Classical Greek Philosophy and Its Key Thinkers

Animism

Belief in spirits inhabiting nature.

Anthropomorphism

Attributing human traits to nature.

Magic

Use of rituals to influence spirits.

Olympian Religion

Worship of indifferent gods and goddesses.

Dionysiac-Orphic Religion

Faith focused on Dionysius and communal rituals.

Dionysius

God of wine, agriculture, and theatre.

Orpheus

Disciple of Dionysius, taught arts and medicine.

Ekstasis

State of being outside oneself, seeking divine.

Transmigration of Souls

Belief in souls moving between bodies.

Cosmologists

Early philosophers studying the nature of the cosmos.

Pre-Socratics

Philosophers before Socrates, foundational to philosophy.

Psyche

Greek term for breath of life or soul.

Physis

Nature or essence of things.

Thales of Miletus

First philosopher, believed water as primary substance.

Geometric Principles

Rules governing shapes and spatial relationships.

Natural Principles

Laws governing the physical universe.

Eclipses

Astronomical events where one body obscures another.

Earthquakes

Shaking of the ground caused by geological activity.

Rational Universe

Concept of a universe governed by logical laws.

Moral Order

System of ethics upheld by the Olympian gods.

Mysteries and Festivals

Rituals aimed at connecting with the divine.

Madness as Religious Phenomena

Belief that madness results from divine intervention.

Thales

Proposed water as the fundamental substance.

Magnetic rocks

Believed to have souls inducing movement.

Lodestone

A naturally magnetized mineral attracting metals.

Amber

Fossilized tree resin yielding static electricity.

Supremacy of thought

Emphasized the importance of critical thinking.

Anaximander

Rejected water as physis; proposed boundless origin.

Physis

The fundamental principle or substance of existence.

Evolution theory

Proposed life originated from hot water and earth.

Immortal physis

Anaximander's concept of eternal, unchanging substance.

Heraclitus

Philosopher known for his doctrine of change.

Constant change

Belief that everything is in a state of flux.

Unity of opposites

Concept that opposites coexist and reflect each other.

Pythagoras

First philosopher to describe himself as such.

Numeric relations

Belief that the universe can be expressed mathematically.

Transmigration of souls

Belief in the rebirth of souls into new bodies.

Music of the spheres

Concept linking mathematics and harmony in the universe.

Harmonious blending

Health results from balanced elements in the body.

Abstract world

Pythagorean belief in a perfect realm of forms.

Material world

The imperfect physical realm, inferior to the abstract.

Quiet contemplation

Practice emphasized in Pythagorean school for learning.

Pythagorean school

Community focused on philosophy, mathematics, and ethics.

Dietary restrictions

Pythagoreans avoided flesh and beans for concentration.

Fire as governing agent

Heraclitus's view of fire's central role in existence.

Pythagoras

Philosopher associated with Plato, rejected by Aristotle.

Empedocles

Physician and disciple of Pythagoras, claimed divinity.

Four Roots

Elements: water, earth, air, fire; form everything.

Love and Strife

Causal powers that unite or separate elements.

Stages of Elements

Four stages of element interaction: love and strife.

Democritus

Philosopher who proposed the concept of atoms.

Atoms

Indivisible particles making up all matter.

Void

Empty space where atoms move and interact.

Eidolon

Image emitted by objects, activates senses.

Materialism

Belief that everything, including the soul, is matter.

Socratics

Philosophers emphasizing ethical learning and virtue.

Ethical Learning

Knowledge tied to virtue; promotes societal happiness.

Ignorance and Immorality

Products of lack of knowledge according to Socratics.

Socrates

Founder of Western philosophy, known through disciples.

Plato

Philosopher and disciple of Socrates, influential thinker.

Xenophon

Historian and soldier, disciple of Socrates.

Peloponnesian War

Conflict (431-404 BCE) Socrates participated in.

Divine Claims

Empedocles claimed to have been various forms.

Bone Composition

Bone: 2 parts earth, 2 parts water, 4 parts fire.

Blood Composition

Blood: equal parts fire, water, and air.

Self-Promotion

Empedocles known for his flair in this.

Secret Society

Group of adherents to specific philosophical beliefs.

Socratic Method

Dialogue approach to stimulate critical thinking.

Socratic Method

Teaching through questioning to stimulate critical thinking.

Know Thyself

Encouragement to understand one's own character and motivations.

Essences

Basic natures tied to enduring characteristics of things.

Theory of Forms

Plato's concept of ideal forms underlying physical objects.

Plato's Apology

Dialogue detailing Socrates' trial and defense.

Plato's Phaedo

Dialogue describing Socrates' death and philosophical reflections.

Moral Knowledge

Understanding essences leads to moral actions.

Athenian Aristocracy

Wealthy class that supported Socrates' teachings.

Socrates' Death

Executed for corrupting youth and impiety.

Philosophical Legacy

Socrates emphasized reason and self-knowledge in thought.

Pythagorean Influence

Plato's teachings were influenced by Pythagorean beliefs.

Political Upheaval

Athens experienced shifts between oligarchy and democracy.

Socratic Loyalty

Devotion of followers, especially from elite classes.

Corruption of Youth

Socrates accused of leading youth astray from gods.

Social Contract

Agreement to abide by laws of the city.

Plato's Academy

School established by Plato in Athens.

Grandfatherly Image

Plato portrayed Socrates as warm and devoted.

Philosopher's Fear of Death

Socrates believed philosophers should not fear death.

Athenian Plague

Event Socrates survived during Athens' decline.

Socratic Irony

Feigning ignorance to expose others' lack of knowledge.

Individual Experience

Socrates valued personal insights over abstract concepts.

Essence of Beauty

Common characteristics defining what is considered beautiful.

Theory of Forms

Plato's concept of ideal forms versus material representations.

Mind-Body Dualism

Distinction between the soul (mind) and body.

Realm of the Ideal

Domain where perfect forms exist, beyond material.

Forms

Perfect ideals from which material representations derive.

Material Realm

Physical world perceived through the senses.

Imperfect Representations

Material objects that are flawed versions of forms.

Soul

Immortal essence capable of understanding truth.

Body

Mortal, physical entity learning through senses.

Corrupt Senses

Sensory information that misleads and distorts knowledge.

True Knowledge

Understanding attained through reason and forms.