Introduction
Greece is commonly related to great intellectuals and even mathematicians. Furthermore, the country is also known for its alphabet, and, mainly, for his philosophy.
Greek philosophy is linked to the period of emergence of Philosophy, which took place between the 7th and 5th centuries BC in Ancient Greece. Philosophy arises from the need to explain events and events in the world based on rationality. During this period, mythological and fanciful explanations no longer met the Greeks’ questions about the formation of the world and political and social relations.
Based on their dissatisfaction with mythological explanations, the Greeks then began to seek rational explanations to resolve their doubts. The word philosophy in Greek means love of knowledge. The search for rational wisdom even appears in the name that will be adopted by this new science and marks the search for rational explanations throughout its development.
What was Greek philosophy?
Greek philosophy was an intellectual and cultural movement that developed in Ancient Greece, approximately between the 6th century BC and the 5th century AD. This philosophical tradition played a fundamental role in the formation of Western thought and influenced many subsequent philosophical currents.
What is the objective of Greek philosophy?
Greek philosophers sought to understand the fundamental principles of reality, human nature, knowledge, ethics, politics, and metaphysical issues.
Historical context
Philosophy emerged in a period in which Greek societies formed their city-states, the polis. The new model of social organization was fundamental for the creation of spaces dedicated to knowledge and the search for rational explanations.
Athens was the city-state that best exemplified the importance of the existence of places in the polis for the exchange of information and political discussions. Later, discussions in the public square that united words and rational knowledge would contribute to the emergence of democracy.
Conditions for the development and expansion of Philosophy
In addition to the city-states that facilitated the exchange of information and rational knowledge, Greek poetry and religion are also responsible for the development and expansion of Greek philosophy, and also for the dissemination of rational knowledge.
Greek poetry and narratives were important because, at first, Greek poets and writers sought to distance themselves more and more from mythological explanations and point out rational explanations for the narratives they told.
Furthermore, the works were spread throughout the Greek colonies in commercial exchange movements. Access to books, which reached different regions, contributed to the expansion of Philosophy beyond Greece.
Greek religion also favored the development of philosophy. The lack of a sacred book, dogmatism, and religious authority favored the free expression of ideas and thoughts.
Without religious pressure and authoritarianism, philosophers had more freedom to develop and disseminate their ideas, as there was no religious opposition.
Periods
Greek philosophy is divided into three important periods:
1. Pre-Socratic Period (7th to 5th centuries BC) – Period of the first philosophers and the first rational searches, before Socrates. During this period, philosophers sought explanations for the emergence of the world and elements of nature. Thales of Miletus stands out among pre-Socratic philosophers and is considered one of the founding fathers of Philosophy.
2. Socratic Period (5th to 4th centuries BC) – Also called the classical period of philosophy, it appears together with democracy. Classical philosophers leave natural questions aside and turn their gaze to human beings, politics, and social relations. During this period, philosophers stood out Socrates, Plato It is Aristotle.
3. Hellenistic or Post-Socratic Period (4th century BC to 6th century AD) – Philosophers focus their main interests on human issues, the search for happiness, and metaphysics. Production ceases to be a Greek domain and knowledge expands to other regions. However, the Greek influence is still very present. Epicurus, Seneca, and Antisthenes stand out in this period.
Top Schools
Several schools developed during the period of dominance of Greek philosophy, among which the following are worth highlighting:
1. Ionian school: aims to discover the origin of the world and all elements based on the four fundamental elements – water, air, earth and fire. Main name: Thales of Miletus.
2. Sophist School: The Sophists intended to discover the foundation of all things through logical and rational explanations. Main name: Protagoras.
3. Atomist School: the formation of all things and beings occurs through the collision of indivisible particles – atoms. Main names: Leucippus and Democritus.
4. Epicureanism: preaches the practice of virtue to achieve pleasure and happiness. Main name: Epicurus.
5. Stoicism: for Stoics, feelings must be left aside and reason must prevail. Main names: Zeno of Citium and Seneca.
6. Cynicism: these philosophers despise the possession of material goods and argue that happiness is found through virtue. Main name: Antisthenes.
Main thinkers of Ancient Greece
Ancient Greece was the birthplace of many notable thinkers and philosophers, whose ideas and contributions profoundly influenced Western thought. Here are some of the main thinkers of Ancient Greece:
1. Thales of Miletus (c. 624 BC – c. 546 BC): Considered one of the Seven Sages of Greece, Thales was a pre-Socratic philosopher and mathematician who sought natural explanations for the universe. He is known for his speculations about the origin of nature and is considered the father of Western philosophy.
2. Pythagoras (c. 570 BC – c. 495 BC): Philosopher and mathematician, Pythagoras founded the Pythagorean school and believed in the immortality of the soul and the importance of numbers and harmony in understanding the world.
3. Heraclitus (c. 535 BC – c. 475 BC): Pre-Socratic philosopher who stated that change was the fundamental principle of the universe and that “you cannot enter the same river twice”.
4. Parmenides (c. 515 BC – c. 450 BC): Eleatic philosopher who defended the idea that being is immutable and change is illusory.
5. Socrates (c. 469 BC – 399 BC): One of the most influential figures in Western philosophy, Socrates is known for his dialogue-based philosophical approach and his emphasis on self-reflection and the search for truth. He was Plato’s teacher.
6. Plato (c. 427 BC – c. 347 BC): Disciple of Socrates, Plato founded the Academy and is known for his dialogued works that address various themes, such as the theory of ideas, justice, politics, and the soul.
7. Aristotle (384 BC – 322 BC): A disciple of Plato, Aristotle was a polymath whose works covered diverse areas of knowledge, including ethics, logic, metaphysics, politics, biology and physics. He founded the Lyceum and is one of the most important figures in the history of philosophy.
8. Democritus (c. 460 BC – c. 370 BC): Atomist philosopher who proposed that everything is composed of indivisible particles called atoms.
Summary of Greek philosophy
Greek philosophy was an intellectual movement that flourished in Ancient Greece between the 6th century BC and 5th century AD. It was characterized by a rational and systematic search for understanding reality, human nature, ethics, knowledge, politics and metaphysical issues.
Greek philosophers explored a variety of themes and approaches. Pre-Socratic philosophers, such as Thales of Miletus, sought natural explanations for the origin and essence of the world. Pythagoras emphasized the importance of numbers and harmony in understanding reality.
Socrates, one of the most influential philosophers, highlighted the value of self-reflection, self-knowledge and constant questioning as a means of searching for truth. His disciple, Plato, founded the Academy and developed theories such as the theory of ideas, where sensible reality is just a reflection of the world of perfect ideas.
Aristotle, another disciple of Plato, founded the Lyceum and expanded knowledge in several areas, such as ethics, politics, logic and biology. He emphasized the empirical and systematic study of nature.
Greek philosophy profoundly influenced Western culture and thought, shaping the foundations of logic, ethics, politics, and science. His legacy continues to be studied and debated to this day, maintaining its relevance in the search for knowledge and understanding of the world.