Greek Humanism and Philosophy

What does the term 'philosophy' mean in Greek?

It means 'love of wisdom.'

Who is considered the first philosopher to focus on ethical and epistemological questions?

Socrates (470/469-399 B.C.E.)

What method did Socrates develop that involves systematic questioning?

The Socratic method.

What significant cultural achievement is summed up in the term 'Hellenic culture'?

The overall achievement of the Greeks during their great age, particularly in the fine arts and the search for wisdom.

What was the impact of the Macedonian conquest in 338 B.C.E. on Greek culture?

It led to the spread of a diluted form of Greek culture known as Hellenistic culture.

Who were two of the greatest pre-Socratic philosophers mentioned?

Anaximander and Hippocrates.

What was Anaximander known for?

He was the father of the theory of natural evolution of species and believed the universe was boundless and constantly expanding.

What is Hippocrates best known for?

He is known as a founder of scientific medicine and emphasized the importance of firsthand observation of natural phenomena.

What significant event occurred in 776 B.C.E. in ancient Greece?

The first Olympic Games.

What did the pre-Socratic philosophers contribute to the understanding of natural phenomena?

They conceived of natural law, explaining phenomena without solely attributing them to the gods.

What was Socrates' approach to knowledge?

He concentrated on human rationality and focused on questions like 'How do I know?' rather than 'What is to be known?'

What cultural values did Hellenistic culture retain from Classical Greek polis?

It retained some values and attitudes but also adopted different values from Eastern kingdoms and empires.

What did Socrates' questioning of religious ideas lead to?

His trial and execution for blasphemy.

What is the significance of the quote from the Funeral Oration of Pericles?

It reflects the Greek ideal of cultivating the mind while maintaining manliness.

What era is referred to as the Classical Age in Greek philosophy?

The fifth and fourth centuries B.C.E.

What is the relationship between Greek humanism and Western civilization?

The Greek contribution to Western civilization is equal to that of the Jews and Christians.

What is the significance of the term 'Hellenistic civilization'?

It refers to the altered form of Hellenism that spread into the East and Egypt after the fall of the Greeks to the Macedonians.

What was the focus of Socratic philosophy?

It focused on ethical and epistemological questions.

How did the Greeks view the gods in relation to natural phenomena?

They did not deny the gods but sought natural explanations for phenomena.

What was the role of critical thinking in Socrates' teaching?

It initiated the golden age of ancient philosophy.

What does the phrase 'cultivate the mind without loss of manliness' imply about Greek values?

It suggests a balance between intellectual pursuit and traditional masculine virtues.

What was the time frame of the Hellenistic Age in the eastern Mediterranean?

c. 300-50 B.C.E.

What was the significance of the Olympic Games in ancient Greece?

They were a major cultural and athletic event that symbolized Greek unity and competition.

What was the primary method Socrates used to engage his disciples?

He systematically questioned them to examine and justify their beliefs.

What significant change occurred in Greek philosophy during the seventh and sixth centuries B.C.E.?

The gradual onset of philosophical inquiry began, moving away from supernatural explanations.

Who is the primary source of knowledge about Socrates?

His pupil and admirer, Plato.

What were the charges against Socrates that led to his trial?

He was accused of poisoning the minds of the youth of Athens.

What was Socrates' punishment after being found guilty?

He was forced to drink poisonous hemlock.

How did Plato differ from Socrates in his philosophical approach?

Plato sought to solve the problem of how the mind can recognize Truth and ultimate reality.

What are the three periods of Greek philosophy?

The pre-Socratic period, the Classical Age, and the Hellenistic era.

What characterizes the pre-Socratic period of philosophy?

It extends from the earliest surviving philosophical writings around 600 B.C.E. to the life of Socrates.

What was Aristotle's relationship to Plato?

Aristotle was a pupil of Plato but differed sharply from him in philosophical views.

What is Aristotle known for in the context of Greek philosophy?

He is considered a universal genius with interests in various fields, including science and formal analysis of thoughts.

