Introduction to Ancient Greek Philosophy

Vocabulary flashcards covering the etymology of philosophy, Western philosophy characteristics, and key figures from Ancient Greek philosophical thought.

Philosophy

Derived from the Greek terms philos (love) and sophia (wisdom), it is a science and discipline that uses human reason to investigate the ultimate causes, reasons, and principles which govern all things.

Western Philosophy

A tradition concerned with uncovering truth through systematic argumentation and theory, emphasizing reason over faith, the individual, and scientific theory-based approaches.

Sophists

A group of traveling teachers in Ancient Greece who were excellent public speakers and taught through argument and discussion.

Philosophos

Lovers of wisdom, led by Pythagoras, who believed that learning should be an opportunity to find the truth and that arguments must be based on sound reasoning.

Pythagoras

A mathematician and scientist known for the Pythagorean Theorem who also focused on the study of religion and philosophy.

Heraclitus

A philosopher who believed that everything exists based on a higher order or plan called logos and that change is a permanent aspect of human condition.

Logos

The higher order or plan that, according to Heraclitus, serves as the basis for everything that exists.

Democritus

A philosopher who studied the causes of natural phenomena and proposed that matter is composed of tiny particles called atom.

Diogenes of Sinope

An advocate of a simple and virtuous life whose ideas influenced the development of schools such as Cynicism and Stoicism.

Epicurus

A philosopher who believed that the practice of philosophy could enable an individual to live a life of happiness.

Epicureanism

A school of philosophy based on the belief that wisdom and simple living result in a life free from fear and pain.

Socrates

The foremost philosopher of ancient times who believed philosophy enables a life of virtue and famously stated, "The unexamined life is not worth living."