Ancient Greek Philosophy vs. Myth: A Comparative Analysis
Ancient Greek Philosophy vs. Myth
3000 Years Ago: The Realm of Myth
In ancient Greece, approximately 3000 years ago, humans perceived themselves as subject to the whims of natural forces. This worldview divided reality into two spheres: the divine (gods) and the natural (mortals). Nature was seen as a limitless force responsible for both creation and destruction, a chaotic power operating without order or regard for human needs.
This understanding of reality, governed by the capricious will of the gods, found expression in myths. These anonymous stories, crystallizing the collective memory of the culture, recounted tales of gods, demigods, heroes, and their interactions with mortals. Myths are characterized by:
- Irrationality: Myths are believed without the need for reasoning or proof.
- Traditional Codification: The meaning of a myth is established and passed down through generations.
- Political Function: Myths legitimize social order and establish laws believed to be eternally valid.
- Existential Significance: Myths define humanity’s place in the cosmos and their relationship with the gods.
The Rise of Philosophy: A Shift Towards Reason
Greek philosophy, while still acknowledging the divine and the natural, viewed these realms as independent. Philosophical inquiry focused on questions like: What is the nature of reality? What is the underlying principle governing the processes of creation and destruction? What are the essential qualities of things?
Unlike myth, philosophy sought rational explanations. It is characterized by:
- Rationality: Philosophical arguments are open to discussion and scrutiny, requiring logical consistency.
- Universality: Philosophy seeks to understand reality through universal principles applicable to the entire world.
- Radical Inquiry: Philosophy strives to provide ultimate explanations, pushing the boundaries of human understanding.
- Practical Vocation: Philosophy addresses questions of individual and collective life, including ethics and politics.
Branches of Philosophy
Metaphysics is giving us a total description of reality. What is reality and how this sorted?
Epistemology: the foundation of the Know-studies: how to know the reality?
Ethics: life is good for man from an individual perspective, how do I live?
Politics: on the good relations between people how we live?
Aesthetic concerns the art and beauty is what beauty?
Philosophical anthropology: reflections on man What is human?
Philosophy is not science because
- the two are logically consistent, science based on observation and experimentation and the philosophy is to try to encompass all reality
- science has very well defined object of study and its own method to study while philosophy tends to give an overview of reality, is reflective and has a practical vocation
- Science does not give us moral philosophy provides for the establishment of good and evil.
- A science is interested in the accumulation of knowledge to control nature, and philosophy is radical and last and not interested at all to control reality.
THE PHILOSOPHY IS NOT BECAUSE RELIGION
- Religion claims to be true and is the product of faith and philosophy is always trying to give a reason.
- In religion there is room for developing a knowledge and philosophy no.
- The religion comprises the inexplicable and philosophy embraces the explainable to man from his right.
- Religion is a product of faith and sometimes away from the reason, try to give the key to the salvation of man (namely of salvation) while philosophy is knowledge of understanding of reality and is not intended to save mankind.
Religion leads to:
A dogma: a set of core beliefs that define a religious choice (philosophy not available)
A ritual ceremony by which man expresses his sacred bond.
A moral devotion based on the sacred demands of men.
OBJECTS OF STUDY BY KANT PHILOSOPHY
“I can do?
Science is not philosophy
The answer is provided by science and who knows what is framed in space and time.
What should I do?
Here the categorical imperative says he does not do to anyone what you do not want
do here, the answer is given by the ethics.
What I can expect?
The answer is given: religion: I can wait for the prize of happiness to meet so I make the assumption that God exists and that the soul is immortal. Policy: we can expect in this world of peaceful coexistence.
What is man?
The answer is given by the transcendental anthropology.
GREEK PHILOSOPHY
It is divided into a field and a natural divine power and relatively autonomous ordered the gods to which men are subject.
There are two basic questions: What is nature? Why is there order instead of chaos? The central concept is the nature (all living things)
The mood of the Greek philosopher is wonder: is amazed at all the unknown.
MEDIEVAL PHILOSOPHY
Medieval philosopher preside over the three great monotheistic religions: Christianity, Judaism and Islam.
Relationship does enter the created and the Creator.
What encourages medieval philosophy is reverence for the sacred.
It is also the historical debate between reason, faith.
MODERN PHILOSOPHY
The experience that man has of himself holding the modern philosophy.
Wondering who is the man ..
The spirit of modern philosophy is a wary trust.
CONTEMPORARY PHILOSOPHY
xviii-xix are two different phases:
1 ยช Marxism-confidence in human progress possible reason that we free ourselves from the superstitions and prejudices that bind us, dela control nature through nature and creation of a just and peaceful society.
2 nd this trust is broken by two tragic experiences of the 2 nd World War and the threat of ecological collapse.
+ Rationality – + scientific knowledge – technological control + – + social justice