1. Greek and
Hellenistic
Philosophers

2. Greek Philosophers
(Lovers of Wisdom)
Socrates
Socrates was born in the mid 400's B.C He taught
philosophy and taught Plato.
Before 400 B.C., he began questioning Athenian values,
laws, customs, and religion.
In 399, he was brought to trial and found guilty of treason
to the gods. He was sentenced to death. His teachings were
written down by his student, Plato.
He was the first to make a clear distinction between the
body and soul, placing a higher value on the soul. He had a
noble life, and his calm acceptance of death made him a
model for other philosophers to follow.

3. Greek Philosophers
(Lovers of Wisdom)
Plato
Plato, one of the most famous Greek philosophers, was born in
Athens.
In 403 B.C., democracy was restored to Athens. Plato then
tried to get involved in politics, but was repelled again when
his friend and teacher Socrates was sentenced to death in 399
B.C. Plato left Athens after Socrates was killed. He returned in
387 B.C., and founded a school of philosophy called the
Academy.
The Academy was considered the first university by many
people.
He wrote the republic in which he described a perfectly
governed society divided into three groups: Farmers and
Artisans; Warriors; and the Ruling Class. In his book the
person with Greatest Insight and the best Philosopher was the
King.

4. Greek Philosophers
(Lovers of Wisdom)
Aristotle
Aristotle was born in Stagira. His father was Nichomachus, who was the
personal physician to Amyntas II, king of Macedonia. King Amyntas was
the grandfather of Alexander the Great. Aristotle's parents died when he
was young, so a man named Proxemus raised him as his own.
When he was 18, he attended the Academy, where he was a student for 20
years. He was known as "the intelligence of the school" and "reader".
In 347 B.C., when Plato died, Aristotle joined a group of Plato's disciples
that lived with Hermias, a former Academy student. In 343 or 342 B.C.,
Philip II of Macedonia asked Aristotle to supervise the education of his
son, Alexander, who later conquered Greece.
Aristotle returned to Athens in 334 B.C. and founded the Lyceum, a school
of philosophy.
After Alexander the Great died in 323 B.C., Aristotle was charged with
impiety, which was a lack of reverence for the gods, by the Athenian
people. The Athenians resented his friendship with Alexander, who
conquered them. Aristotle went to Chalcis, remembering similar charges
against Socrates in 349 B.C. He died one year later in Chalcis.

6. The Great Library at
Alexandria.
Egypt

7. Library at Alexandria (333B.C.E.)

8. Hellenistic Philosophers
Cynics  Diogenes

ignore social conventions & avoid
luxuries.

citizens of the world.

live a humble, simple life.
Epicurians  Epicurus

avoid pain & seek pleasure.

all excess leads to pain!

politics should be avoided.

9. Hellenistic Philosophers
Stoics  Zeno
 nature is the expansion of divine
will.
 concept of natural law.
 get involved in politics, not for
personal gain, but to perform
virtuous acts for the good of all.
 true happiness is found in great
achievements.

10. Hellenism:
The Arts & Sciences
Scientists / Mathematicians:
 Aristarchus  heliocentric
theory.
 Euclid  geometry.
 Archimedes  pulley.
 Ptolemy  geocentric theory.