Dr. J. Taylor Greek Philosophy Study Guide Chapter Four

Outline of Chapter Four Philosophy Section I. Greek Philosophy 1. Naturalist Philosophy: pre-Socratics a. Thales; Heraclitus b. Leucippus; Democritus c. Pythagoras; Hippocrates 2. Humanistic Philosophy a. The Sophists b. Socrates (1) Socratic method (2) The nature of virtue (3) The Crito c. Plato (1) the Theory of Forms (2) the just society (The Repulic) d. Aristotle (1) The empirical method (2) The science of logic (3) The golden mean

Terms: pre-socratics, atoms, psyche, dialectical method, Theory of Forms, empiricism, syllogism, Golden Mean

Study Questions 1. What, according to Thales, was the single unifying substance of nature? Why, in his view, was this so? 2. Who was Crito? What arguments does Socrates give Crito for refusing to escape from prison? 3. What is the dialectical method? 4. Define allegory in your own words. Explain the main elements of the “Allegory of the Cave” from the Republic of Plato. 5. According to Plato, who should rule society? Why? 6. In Aristotle’s view, which is more important, the individual or the state? What did Aristotle mean by saying, “Man is a political animal”?

Challenge Questions 1. Socrates argued that the unexamined life is not worth living. Would you agree? Are there any major advantages to living life “unexamined”? 2. Aristotle argued that happiness is a pleasure of the mind. Would you agree? Comment of the role of happiness in your own life and how you might advise a loved one to go about pursuing happiness. 3. According to Aristotle, what are the three principal types of lives humans can choose to lead? What, according to Aristotle, is humankind’s unique virtue? What is the Golden Mean?