Early Greek Philosophy: From Myth to Socrates’ Reason
The Dawn of Western Philosophy
Before the rise of philosophical thought, the Greek mythical way of thinking dominated. Across the world, stories were invented to explain key events and phenomena.
The Milesians: Early Scientists
The Milesians, often considered the first European scientists, began to set aside divine explanations. They sought rational answers to questions about the nature of things, striving to increase wisdom.
Key Pre-Socratic Thinkers
- Heraclitus: Stressed the concept of constant change (flux). He argued that everything is in a state of becoming, emphasizing the dynamic balance of nature.
- Parmenides: Advocated for the supremacy of reason over the senses. He asserted that true reality (Being) is stable, unchanging, and eternal, knowable only through rational thought. Sensory perceptions are deemed irrational and deceptive.
Pythagorean Influence and Plato’s Academy
Plato’s contact with the Pythagoreans was crucial in shaping the organization and curriculum of his Academy. Mathematics was paramount; those unfamiliar with it were not permitted entry.
The Academy’s Core Focus
Future students were expected to demonstrate great enthusiasm for abstract thinking and numerical knowledge. The Pythagoreans believed that all creatures and phenomena in the universe could be understood through mathematical formulas. Consequently, numbers were seen as the fundamental components of mathematics and the underlying nature of the universe. The Academy also addressed religious and political issues alongside scientific inquiry.
The Sophists and the Rise of Relativism
Protagoras and Thrasymachus were the main representatives of the Sophist movement, proclaiming philosophical relativism.
- Sophists were skilled rhetoricians, possessing the ability to seduce and persuade their audience.
- They taught successful behavior (aretē) and rhetoric, often prioritizing private interests over objective truth (a point heavily criticized by Plato).
- Their goal was to train interlocutors to make arguments appear true, regardless of their actual veracity.
Socrates: Dialogue and Universal Definition
Socrates famously wrote nothing, yet his influence was immense, centered on two key philosophical activities: dialogue and the inductive search for universal definitions.
The Socratic Method
The Socratic Method consists of two main stages:
- Irony: Socrates would pretend ignorance (eirōneia) to engage the interlocutor. Through questioning, he would criticize the initial claims of wisdom made by the speaker, forcing them to recognize their own lack of knowledge.
- Maieutics (Midwifery): Once ignorance was acknowledged, Socrates helped the individual “give birth” to the knowledge already residing within them. The ultimate objective was to arrive at a precise, objective definition of the concept under investigation.
Socrates stood firmly against Sophistic relativism, arguing that universal definitions of concepts exist. In contrast to the Athenian political environment, where word meanings were often manipulated for personal gain, Socrates defended the need for precise and limited definitions.
Moral Intellectualism
Socrates proposed the doctrine of Moral Intellectualism: No one does wrong voluntarily. Wrongdoing is a result of ignorance of the good. Progress and good conduct stem from knowledge; vice results from a lack of understanding.