Unit 10: Early Greek Philosophy: The Presocratics and Socrates: terms Flashcards
Anaximander
A Presocratic philosopher who proposed that the universe originated from the Apeiron (the “infinite” or “boundless”). He suggested that Earth floats freely in space and theorized an early form of evolution. His work marked a shift from mythology to natural explanations of the world.
Anaximenes
A Presocratic thinker who believed that air was the fundamental principle (arche) of the universe. He argued that different substances form through processes of rarefaction and condensation. His ideas built on Anaximander’s but introduced a more tangible element.
Apology by Plato
A philosophical dialogue that recounts Socrates’ trial in 399 BCE. Socrates defends himself against charges of impiety and corrupting the youth, arguing that he only seeks truth. He accepts his fate, stating that an unexamined life is not worth living.
Empedocles –
A philosopher who proposed that everything is composed of four elements: earth, air, fire, and water. He introduced the forces of Love and Strife as causes of change and motion. His ideas influenced later theories of matter.
Hippocrates of Cos
– A physician known as the “father of medicine.” He rejected supernatural explanations of disease, emphasizing natural causes and observation. The Hippocratic Oath, associated with him, remains a cornerstone of medical ethics.
Ionian Enlightenment
A period in the sixth century BCE when Greek thinkers in Ionia (Asia Minor) began using reason and observation to explain natural phenomena. It marked the beginning of scientific and philosophical inquiry, moving away from mythological explanations.
Presocratics
– Early Greek philosophers before Socrates who focused on cosmology, metaphysics, and the nature of existence. They sought rational explanations for the universe, exploring elements, change, and reality. Their work laid the foundation for later philosophy.
Protagoras
– A leading Sophist known for his claim that “man is the measure of all things.” He argued that truth is relative and emphasized rhetoric and persuasion. His views challenged traditional moral and religious beliefs.
Pythagoras
– A philosopher and mathematician who believed that numbers and mathematical relationships governed reality. He founded a religious-mystical school and contributed to music theory and geometry, including the Pythagorean Theorem.
Socrates
A philosopher who focused on ethics and human knowledge, using the Socratic method to challenge assumptions. He emphasized self-examination and virtue, believing that wisdom leads to a just life. His execution in 399 BCE made him a martyr for philosophy.
Sophists
A group of traveling teachers who taught rhetoric and argued that truth and morality were subjective. They played a major role in Athenian political and intellectual life, though they were criticized by Socrates and Plato for prioritizing persuasion over truth.
Xenophanes
A philosopher and poet who criticized anthropomorphic depictions of the gods. He argued for a more abstract, singular divine being and challenged traditional Greek religious beliefs. His ideas influenced later theological and philosophical thought.
