Greek Philosophy

I. Classical Age in Greece, 490-323 BCEII. Classical Greek ValuesIII. Greek Philosophy

IDs: polis, Pericles, hoplite phalanx, rationalism

Argument

The emphasis on humanism & rationalism in Classical Greek philosophy reflects the value classical Greeks gave to individual glory and competition. Even though it was balanced by identity as citizens in a polis, that value on glory and competition destroyed classical Greek society.

Axial (Spiritual Age) 6th-4th century BCE

Influential Thinkers• Buddha• Mahavira• Confucius• Laozi ?• Socrates• Aristotle• Plato & other Greeks

New Religions/Philosophical Systems

• Buddhism• Confucianism• Daoism• Greek Philosophy

I. Classical Greece, 490-323 BCE

A. Origins1. On periphery of

Mesopotamian/ Egyptian civilizations

2. Cultural Development

Ca. 1200 BCE: Trojan War

800 BCE: Homer writes Iliad & Odyssey

3. Government: Polis (city-state)

AthensSpartaCorinthEphesus

4. Dependence on Sea, Trade & Colonies

Mediterranean Network, 1000-300 BCEPurple: GreeksBlue-Green: Phoenicians

B. War with Persia, 490-480 BCE

Hoplite Phalanxes

C. Athens in the Classical Age

DemocracyTradePhilosophyArchitecture

Democracy

Limitations:MaleFreeCitizen

Public Life

Periclesdemogogue

Slavery

D. Sparta in the Classical Age

military identityhelots

D. Peloponnesian War (431-404 BCE): Athens vs. Sparta

II. Classical Greek Values: A. Competition & Individual glory

B. Identity: Citizenship in the polis

Citizen-soldiers

hoplites

C. Dissatisfaction with Religion

Olympian godsZeusanthropomorphic

D. Male Superiority & Separate Socializing

Patriarchy

Seclusion of elite women

Symposium

III. Classical Greek Philosophy

A. RationalismReasonDivision of mind &

emotions

B. Humanism

Human wisdom, beauty, skill

SciencePoetryMusicSportsDrama

C. Education

competitionreadingwritingathleticsself-control

D. Debate & Public Life

Agora (marketplace)AnalysisPolitics (from Polis =

city-state)

E. Study of Nature & Human world

SciencesMathMedicinePoetrySculptureTheater: tragedy &

comedy

Argument

The emphasis on humanism & rationalism in Classical Greek philosophy reflects the value classical Greeks gave to individual glory and competition. Even though it was balanced by identity as citizens in a polis, that value on glory and competition destroyed classical Greek society.