The Greek Mind pp. 278-282

Greek Philosophers Handout

Chapter 10.2

Essential Question:

In modern times, how do new ideas change the way people live?

Greek Philosophers

Socrates c. 470-399 BC Plato c. 428-347 BC Aristotle c. 384-322 BC

Greek Thinkers

Greek Thinkers

500 B.C. to 350 B.C was known as the Golden Age of Greece.

Art, architecture, literature, and philosophy thrived

Philosophy is a Greek word meaning “love of wisdom”

The Sophists

The Sophists

• Sophists were teachers that traveled from one polis to another.

• They taught all subjects, including rhetoric, the art of speaking and debate.

• Didn’t believe the gods had power over humans

• Challenged Greek traditions• Taught winning was better than seeking

the truth

Who Was Socrates?

Socrates• Lived in Athens and trained to be a sculptor• Loved philosophy and teaching• Believed in absolute truth and knowledge is in

everyone• Didn’t leave written records but students wrote

about him• Asked questions as teaching strategy – Socratic

method• Wanted students to question and think for

themselves

Socrates• After Peloponnesian War, open debate wasn’t

trusted in Athens• Leaders feared his influence• Arrested in 399 B.C. and charged with

encouraging the young to rebel• Found guilty and sentenced to death by poison• He was given the opportunity to leave Athens,

but refused saying he had to follow the law.

Plato’s Ideas

Plato

• Student of Socrates• Quit career in government after death of

Socrates• Became a teacher and founded the Academy in

Athens• Wrote The Republic, plan for society and

government• Wanted philosopher kings to rule• Didn’t think common people could think for

themselves• Believed women should have more rights

Who Was Aristotle?

Aristotle• 335 B.C. started the Lyceum school• Taught the “golden mean”, live moderately• His methods of studying science influenced modern

science• Wrote Politics, a book on government• Believed best government had features of monarchy,

oligarchy, and democracy• Influenced later governments including the U.S.• Alexander the Great was his student

Essential Question

In ancient times, how did new ideas change the way people lived?– Give evidence from the textbook

• Answer in your words, THEN• Cite your evidence

Horrible History

• Socrates Rescue

• Thinkers Song

Your turn

• Your team must create a 30-45 sec. song about the 3 philosophers.

• You must use facts from the textbook in your song.

• You have 40 mins. until show time!

New History and Science Ideas

Greeks and History

• Herodotus– 435 B.C. wrote a

history of the Persians Wars

– “Father of history”– Researched the

events and questioned many people

– Still believed gods played a role in events

• Thucydides– Wrote The History of

the Peloponnesian War

– Believed on people made history

– Wanted eyewitness accounts

– Believed one could learn from mistakes of the past

The First Scientists• Believed natural events could be explained by

logic• Thales studied astronomy• Pythagoras believed every relationship could be

expressed in numbers.• Pythagorean Theorem

Ancient Greek Medicine

• Hippocrates – “father of medicine”

• Believed disease was from natural causes

• Traveled all over Greece treating the sick

• Hippocratic Oath – list of rules for doctors on how to treat patients

• Doctors today use the Hippocratic Oath

Greek thinkers

SocratesPlato

Aristotle Hippocrates

Herodotus Thucydides

•Philosopher

•He taught by asking questions

•Sentenced to death

•Philosopher

•Socrates student

•Opened the Academy

•Wrote “the Republic”

•Philosopher

•Thought government should be divided

•Study science through observation

•Historian

•“Father of History”

•Mixed history with myths

•Historian

•Did NOT include gods

•We could learn from the past

•Physician

•“Father of Medicine”

•Hippocratic Oath”

•Patients privacy

Essential Question:

In ancient times, how did new ideas change the way people lived?

• Give evidence from the textbook• Answer in your words, THEN• Cite your evidence