successfully anticipated findings of 20th century science. The concept of atoms, for example, was first formulated by Leucippus and Democritus around 400 BC. Greek thought and values have been extremely influential throughout centuries and lasted until the present day. "The ancient Greeks viewed the world in a way that one would today perhaps describe as "holistic". Science, philosophy, art and politics were interwoven and combined into one worldview. Moreover, those who look carefully will find subtle, but intelligible parallels between early Greek philosophy and Eastern thought. The Heraclitean fire resembles Buddhist impermanence, while the Greek Logos resembles the way of the Tao, just to name two examples. More detailed portraits of Greek ideas and their contenders can be found on the following pages; so read on and find out more about them...."  (This link is to a 25 page .pdf file and contains essays on Thales, Anaximander, Pythagoras, Heraclitus, Parmenides, Zeno, Empedocles, Anaxagoras, Leucippus, and Democritus.  Or if you would prefer to view these essays on the web, click here).