2599849
Description
Flashcards by rebecca.clarence, updated more than 1 year ago
|
Created by rebecca.clarence
almost 9 years ago
|
|
| Question | Answer |
| Traditional vs new view of the Hellenistic period intellectually | Traditionally thought of to be a stagnant period of intellectual philosophy - post Aristotle Actually not true - really dynamic philosophic environment - growth of different philosophies - Greeks thinking about morals, religion, life etc. New areas of speculation and engagement in debates and discussions both passionate and profound Many schools of philosophy. |
| What were some influential philosophic movements? | Stoic Epicurean Cynic Sceptic Peripatetic Academic |
| Where did followers of Aristotle and Plato go? | Aristotle - Peripatetic Plato - Academic, and some also became advocates of the school of Scepticism |
| Why have some of these words for schools of philosophy entered our language? | Hellenistic philosophers tried to give a complete guide to life - lend themselves (broad themes of these schools) to being used in a metaphorical sense for modern everyday life. |
| What are the problems with the evidence? | Not many sources survive - hundreds of philosophers wrote but only fragments survive Fragments of the sources we do have Later sources talking about them - Roman writers take ideas from Hellenistic period and apply them eg. Cicero, Lucretius, Seneca, but we don't have the originals often |
| Centre of this intellectual hub? | Athens remains centre, still has glamour of being the true home of philosophical enlightenment - but there is a big break in the philosophical world Very diverse - many schools of thought offered - Aristotle wouldn't recognise it Mecca to non-Greek from eastern Med wanting to learn Greek culture Social links in movement Academy of Plato, Epicurean gardens, Stoa of Socrates, Lyceum of Aristotle - intellectual, diverse, dynamic places - even Romans came to these places |
| What impact did Alexander the Great have? | His Hellenisation of the eastern Mediterranean had excited non-Greeks to know more about Greek culture - Athens was the Mecca due to schools of Aristotle and Plato Many new philosophers hailed from the eastern Med |
| The Cynics | Founded by Diogenes of Sinope - exile in Athens Living according to nature All parts of life - clothing, politics, etc. - human inventions and should reject social conventions These get away from happiness and the true meaning of life - need to live a frugal, ascetic life to be happy and forgo material pleasures - happiness comes from nature |
| The Stoics | Leading Stoics - Zeno, Cleanthes, Chrysippus, Panaetius, Posidonius Same idea as cynics of virtuous life Very serious, rational, not giving into "disruptive emotions" Unified main parts of philosophy; logic, physics and ethos. Idea of order - universe is governed by reason (logos) which permeates all of reality and orders everything To be a good human this underlying purpose should be recognised - indestructible purpose - reason All humans have a part of this within their souls and need to use it to live in accordance to the guiding powers of reason Great interest in logic - advances to Aristotlelian logic |
| The Epicureans | Founded late fourth century by Epicurus in Samos, found it's way to Athens - Epicurean gardens Developed alongside stoicism - polar opposite No logic to the universe - all just matter of atoms and void - swerve of atoms allows for human free will Shouldn't be afraid of the gods or afterlife - atoms will disperse Humans should thus pursue pleasure whilst alive - static pleasures - satisfaction, contemplation, enjoyment Freedom from mental and physical distress (ataraxia and aponia) Virtues are a means to obtain pleasure and happiness - not good in themselves (differs to Stoicism) |
| Peripatetics and Academics | Peripatetics stay conservative Academics frequently go over to Scepticism, choosing elements of doubt over elements of dogmatism (Plato's approach) - eg. Carneades went over from being a full Academic to refute all dogmatic doctrines, particularly Stoicism, and even Epicureanism Pyrrho lead the first school of Scepticism |
| Did Hellenistic philosophy become disconnected from society and politics? | Approaches of the main schools differed to poleis centred thinking of Classical philosophers such as Aristotle and Plato Political and social concerns less central Found new ways to think about the relationship between the individual and society - Cynics and Stoics invent new idea of cosmopolitanism - human race is the poleis, one community, all borders are artificial, there is only one humanity Epicuran social contract - stay out of debate but don't ignore politics - some social engagement is necessary or desirable Philosophy was a "way of life" not just arcane thinking and so had direct social impact |
Want to create your own Flashcards for free with GoConqr? Learn more.