Philosophy Notes

1) Background
a) Philo - love
b) Sophy- wisdom
c) Philosophy- Love of wisdom
d) Pythagoras
i)
First to use the term philosopher
ii)
People called him wisejust a lover of wisdomphilosopher
e) Why study it?
i)
Teaches you how to think
ii)
Find an understanding in the world
iii)
Better manage our lives & cope with difficulties
2) Socrates
a) The Beginning stages
i)
Born in Greece
ii)
Father: sculptor
iii)
Mother: midwife
iv)
Family life: respectable, yet humble
v)
Education: average
vi)
Few details of his childhood are known
b) Adult Life
i)
Married and had 3 sons
ii)
Serves as a soldier
iii)
Claims to hear voices in his head
(1) Quiet when he is on the right track
(2) Louder when on the wrong track
iv)
Never claimed to be a teacher, but spoke endlessly about his beliefs
v)
Would question people, and prove them wrong to make their ignorance clear to
them.
(1) Believed this would put people on the path to being wise
vi)
Learning through questioning. T
HE SOCRATIC METHOD
vii)
Socrates taught at the Acropolis
viii)
Oracle declared that Socrates is the wisest man ever to live
(1) Socrates response if this is true it is only because I seem to be the only one
aware that I know nothing. I am fully aware of my own ignorance.
ix)
Know Thyself
x)
The unexamined life is not worth living.
xi)
Socrates wrote nothing - most of what we know comes from Plato
xii)
Socrates was indicted in 3
99 BCE
(1) Indicted: to be formally brought up on charges
(2) Charges
(a) Corrupting the youth
(b) Not worshipping the gods

xiii)
xiv)

The trial of Socrates

Socrates Apology
(1) Original meaning of this term was to speak in defense of oneself
(2) My mission is to convince people of their own ignorance for their own good
(3) I am a blessing to Athens.
(4) If I am allowed to live, I will continue doing as I have been.
(5) I am unconcerned with death.

c) Beliefs
i)
Do what you think is right, even if you are opposed by all
ii)
Pursue Knowledge, even when others get in your way
iii)
Ethics and morality are of the utmost importance
iv)
If people have the wrong idea about virtue, morality, love, and ethics- they can't be
trusted to do the right thing people do not knowingly do wrong
v)
If you know good you will always do good. If you do wrong, then you do not really know
good.
vi)
Wisdom begins with wonder

vii)
viii)
ix)
x)
xi)

Not life, but good life, is to be chiefly valued

It is worse to commit an injustice, than to suffer one
We should eat to live, not live to eat, everything in moderation
It is not possible to live better than by improving oneself
(1) Be the change you wish to see in the world. - Ghandi
It takes special skills to make good laws. Politics should be practices by those who know
best. Others should keep out.

3) Plato
a) Beginning Years
i)
Born in Greece
(1) At this point Socrates is 42 and a family friend of the family)
ii)
Socrates student
iii)
Plato was a nickname meaning the broad shouldered one
iv)
Parents are from wealthy and distinguished families
(1) Father- descended from a King of Athens
(2) Mother- related to members of government, the Thirty Tyrants
v)
Father dies when Plato is young
(1) Socrates becomes a father figure, mentor
b) Adult Years
i)
Plato joins military, however prefers politics over military service
(1) Plato fought in the Peloponnesian War
ii)
After leaving war, Plato was invited by his uncle to join the Thirty Tyrants
(1) Oligarchy- rule by a few
iii)
Democracy is restored in Athens; Plato dabbles in politics
iv)
399 BCE- Socrates is executed (Plato is about 29); Plato becomes deeply depressed
and disillusioned about politics
v)
Plato leaves politics and travels to Egypt
vi)
Then he travels to Italy where he studies the ideas of Pythagoras
(1) 2 year travel time between Egypt and Italy
c) The Academy
i)
Plato returns to Athens and open his Academy
(1) Named after the park where it was located
ii)
It was a school devoted to philosophy and the sciences meant to educate future leaders
(1) Longest University to be open
(2) First ever University
iii)
The Academy was a University focused on these 2 questions
(1) What is moral excellence?
(2) Can it be taught?
iv)
Socratic Method was used- knowledge comes from questioning
v)
Sometimes referred to as the strolling school
vi)
Debated many philosophical questions
(1) What is an ideal society
(2) How does one live a good life?

vii)
Your senses may deceive you, only ideas are constant and true
d) Platos Ideas
i)
Dialogues
(1) Plato did not write specific views. Instead he w
rote in dialogue (about 30 of
them). He purposely made his views difficult to figure out to force the
reader to think
(a) Atlantis
(i)
The earliest references to Atlantis are found in Platos Dialogues
the Timaeus and the Critias
(b) Allegory of the Cave
ii)
Anamnesis
(1) A recollection of what you knew before you were born.
(a) Past life?
(b) Breathing?
(c) Instincts?
iii)
Platos Division of Society
(1) People are naturally divided by intelligence, strength, & courage. We should test
people in childhood to determine their natural tendencies.
(a) Rulers
(i)
Very intelligent, virtuous, brave, understand goodness & justice,
need the least material possessions.. They are guided by theor
intellect
(b) Soldiers/Protectors
(i)
Somewhat smart, strong, courageous, virtuous, want to protect
others, rescuers, good at defense
1. Doctors
2. Teachers
3. Lawyers
(c) Business People/Producers
(i)
Most people
(ii)
Not very bright, brave, good at producing items/making things,
motivated by money
(d) Lower Groups/Less Capable
(i)
Should try to obey and enjoy life
(ii)
Not a lot to offer
iv)
Education for future Rulers
(1) Early emphasis on reading, writing, math, music, sports
(2) 10 years of math
(3) 5 years of Socratic Method learning
(4) 18 years of military service & physical education
(5) 21 years advanced studies- geometry, astronomy, music
(6) 30 years study philosophy & enter civil service
(7) 50 years ready to rule

