Greek Philosophy

The School of Athens

What is Philosophy?

• Philosophy: means the love of knowledge– Philo means Love– sophy means knowledge or study

• Athens is the birthplace of Western Philosophy; three major Philosophers would shape thinking in Athens1. Socrates2. Plato3. Aristotle

Socrates• Examined Beliefs and Morality• Pointed out Hypocrisy and Ignorance• “Only one good ‘Knowledge’ and one evil

‘ignorance’”• Self-Examination through the Socratic Method

Plato

• A student of Socrates• Founded the Academy in

Athens (The first of its kind)• Taught the lessons of

Socrates• His most famous work is the

Republic– This work describes the

perfect Society (Democracy)

Aristotle

• Student of Socrates and Plato

• Studied Logic, providing the basis for the Scientific Method that we all love

• Teacher of Alexander the Great