The Greco-The Greco-Roman Roman PhilosophiPhilosophical cal TraditionTradition

Foundations Lesson 6Foundations Lesson 6

Main Ideas:Main Ideas:• Mediterranean philosophy begins in Mediterranean philosophy begins in

mythology and evolves into a plan for mythology and evolves into a plan for livingliving

• Greeks & Romans focused heavily on Greeks & Romans focused heavily on concerns of earthly life rather than concerns of earthly life rather than spiritual mattersspiritual matters

• Hellenic thought greatly influenced the Hellenic thought greatly influenced the societies of the Hellenistic world.societies of the Hellenistic world.

Mediterranean Social OrderMediterranean Social Order• Geography & the rise of

the city-state– dependence on tradedependence on trade– strong sense of strong sense of

patriotismpatriotism• Merchant/Warrior Merchant/Warrior

SocietiesSocieties– Athens & SpartaAthens & Sparta– Rome as a “marriage”Rome as a “marriage”– Women in the Women in the

MediterraneanMediterranean

Classical MythologyClassical Mythology• Greco-Roman ValuesGreco-Roman Values

– ararēteēte & & gravitasgravitas• Fundamentals of Greco-Roman Fundamentals of Greco-Roman

religionreligion– nature of godsnature of gods– the gods & manthe gods & man– the role of fatethe role of fate

• Contrasts to Other MythologiesContrasts to Other Mythologies– represent man, not naturerepresent man, not nature– not necessarily so not necessarily so

unpredictableunpredictable– provide no answers about provide no answers about

nature or moralitynature or morality

Early Natural PhilosophyEarly Natural Philosophy• Desire to use rational Desire to use rational

thought to find thought to find logoslogos—controlling laws —controlling laws underlying the natural underlying the natural worldworld– Math (Euclid, Math (Euclid,

Pythagoras)Pythagoras)– Astronomy (Ptolemy, Astronomy (Ptolemy,

Eratosthanes)Eratosthanes)– Elemental Science Elemental Science

(Thales, Democritus)(Thales, Democritus)– Physics (Archimedes)Physics (Archimedes)

The SophistsThe Sophists• Skepticism & Skepticism &

RelativismRelativism

• Absolute “right & Absolute “right & wrong” unattainablewrong” unattainable

• Only study what you Only study what you need to meet your own need to meet your own endsends

Aristotelian ScienceAristotelian Science• Process of speculation and Process of speculation and

observation to come to a observation to come to a conclusion (syllogism)conclusion (syllogism)

• Emphasizes logical thought Emphasizes logical thought and empirical analysisand empirical analysis

• Strong influence on later Strong influence on later Western thoughtWestern thought

Hellenistic ThinkingHellenistic Thinking• Problem:Problem: how does the individual find worth in a how does the individual find worth in a

vast empire (Alexandrian or Roman)?vast empire (Alexandrian or Roman)?• Hellenistic Schools—focus on promoting self-Hellenistic Schools—focus on promoting self-

sufficiencysufficiency– Cynics (Diogenes)Cynics (Diogenes)

• worth derived from “return to nature”worth derived from “return to nature”

– Epicureans (Epicurus)Epicureans (Epicurus)• worth derived from eliminating painworth derived from eliminating pain

– Stoics (Zeno)Stoics (Zeno)• worth derived from promoting virtue & harmony through worth derived from promoting virtue & harmony through

service to Stateservice to State

Judeo-Christian Judeo-Christian InfluencesInfluences• The Covenant, the Law, The Covenant, the Law,

and Rome’s stand on and Rome’s stand on religionreligion

• Comparisons to Comparisons to Hellenistic philosophyHellenistic philosophy– valuesvalues– the individualthe individual

• Realities of Christianity Realities of Christianity in Europein Europe– Hellenistic patternsHellenistic patterns– Religion & the stateReligion & the state– Expansion & Rome’s Expansion & Rome’s

declinedecline

The Greco-Roman LegacyThe Greco-Roman Legacy• Began a tradition of approaching Began a tradition of approaching

life in a rational, even scientific waylife in a rational, even scientific way—even religious thinking uneasy —even religious thinking uneasy about accepting the world on “blind about accepting the world on “blind faith”faith”

• Greater concept of the individual is Greater concept of the individual is unique—will be important to unique—will be important to comparing development of the West comparing development of the West to other regions laterto other regions later

City-States of Ancient City-States of Ancient Greece