What was the Hippocratic Oath?

A pledge that physicians must take before practicing medicine, emphasizing ethical standards.

What was one core principle of Hippocratic medical theory?

Good health is rooted in a good and balanced life.

What did Hippocrates believe about the state of one's health?

It came from being a moral person and maintaining equilibrium of bodily fluids.

What are the four bodily fluids according to Hippocratic theory?

Blood, yellow bile, black bile, and phlegm.

What was Hippocrates' innovation in medicine?

He taught that imbalances in bodily fluids produced particular illnesses.

How did ancient Greeks typically seek solutions to health problems before the rise of philosophy?

They consulted the god of healing, Aesculapius, rather than looking for natural causes.

What ritual was commonly performed by Aesculapian physicians?

Rituals that used the supposed healing power of snakes.

What does the modern symbol of medicine, the caduceus, represent?

It includes the staff of Aesculapius, around which are wound two snakes.

What was the philosophical focus of the Classical Age in Greece?

Rational examination of the entire spectrum of human knowledge.

What did Plato analyze in his works 'The Republic' and 'The Laws'?

He analyzed politics as it should be and as it existed.

What was Aristotle's contribution to the field of science?

He made significant contributions across various scientific fields and formalized the analysis of thoughts.

What was the impact of constant turmoil in Greece on Plato's views?

It likely predisposed him toward notably antidemocratic views.

What did the pre-Socratics seek answers for?

They sought explanations for natural occurrences outside the realm of religion and magic.

Who is considered the first great empiricist in the natural sciences?

Hippocrates

What significant advance in literacy occurred around 500 B.C.E. in Greek city-states?

Levels of literacy exceeded 30 percent and possibly reached 50 percent.

What was one of the key works attributed to Hippocrates?

The Aphorisms of Hippocrates.

What did Hippocrates believe was crucial for knowledge gained through observation?

It should be recorded in writing to be shared and passed down.

What did Hippocrates forbid in medical practice?

Primitive medical practices and Aesculapian practices.

What did Hippocrates encourage in medical practice?

New methods based on careful observation.

How did the Greeks view their ability to understand the cosmos?

They believed humans could understand the cosmos through reason and careful observation, without resorting to supernatural explanations.

What was the significance of the Hellenic and Hellenistic periods for science?

Science flourished due to the Greek habit of rational and logical thought.

What was Aristotle's contribution to the scientific method?

He insisted on careful observation of natural phenomena before explaining their causes.

What was the major figure of Cynicism during the Hellenistic era?

Diogenes.

What did Cynicism advocate for in society?

A return to absolute simplicity and a rejection of artificial divisions.

What impact did Alexander's conquests have on Greek knowledge?

They exposed the Greeks to Babylonian mathematicians and astronomers, enhancing their scientific knowledge.

How did the Greeks' understanding of natural law differ from their views on the gods?

They created gods in their own image and did not rely on supernatural powers to explain natural law.

What was the role of written records in the context of Hippocrates's teachings?

They allowed knowledge to be shared and preserved for future generations.

What was the relationship between Greek philosophy and humanism?

Greek philosophy emphasized human capability to understand the world through reason, contributing to the development of humanism.

What was the significance of the library and museum mentioned in the notes?

They were centers of knowledge and learning in the ancient world.

What philosophical approach emerged in the middle 300s B.C.E. during the Hellenistic era?

Cynicism.

What did the increase in literacy levels in Greece potentially change?

It likely changed the ways people thought and did things, contributing to Greek humanism.

What was the Greek pursuit of knowledge often referred to as?

The 'love of wisdom' that was reachable by the unaided human intellect.

What was the impact of the destruction of the library and museum?

They were significant losses to the centers of knowledge in the ancient world.

What kind of knowledge did the Greeks seek during the Hellenic and Hellenistic periods?

Knowledge that could be understood through rational thought and observation.

What was the general attitude of Greeks towards the gods in relation to natural phenomena?

They were not overawed by the gods and sought explanations through natural law.

