This was a lot to read, wasn't it?? But Alexander and his empire was pretty important - particularly in spreading the Greek ideas around the known world. While there is a lot to digest, I would like to concentrate this blog on a small bit of the reading - namely the new philosophies of the Hellenistic Age. How did these new philosophies compare and contrast to the philosophies of Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle? What did the different approach say about the diference between the Classical Athenian period and the newer Hellenistic period?
A lot to read and digest so why don't we make this due on Wednesday, December 17.
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22 comments:
the new philosophies are a lot more happiness orineted, while the old philosophies focused on helping the state. as greek culture expanded, more people began to help the state and it became less necesarry for individuals to help. there was more diversity, freedom and thinking in the hellenistic age. since there was more to do, there were better philosophies.
Katelyn Connor
From the scientific analysis of Plato and Aristotle’s focus on ideal forms of government, philosophers started to move from wondering about the ideal working organizations around them, and perfect justice and lifestyle to think about the inner spirit and achieving harmony and salvation. Epicureanism brought a new way of thought, with the freedom from worry with the mind at rest, a life based on friendship and less focused on politics. Stoics, following another philosophy, believed that one needs inner harmony, with a strong spiritual base. The Hellenistic era saw mystery religions based on trying to live a life that would bring a person to reach salvation by worshiping a god or goddess that has risen from the dead. This was trending away from the ritualistic Greek religion of the gods, which in contrast, did not give any thought to life after death.
The new philosophies had some drastic and identifiable differences from the old ones. Firstly the old ones were based mostly on the goings on in the political life and in the world around them (how things worked, how are babies made…). Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle thought more about the phisis then to any spiritual philosophies. This changed to include; thinking about the metaphysical world and tie religion into their thinking.
These new philosiphies were based around the idea of happiness, that was the goal of life. To acchieve this a person had to separate themselves from politics asnd public affairs. But not all public affairs, but to have friendship. This was slightly different but mostly the same as Socrates ideas because they said to know thy self, which can also mean to find what you want. That is the pursuit of pleasure which is what the philosifers of the hellenistic age.
The new pholosophies were very different to those of socrates, Aristotle and Plato. Epicuranism was focused on one's happiness in life and the persuit of pleasure. But the pursuit of pleasure meant a free mind so you had to sepperate yourself from public and political affairs. Stoicism was the more popular philosophy of the hellenistic era and in the roman empire as well. It had the same basic idea of happiness but took a different approach. Happiness could be found through living in harmony with the divine will, but did not see the need of sepperating yourself from public and political affairs.
Sarah Kelley
The new philosophies did not change the fact that Athens was the prime center for philosphy. New schools of thought continued to become attracted to Athens. Epicurus, the founder of Epicureanism, believed that human beings were free to follow self-intrest. This should enforce happiness and pleasure to life. Stoicism was also concerned with how individuals find and sustain happiness. But, they believed happiness, the supreme god, was found only by living in harmony.
These ideas the new philosophers brought forward were a little bit different then Socrates, Plato and Aristotle. Unlike the early philosophers the new philosophers focused instead of knowledge they focused on one's self. Things like finding happiness and inner peace was their focus. I believe that the older classical Athenian approach was a knowledgeable approach that seemed to be confused on knowledge and achieving knowledge. This newer approach in the Hellenistic period seems to be just having peace with what knowledge you have and trying to be happy instead of striving for more. It is more of a mellow guru approach.
Sarah Albanese
Socrates, Plato and Aristotle’s beliefs were all based on bettering the individual. They were mainly saying get to know yourself to make yourself a better person. Socrates basically summed it up when he said “know thy self". The philosophers of the Hellenistic period focused mainly on happiness and being at peace with your mind, soul, body and environment. Classical Athenian period was trying to find reality and what is the purpose for everything. In the Hellenistic period I figure that they are tired of war against each other. So, most of their lessons are focused on personal happiness and happiness between the states.
Kelly Francisco
The new philosophies mentioned in the book were different then the ones of Aristotle, Plato, Thales, Socates and so on. These philosophies dealth with happieness being the goal of life and the only one true good was the means to achieve this. These philosophies also said that to ahchieve pleasure or emotional freedom you have to rid yourself from public affiars and politics. Other philosohies also dealth with happiness but with a new approach. Overall, these philosophies mainly focused on happiness.These philosophies didn't deal so much with the "physis" or truly understanding how the universe works yet it deals with the happiness of the individual. The philosophies mentioned just overall are more geared toward the citizens not the actual world.
justin
the first philosophers were different because they focused their thought on oneself. the later philosophers focused on one of two things, ones happiness or math/science. the early philosophers searched for the truth. they thought it was in oneself or even that it didn't exist. the newer philosophers focused on happiness. they thought it should be the main attention of life. others researched math like geometry. they almost got the circumference.
