Lecture 4Ancient Greece (continued)Plato- (428-347 BCE)- Socrates best student- Shunned politics- “The Republic”o notions of an ideal stateo most enlightened, wise (most educated), & philosophical people in leadership positiono a philosopher as king- Philosopher & poeto The Academy (his followers & pupils discuss ideas)- Where does Socrates stop and Plato begin?o Ideal Forms (Plato) Perfect manifestation of an idea and/or thing We’re born with it and as we grow up, our perception is corrupted by imperfect reality & imperfectinteractions with nature and life (ie. Other people) o Plato’s Allegory – The Cave We’re all in a cave, prisoners facing forward looking at the wall. As we look at the cave wall, we see images projected that wee perceive as true. Only poets, philosophers, etc. can escape the cave and be blinded by the sun (enlightenment and truth) Only those people can try to guide others toward the light—ultimately, the people doing it for themselves. In reality, when a prisoner did escape and try to enlighten others, he wasn’t believed and was killed—further perpetuating a cycleof darkness and ignorance among society- Similar to Trial of SocratesMatter Sense PerceptionIdea l FormIn te lle c t (re a so n )e d u ca ti o nHIST 151 1st EditionUniversal FormsUniversal FormsCategoriesCategoriesSinilaritiesSinilaritiesReasonReason Doesn’t include women—they don’t get education and therefore wisdom Influence on Christianity- Heaven (enlightenment) Aristotle (384-322 BCE)- Rejected Plato’s notion that there’s a separate realm of ideal forms - The Lyceum and the Peripatetics o They talked, walked around, and engaged with engage with people- Form & Mattero Form & matter are inherently together (confutes Plato’s ideas)o Categorize & organize different forms of matter You cannot understand form w/o first understanding mattero There’s a purpose, a reason for everything- Theory of Potentiality  Everything has potential, but they have limits- Ex. Acorn has potential to grow into an oak tree, but it can’t turn into gold Scientific Inquiry Grand Design Unity, Harmony, Proportion, and StabilitySense Perception MatterAuthority of the Greeks- Unchallenged until 17th Centuryo Scientific Revolution Copernicus replaces Ptolemy- (sun is center of universe, not earth)- Greek thought conquered:o Rome o Christianityo Medieval philosophy & the universityo Pre-modern medicine & Galeno Natural history & Plinyo The Renaissance and Plato- Raphael’s school of Athenso Renaissance paintero Tribute to contribution of Greeks to society Greek Openness- Plato & Aristotle—2 diverse pillars - Respect for diversity w/ in limitso Multiple schools of thougho Diogenes, the Cynic- 400-325 BCE (cynos-dog; he’s known for dog-like behavior)o Temple of the Unknown God Wanted to welcome possibility of a God- Inferiority of non-Greeko Ex. Blubbering barbaroiGreek Legacy- “Western Philosophy is...appropriations of Greek culture”- Rationality- order in nature Western Science & technology until Einstein - Odyssey as quest for meaning (arête- excellence)- Drama and the irrational—victim of fate- Hubris & history- Athens & Socrates4th Century Crisis- Free Polis declines o Unity, grace, proportion of its civic ideal- Aristotle’s loss of faitho Divergence from Plato o Humpty Dumpty—it can’t be put back together againAlexander the Great (336-323 BCE)- Road to empire 4th century BCE- Greek influence throughout E. Mediterraneano Macedonian Empire Philip of Macedon Defeats Athens Persian influence - King @ age 20—Aristotle’s pupil - Military genius - 13 year conquesto 332 BCE- Egypt as Pharaoh & Godo 330 BCE- King of Persia; on to India- Death in Babylon (323 BCE)o Division of Empire- Romanticized heirso Ie. NapoleanHellenistic Age - Death of Alexander to defeat of Cleopatra, the last of Ptolemy- Hellenization o Symbol of Greek culture authority  Rome  Christianity  Medieval legends of alexander- 80 versions, 24 languages shows depth and reach of influence o Assimilation Garrison towns w/ polis amenities  Alexandria, its museum and library Greek language, art- Hellenistic realism vs. idealized Hellenistic figureo Revisionist Views Golden ghettos  By book or by