THE CLASSIC ERA.
In this the Socratic era, Socrates and his followers, set out to form great philosophies which turn out be the main platform of Western civilisation. The lesser Socratics, the Platonic Academy, the Aristotelian Lyceum, and the Hellenistic movements, start here and all later thought has to take account of these and a great part of it consists essentially of an elaboration or a commentary upon, or a criticism of, theses movements. The questioning method of Socrates was the initial stimulus. There followed an elaboration and interpretation of his suggestions by less important followers; then the writings of Plato and the Academy; and finally, the study of factual details by Aristotle and his school. Meanwhile, some tendencies …show more content…
The Sophists were at their height when the influence of Socrates was most apparent. He agreed with their sentiment of mans primary interest being man. It was one of Socrates pet cribs, that for man to try and fathom the universe before he properly understood himself, was a waist of time and intellectual effort, although he also agreed with the Sophists that the obligation of man as a thinking animal is to ask questions about all manner of things, exempting nothing that comes to mind to question. "The unexamined life is not to be lived," is attributed to Socrates. However the function of questioning is not destructive but constructive. It is destructive only in so far as rebuilding beliefs clears away the untenable. Without clear meanings for the terms we use, no one would know what we are talking about. Such clarification is inductive; it is an attempt to find the universal principle which pervades the various instances and cases to which terms are applied. This common core of meaning is the real meaning of a concept, its basic intention. The function of language is to communicate from individual mind to individual mind. Instability of meaning results in ambiguity. Understanding rests on univocity. Socrates was thus, the advocate of clarity of ideas and inductive procedure. He agreed with Protagoras, that man was the measure of all things, but man as the thinker in terms of universal concepts, not man as the creature of sense impressions …show more content…
The Cynics led by Antisthenes emphasised the disciplining of human needs and insisted upon severer aspects of living. Ethics, they said is the essential part of philosophy, and the highest good is the chief concern of man. The highest good is to be found in virtue, and virtue is happiness. Virtue is attained by means of intelligent living and is expressed in independence of external circumstances and mastery of desires-limiting them to those that are indispensable for life. Work is the essential good and is the source of satisfaction. The wise man is free from domination by custom and the acquisitions of civilisation. His riches lie in his
In this the Socratic era, Socrates and his followers, set out to form great philosophies which turn out be the main platform of Western civilisation. The lesser Socratics, the Platonic Academy, the Aristotelian Lyceum, and the Hellenistic movements, start here and all later thought has to take account of these and a great part of it consists essentially of an elaboration or a commentary upon, or a criticism of, theses movements. The questioning method of Socrates was the initial stimulus. There followed an elaboration and interpretation of his suggestions by less important followers; then the writings of Plato and the Academy; and finally, the study of factual details by Aristotle and his school. Meanwhile, some tendencies …show more content…
The Sophists were at their height when the influence of Socrates was most apparent. He agreed with their sentiment of mans primary interest being man. It was one of Socrates pet cribs, that for man to try and fathom the universe before he properly understood himself, was a waist of time and intellectual effort, although he also agreed with the Sophists that the obligation of man as a thinking animal is to ask questions about all manner of things, exempting nothing that comes to mind to question. "The unexamined life is not to be lived," is attributed to Socrates. However the function of questioning is not destructive but constructive. It is destructive only in so far as rebuilding beliefs clears away the untenable. Without clear meanings for the terms we use, no one would know what we are talking about. Such clarification is inductive; it is an attempt to find the universal principle which pervades the various instances and cases to which terms are applied. This common core of meaning is the real meaning of a concept, its basic intention. The function of language is to communicate from individual mind to individual mind. Instability of meaning results in ambiguity. Understanding rests on univocity. Socrates was thus, the advocate of clarity of ideas and inductive procedure. He agreed with Protagoras, that man was the measure of all things, but man as the thinker in terms of universal concepts, not man as the creature of sense impressions …show more content…
The Cynics led by Antisthenes emphasised the disciplining of human needs and insisted upon severer aspects of living. Ethics, they said is the essential part of philosophy, and the highest good is the chief concern of man. The highest good is to be found in virtue, and virtue is happiness. Virtue is attained by means of intelligent living and is expressed in independence of external circumstances and mastery of desires-limiting them to those that are indispensable for life. Work is the essential good and is the source of satisfaction. The wise man is free from domination by custom and the acquisitions of civilisation. His riches lie in his