What did Hippocrates's approach to medicine represent in the context of Greek thought?

A shift towards empirical observation and rationality in medical practice.

How did the conquests of Alexander influence Greek science?

They facilitated extensive contact with the knowledge of the Middle East, enriching Greek scientific understanding.

What philosophy was founded by Epicurus in the third century B.C.E.?

Epicureanism, which taught that the principal good of life was pleasure, defined as the avoidance of pain.

What did Epicurus believe was necessary to achieve inner peace?

He believed that one must consciously reject the values and prejudices of others and turn inward to discover what is important.

Who proposed a heliocentric model of the universe?

Aristarchus of Samos.

What model of the universe did Ptolemy support in the second century C.E.?

The geocentric model, which posited that the Earth was at the center of the universe.

Which philosophy captured the largest following among the Hellenistic population?

Stoicism, founded by Zeno, which emphasized the unity of humanity and the obligation to participate in public life.

What did Eratosthenes contribute to geography?

He accurately calculated the circumference of the Earth and provided the first reliable maps of the globe.

Who was Archimedes and what was his significance?

Archimedes was a prominent researcher in physics and mathematics during the third century B.C.E.

What is the title of the influential math treatise written by Euclid?

The Elements of Geometry.

What was the general attitude of Greeks towards practical applications of science during the Hellenistic Period?

They were not interested in practical aspects, focusing instead on theoretical breakthroughs.

What was the biggest center of scientific inquiry during the Hellenistic Period?

The city of Alexandria, Egypt.

What areas of inquiry were most significant in Hellenistic science?

Biology, medicine, astronomy, geography, physics, and mathematics.

What was the impact of the abundance of slaves on technological advancements in the Hellenistic Period?

There was little demand for laborsaving devices, as an abundance of labor was available.

What significant decline occurred in Hellenistic science by about 200 B.C.E.?

Astronomy began to be replaced by astrology.

What did Stoicism emphasize about human equality?

Stoicism emphasized that all people are essentially equal under the skin.

What was the philosophical belief of virtue according to Stoicism?

Virtue was seen as its own reward, regardless of the success of one's efforts.

How did Epicureanism relate to Daoism and Buddhism?

Like Daoism and Buddhism, Epicureanism taught the importance of finding personal serenity and ignoring worldly affairs.

What did the Stoics believe about participation in public life?

They believed that good people were obliged to help the less fortunate.

What was the significance of Copernicus in relation to the geocentric model?

Copernicus questioned the geocentric model, which had been the standard for 1500 years.

What was the general result of the Greeks' approach to scientific knowledge during the Hellenistic Period?

Many discoveries and experimental results were forgotten due to a lack of interest in practical applications.

What was the philosophical contribution of Zeno?

Zeno's Stoicism emphasized the unity of humanity and the importance of virtue.

What was the relationship between Hellenistic science and technology?

Hellenistic science did not lead to significant technological advancements due to the reliance on slave labor.

What was the primary focus of scientific inquiry during the Hellenistic Period?

The primary focus was on theoretical knowledge rather than practical applications.

What did the work of Babylonian scholars contribute to?

It laid foundational knowledge that benefited later scientific inquiry, particularly in astronomy.

What was the significance of the Ptolemaic kings in Alexandria?

They established and supported many research institutions that advanced scientific knowledge.

Who drew the first known map of the world in the third century B.C.E.?

Eratosthenes, a Greek geographer.

What were the two parallels mentioned in relation to Eratosthenes's map?

The Parallel of Rhodes and the Parallel of Alexandria.

What was the primary belief of Greek empiricist doctors regarding health?

They believed that remedies for bodily ills could be found through careful analysis of diseases and their physical causes.

Who is considered the father of medicine and influenced Greek medical knowledge?

Hippocrates.

What did Greek civilization emphasize in its view of humanity's place in the cosmos?

Greeks believed that human beings occupied a position second only to the gods and were related to them.

What phrase reflects the Greek belief in human potential?

"Man is the measure of all things."