The new philosophies unlike Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle, had the central idea of happiness and as they said, it was the goal in life and the only true good. Also to have harmony and share friendships. These philosophies in the Hellenistic period differed from the ones in the Classic Athenian period becuase in the Classic Athenian period, people believed in finding happiness through the polis, in the Hellenistic period people thought they could only find happiness in what the new philosophies told them.
The new philosophers were a lot different then the ones that came before them. Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle focused more on the individual the on mankind as a whole. Socrates said "know thyself" he wanted people to look on the inside to find the truth rather then looking around ourselves. The new philosophers focused more on personal happiness and also happiness between different groups (cities, tribes, families...). In a sense, they were about peace.
Socrates, Platos, and Aristotle resided upon philosophies that differed againts the new philosophers' philosophies. The new philosophers believed in the main goal of achieving happiness in one's life. In some like the Epicureanism, you needed to achieve that goal by freeing yourself from worries. In Hellenistic period many new opportunities rised such as women having more rights. While in Athens, women had little or no rights. Therefore the Hellenistic period brought new ideas and opportunities that contributed in differentiating it to Classical Athenian.
Meg
Philosophy evolved in Greece over the years. The earliest philosophers set the fundamentals for their succesors. The Hellinistic age was about finding peace within your self and the world that you lived in. Balance. Knowing thyself is an important ideal of Greek Philosophy. The pursuit of happiness is what it is based upon.
During the Hellenistic Age, the philosophys were different than the ones formed by Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle. The early three focused on finding a physis, usually within thyself, and using it to gain power and wealth, which Alexander expanded greatly upon. Alexander was more about finding happiness and balance, again, within thyself, and using it to gain power. Alexander clearly did this and expanded on his greek ideas to the whole world. The different approach showed that the Hellenistic Age was more into these philosophys and accepted them more than they did for the first three philosophers. The classical Athenian period was more relaxed, and the Hellenistic Age was more into the ideas, and more energetic(?) about the ideas.
because Alexander the Great had conquered the non Greek east as far as India and introduced Greek ways to that area, scholars and teachers gave the nayme Hellenistic to that period of hisory. Attaining "ataraxia" (peace of mind) was the goal of Hellenistic philosophies - Some people believe that Alexander the Great is also Sosquach - i.e. "The Yeti" Scholars have also belived - though, just a myth, that Alexander "The Great" was stronger and more attractive than Zack Regine "The Great-est", but anyone who has seen Zack Regien, knows this to be nothing but jibberish
Anyway, geting bak to the philosophies, Hellenistic ideals were based on peace of mind adn self sufficiency and viewed man first and foremost as a memba of the human race and second as a citizen. Epicureanism shared with Hellenistic philosophies their view on an individual rather than the state, peace of mind, and self sufficiency. man naturally seeks pleasure (and by this I mean kissing the ladies)- but tries to avoid pain (and by this I mean getting slapped in the face when you kiss a girl that you've never met and to her surprise).
I'm grounded big time so I workt diligently while chained to my bed with no food
Edward Cummins
I definately agree with Alex when he says that the new philosophies deal with happiness as the main priority in comparison to the old philosophies that were suppose to help the future and the being of all the people. The old Athenian period dealt in finding knowledge to improve upon your own truth. I also think that the newer Helinistic period definately reflects on the happiness of the society.
The new philosophies were idealy different from Socrates and the other old philosophiers. The new ones were more focused with happiness between groups of people or themselves. While the old philosphies were more about the physis such as air, fire, atoms or water. I also agree totally with tom about his statements on how things were made in the universe especially about the babies for that must be why they said babies come from storks.
Matt Hoey
The new philosphies were pretty different from the old ones. I agree with Alex on how the new philsophies were more based on happiness and freedom. While the old philosophies were based on trying to find a physis such as, air, fire water or atoms. After reading Brians' blog, i also agree with how he states that the Hellenistic age was them not striving for more.
Athens was the capital of philosophy, but the newer views didnt just focus on how to live your life. While one philosopher said that happiness was the true meaning of life, others also argued other valid points like that the earth was round and wasnt at the center of the universe, but rather rotated around a much larger object. Socretes, Plato and Aristotle just focused on how the world worked but the new philosophers focused on a broader range and investigated the universe in bulk.
epicurus seemed to be more optimistic than plato and aristotle in terms of the purpose of being. i also agree that pleasure is different from happiness.the philosophers of this time believed more in happiness than the classical philosophers. the catagoriesof science and philosophy and science became more defined as more people saw into it.
Philosophers stopped thinking about governmental issues, and began thinking about harmony, and peace. Happiness was a driving force in Hellenistic philosophy,and they gave great thought on the concept of an afterlife. It truly was a step foreward for Human Thinking, as these are some of the first that were focused inward, not outward.
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