e) More on Plato
i)
Next travels to Syracuse (in SIcily Italy) to tutor the new leader - Dionysius II
(1) Trains him in science, geometry & philosophy, hoping that he will become a
virtuous leader
ii)
Carthage and Sicily are constantly at war Plato hopes to work with the leaders so that
they become more virtuous and stop fighting
(1) Plan fails and he returns to Athens
iii)
Plato returns to Syracuse for a 2nd try at uniting the rivals (Carthage and Sicily)
(1) Plan fails and Plato returns to Athens for good
iv)
Plato returns to his beloved Academy and continues teaching
(1) Continues to believe that if it's possible to teach morality and virtue then it is
possible to create good leaders
v)
Plato dies debating the many philosophical questions and seeking and understanding of
virtue.
vi)
Academy continues 900 years
(1) Emperor Justinian claimed that the school was a pagan establishment which
taught students to question rather that believe in faith alone.
f) Final facts about Plato
i)
He was an advocate for children
(1) they will have a stronger motivation to learn if offered some choices
ii)
Some people are just better than others
(1) Arete
(a) Personal excellence; having the integrity to do what must be done
(2) Akrasia
(a) The weakness of will that causes people to do what they know is not right
(3) Now everyone has equal amounts of these
4) Aristotle
a) Early Years
i)
Born in Macedonia
ii)
Father: the kings physician (an inherited position)
iii)
Personality/Appearance
(1) Shorter than average
(2) Bright
(3) kind-hearted
(4) Loyal to family and Friends
(5) Fair to enemies
(6) Appreciative to those who help him
iv)
Travels to Athens to study at Platos Academy
v)
He evolves from student to teacher
vi)
Views differ from Platos, but they maintain a mutual respect
vii)
Well respected on most topics
(1) Ethics, politic, physics, psychology, biology, logic, literature
viii)
Most information comes from detailed lecture notes

b) Aristotles Beliefs
i)
Everything has a purpose. Our job is to figure out its purpose
ii)
There is no ideal world, only a visible world of physical things
iii)
Aristotles Test
(1) Material Cause
(a) What is it made of?
(2) Efficient Cause
(a) How did it come to be?
(3) Formal Cause
(a) What is the species, kind or type?
(4) Final Cause
(a) What is its goal or function?
(5) This is the key to gaining knowledge an ancient version of a lab experiment
iv)
On excellence
(1) There are 2 kinds
(a) Moral
(b) Intellectual
(i)
Only inspired by adult, Greek, males
v)
On Politics
(1) It is not so important what SHOULD be, but what WORKS in actual communities
vi)
On God
(1) God is pure intelligence
vii)
On the Soul
(1) Keeps the body functioning and does not exist apart from the body
c) Adult life
i)
Plato dies leaving the Academy to his nephew Speusippus
ii)
Aristotle travels to Asia Minor to provide counsel to his friend Hermias, the ruler
iii)
In Asia Minor, Aristotle meets and marries Hermias adopted daughter, Pythias
iv)
Hermias is captured and killed during a rebellion
(1) Aristotle and Pythias flee Asia Minor
v)
Aristotle is summoned by King Philip of Macedon to tutor his 13 year old son
(1) - who grows up to be Alexander the Great
vi)
Aristotle and his wife, pythias, settle in Pella
(1) Pella - capital of Macedonia

5) Alexander the Great

a) The Beginning
i)
Father: King Philip of II of Macedon
(1) Strong ruler who conquered most of Greece
(2) Not very kind to Alexander - used to pick on him
ii)
Mother: hated Alexanders Father
(1) He had many wives (and children with them) and though this was a common
practice, there was much jealousy and competition
iii)
Lifelong friend: Hephaestion
iv)
Personality/Appearance
(1) Handsome
(2) Fashionable
(3) Athletic
(4) Loved reading, music, theater
(5) Loyal to friends, armies
(6) Brilliant Generals
(7) Ego

(a) Named himself Lord of Asia

(8) (as an adult) killed or eliminated anyone who opposed hi,
(9) Incredible narcissist
(10) Probably gay
v)
At 16, Alexander becomes regent of Macedonia when his father goes off to war
(1) He does well during this period and becomes a general in father's armies;
however, father never gives him any recognition
vi)
Becomes prone to tantrums and outbursts, mostly directed at his father
vii)
King Philip II of Macedonia is assassinated by a member of his own bodyguard
viii)
At 20, Alexander is crowned KIng Alexander III
(1) Aristotle works as advisor for a short period, but eventually returns to Athens
where he opened his own school.. The Lyceum
b) Adult Life
i)
Alexander captures rebels and marries the chiefs daughter, Roxanne
(1) They produce two children
(a) Alexander IV
(b) Stillborn
ii)
He continues to conquer many lands
iii)
After conquering Persia (Iran), and while still married to Roxanne, Alexander marries the
Persian King's Daughter
iv)
Hephaestion marries the sister and they all live at the same palace
v)
Hephaestion died and Alexander is heartbroken
(1) Alexander the Great dies shortly after
(a) Probably from Malaria or Typhoid Fever
vi)
At 13 years old, Alexander IV and his mother Roxanne, are killed by a rival who then
becomes the King of Macedonia
6) The rest of Aristotles Life
i)
Strong anti-Macedonian feelings develop in Athens causing Aristotle and his wife to flee
the area
(1) Says he wants to spare Athens the trial of another philosopher
(2) They settle in Euboea
ii)
Aristotle dies