Ancient greek

Greek Philosophy
natural philosopher
Nothing comes from nothing
Everything was made up of some fundamental substance
sna.syednomanli@gmail.com 1

Historical period
Mycenaean civilisation 1580-1120 BC
Minoan civilization 3000-1000 BC
Ancient philosophy (585B.C-529A.D)
Pre-Socratic ( 585-400 BC)
Southern Italy and Sicily
Greek Empire (300-100 BC)
Roman Empire (100 BC to 400 AD)
Renaissance (1450-1600 AD) dark ages

The Big Questions
∗ From where does everything come?
∗ From what is everything created?
∗ How do we explain the things found in nature?
∗ How might we describe nature systematically?
∗ What is the ultimate explanation of cosmos and world?
∗ The Questions mainly concerned on
 one and multiplicity
 Reality and appearance
 Being and non-being

The School ofThe School of
AthensAthenssna.syednomanli@gmail.com 4

The ancient Greek Thinkers
A.
∗Thales
∗Anaximenes
∗Anaximander
∗Pythagoras
B
∗Anaxagoras
∗Parmenides
∗Heraclitus
C
∗Empedocles
∗Democritus
D
∗Protagoras

Earliest first known philosopher
Primarily he wanted to know what was the principle behind
nature.
What was it made of and how was it made.
Believed that the universe was controlled by fixed laws
All things are made up of water.The earth floats on water.
All life originated from the hydro and turn into water again.
He measured the height of pyramid by shadow.
Introduced deductive science, by means of logic.
First attempt to explain the universe on scientific principles.
Thales of Miletus
636-546 B.C.
sna.syednomanali@gmail.com 6

∗ He made first map of the world.
∗ Worlds are made up of apeiron, a boundless place where
things are evolved and dissolved.
∗ Aperion is neither hot or cold,nor wet or dry,it is neutral.
∗ All creation of life is because of some change in nature.
∗ Idea of inherent quality arise.Changes of quantity into
quality.
Anaximander
610-546 B.C.

∗The earth does not move in cylindrical shape.
∗The earth was motionless and moved by opposite
forces.
∗Sea is the begetter of winds. Everything is air
∗Air is in constant motion in the method of :
ocondensation – increase in density (turns into earth).
orarefaction – decrease in density (clouds & fire).
∗The earth is on air surrounded by celestial bodies.
Anaximenes
570-526 B.C.

∗ All things are number in ratio and proportions.
∗ The universe could only be understood through numbers.
∗ Number 1 is point,2 is line 3 is surface & 4 is solid.
∗ Line is infinite divisible so space is in infinite
∗ Things are in opposites odd and even ,plus and minus.
∗ Established deductive reasoning with axiom 2 + 2 = 4.
∗ Famous for the Pythagorean Theorem: a2
+ b2
= c2
∗ discovered music is governed with the principle of math.
Pythagoras
582-500 B.C.

Heraclitus
540-480B.C
∗ Everything is flux , a change of nature.
∗ There is no being just becoming.
∗ We cannot step twice into the same river.
∗ Our sense perception are reliable source.
∗ The nature force is fire.
∗ The world is characterized by two opposites.
∗ Teach “unity of opposites” dark and light are the form
of temperature.
∗ The road up and down are the one and same.

∗ Nature is constant which is one .
∗ Change in nature are delusion. Reality is single.
∗ Change become something,something become nothing.
∗ Something exist it is said it cannot exist (it is not)
∗ Multiplicity occur due to our senses that gives illusion.
∗ What is, is; what is not, is not. Change requires motion.
∗ Motion requires empty space. Empty space is not.
∗ Therefore, Nothing ever changes or can change.
Parmenides
540-480 B.C

∗ He was the father of inorganic chemistry
∗ He believed that both Parmenides and Heraclitus are right
∗ Nothing changes means water could not be destroyed.
∗ Nature changes means we believe what we see
∗ First to suggest all four root of nature
∗ Air-water-earth-fire
∗ Two opposites nature force to unite : love and strife
∗ Love attract and hate separate these 4 elements.
∗ Perception is affected by imbalance of these four elements.
∗ Eye consists of all these four element to see.
∗ Thought is physical,man is upset by changes in 4 elements.
Empedocles
490-430 B.C.

∗ Motion and changes are possible.
∗ There are no basic 4 elements ,they are unlimited .
∗ Nous ,mind (intellect) is a force which is infinite.
∗ Mind is immaterial that animates all living thing.
∗ The world is built of seeds that is indivisible
∗ Mind is there where everything else is others.
∗ a skin cell contain nucleus reveal hair,body i-eDNA
Anaxagoras
500-428 B.C

∗ On his concept, the atomic theory was developed.
∗ the universe came in atom that are indivisible particles.
∗ Atom has size ,shape ,motion,color and heat.
∗ Nothing beyond the natural order.
∗ There is Only two things, atoms and empty space.
∗ The atoms move is space which is uncountable.
∗ Man is the micro organism of the universe.
Democritus
460?- 360 B.C

∗Man is the measures of all things of what are
that(how?)they are ,of what are not that (how?)they are
not.
∗Most famous of the Sophists who teach to elite.
∗The sophist have encyclopedic knowledge.
∗Teachings to equip citizens for life ie -art of rhetoric
∗Concept of Relativism :each one has own truth.
∗Might is right –everything is relative.
∗Both people speak truth at same time.
∗We communicate in symbols & no one symbolize same.
Protagoras
485 - 410 B.C.

The Sophists
• Democracy and the need for public speakers.
• Relativism.
• “A human being is the measure of all things – of things
that are, that they are, and of things that are not, that
they are not.”
• There are two opposing arguments concerning
everything.”
• “To make the weaker argument the stronger.”

∗ Thales “All is water”
∗ Anaximander “All is boundless”
∗ Anaximenes “All is air”
∗ Parmenides “All is permanent”
∗ Heraclitus “All is change”
∗ Empedocles “All are air ,water, fire and earth.
∗ Pythagoras “All are numbers”
Natural philosophy

Study text on
ancient philosophy
∗ History of western philosophy
By Bertrand Russell
∗ An Introduction to Ancient Philosophy
by A. H. Armstrong
∗ A History of Philosophy
by Frederick Copleston

Ancient greek

Recommended

Recommended

More Related Content

What's hot

What's hot (20)

Viewers also liked

Viewers also liked (20)

Similar to Ancient greek

Similar to Ancient greek (20)

More from Syed Noman Ali

More from Syed Noman Ali (6)

Recently uploaded

Recently uploaded (20)

Ancient greek