S6_Socratic Philosophers and Hellenistic Figures

• Leucippus - original developer of the atomic theory, later improved by Democritus
• Democritus - developer of the atomic theory, sometimes incorrectly stated to be its originator; he was born c 460 in Abdera, lived a long life, and traveled widely
• Euclid - wrote Elements, establishing plane geometry
• Oratory/Rhetoric - may have come from Sicily, via the Sophists, travelling teachers who gave lectures in various places on various topics. Corax may have been its originator
• Gorgias - the most famous Sophist, from Leontini in Sicily
• Diogenes - the most famous Cynic, lived in a tub; Alexander said that if he could not be Alexander, he would like to be Diogenes.
• Epicurus - founder of Epicureanism, born in Samos, he moved to Athens and founded the school in the gardens in 306. Epicureanism believed that happiness comes from pleasure (absence of pain). The Roman author Lucretius continued Epicurean theory.
• Epicurus wrote On Nature, expounding the beliefs of Epicureanism
• Scepticism - philosophy founded by Pyrrhon of Elis; the Academy later adopted sceptic beliefs. The Sceptics believed that true knowledge is unattainable and therefore the proper attitude is one of indifference.
• Neo-Platonism - the school of philosophy centered in Alexandria in the early centuries A.D. It developed the ideas of Plato, until basically eliminated by Christianity. The most famous Neo-Platonist was Hypatia, murdered by a Christian mob in A.D. 415.
• Antisthenes - the founder of the Cynics. The Cynics believed that virtue makes happiness; Diogenes modified this philosophy into a general contempt for knowledge and morality
• Stoicism took its name from stoa, a Greek word meaning porch, as Zeno taught there.
• The Stoics believed that man should pursue harmony and stay detached, and believed in self-discipline. They believed the universe is periodically doused in fire and in a divine law called logos.
• Zeno - the founder of the Stoics, taught in the Eleatic school after Parmenides.
• Aristotle - lived from 384-322, born in Stageira in Chalcidice. He became Alexander’s tutor; Plato nicknamed him Reader.
• Aristotle founded the school, The Lyceum.
• Aristotle also founded the Peripatetic school and was its first head.
• Aristotle wrote:

  • A group of six treatises on logic.
  • A group of treatises on metaphysics.
• Physica: By Aristotle, discusses matter, forms, and the four causes (Material, Formal, Moving, and Final)
• De Caelo: By Aristotle, concerning the movements of celestial bodies
• Meteorologica: By Aristotle, treatises about weather, and including the HistoriaAnimalium, which discusses animals and how they should beclassified.
• Nicomachean Ethics: By Aristotle, Aristotle’s views on personal morality andhappiness, edited by his son Nichomachus
• Politics: By Aristotle, eight books long; shows that Aristotle believed a limited democracy is best, because the perfect ruler could not be found, and speculates on the origin of government.
• Constitution of Athens: By Aristotle, written earlier than Politics, it traces the development of the Athenian constitution and discusses the democracy of Aristotle’s time.
• Aristotle's Rhetoric: a discussion of oratory in general, focusing on persuasion.
• Poetics: Aristotle’s commentary on literature, particularly tragedy and comedy. He says that Margites, a lost poem about a fool’s adventures, is a proto-comedy.
• Aristotle believes Oedipus Rex to be the supreme tragedy. He also discusses epic poetry and finally deals with censury.
• Xenophon - an Athenian, a student of Socrates; he was a member of the Ten Thousand in their expedition, took command after the officers were killed and led the mercenaries out of Persia.
• Anabasis: By Xenophon, tells story in seven books and contains the famous cry: Thalatta, Thalatta (Thalassa, Thalassa).
• Apology: By Xenophon, like Plato’s work of the same name, it is Socrates’ address during his trial
• Memorabilia: By Xenophon, recollections of Socrates, including his character and some of his philosophical ideas.
• Symposium: By Xenophon, like Plato’s work of the same name, is set at a dinner party and discusses love; Socrates is present in both Symposia.
• Plato - student of Socrates, lived from c 427-348; he founded the Academy, a school in Athens that survived for centuries.
• Apology: By Plato, Socrates’ address at his trial
• Crito: By Plato, a dialogue with Socrates in prison, Crito is a friend who visits him
• Gorgias: By Plato, dialogue in which Socrates discusses rhetoric with the famous sophist. Socrates states during the dialogue that it is better to suffer evil than to do it, and to be punished than to go unpunished.
• Meno: By Plato, dialogue concerning whether virtue can be taught.
• Phaedo: By Plato, dialogue concerning the nature of death and the immortality of the soul, a discussion between Socrates and his friends as Socrates is dying; it also discusses the trip of the soul to the afterlife
• Republic: Plato’s most famous work in modern times, it discusses the perfect government, which to Plato is the rule of the greatest philosopher.
• Symposium: By Plato, discourse at a dinner party concerning the nature of love; Aristophanes hiccups throughout it.