Greek Culture
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Transcript Greek Culture
Greek Culture
Drama and Philosophy
Historiae
Herodotus of
Halicanarssus:
“the purpose is to
prevent the traces of
human events from
being erased by time
and to preserve the
fame of the important
and remarkable events”
Thucydides: History of
the Peloponnesian War.
Explored long term
cause and effect.
Drama
Greeks loved tragedies
Aeschylus: 27 time dramatist of the year!
Simple plots based on a tragic flaw.
Wrote in “Trilogies” such as the Oretesia.
Euripedes: a skeptic who wrote about the
excess of worshiping Dionysus in the
Bacchae
Social commentary: critical of Peloponnesian
War-Lysistrata
Oedipus: Sophocles
Philosophy
Greek word meaning “love of wisdom”
Concerned with nature of universe and the
place of divine forces within it.
Sophists: traveling philosophical teachers
who rejected speculation as foolish,
understanding the universe was out of our
reach…sole goal personal improvement.
There is no absolute right or wrong, for this
they were considered dangerous.
Socrates:
Left no writings
An “ugly stonemason”
Preferred to teach for free as
his sole purpose was
understanding human nature
and improving the individual.
Socratic method: question
and answer technique to
lead the student to the
answer.
“Unexamined life is not worth
living”
Sacrificed
Plato:
Greatest philosopher of
Western Civilization?
Wrote a great deal on reality.
How do we know what is
real? Allegory of the Cave
Major work is The Republic
“Forms theory”. There are
ideal forms, our job is to try
and perceive them as best
as we can through an
astutely trained mind.
Allegory of the Cave
Republic
Plato distrusted the
democracy of Athens
Population divided into three
basic groups: a ruling elite
(Philosopher Kings). 2.
Those who showed courage
(warriros to protect). 3. The
masses, those driven by
desire.
Equality of the genders.
“there will no rest from
troubles” unless
Philosophers become kings.
The Academy
Founded in the 4th century BCE ran until it
was closed in the 6th century CE by the
Byzantine emperor Justinian.
Aristotle
Studied at Plato’s Academy
Tutored Alexander the Great
Dismissed Plato’s forms.
Intense study could lead to
the understanding of objects
and their true form.
Emphasized classification
and research
Politics
Aristotle examined 158 state
constitutions.
Examined three “good
governments” that can
become bad
1. Monarchy (can become
tyranny)
2. Aristocracy (can become
oligarchy)
3. Constitutional
Government (that can
become “mob rule” or
anarchy.)