Early Greeks (the pre-Socratics)Early Greeks (the pre-Socratics)

I.I. Three forms of philosophyThree forms of philosophy

II.II. Problem with the godsProblem with the gods

III.III. 66THTH century revolution in natural philosophy century revolution in natural philosophy

IV.IV. The pre-Socratic natural philosophersThe pre-Socratic natural philosophers

A.A. The question of the StuffThe question of the Stuff

B.B. The question of changeThe question of change

C.C. The question of knowledge (epistemology)The question of knowledge (epistemology)

I.I. Three forms of PhilosophyThree forms of Philosophy• Logic, ethics, natural (physics) philosophyLogic, ethics, natural (physics) philosophy• all are ways of knowingall are ways of knowing

• Greeks valued knowledgeGreeks valued knowledge

• rational animalsrational animals

• macrocosm/ microcosmmacrocosm/ microcosm

"All men by nature desire to know." Aristotle

II. Problem with the godsII. Problem with the gods

• pre-Socratic rationalism reaction against the gods

(Socrates 470 – 399 BCE) (Socrates 470 – 399 BCE)

• gods capricious

The 12 Olympian GodsThe 12 Olympian Gods

The Death of Socrates - DavidThe Death of Socrates - David

III. Pre-Socratic philosophersIII. Pre-Socratic philosophers

• Burst of intellectual activityBurst of intellectual activity• Questions never asked beforeQuestions never asked before

• Natural explanations – no godsNatural explanations – no gods

• World is orderly and predictableWorld is orderly and predictable

• The Greek world 450 BCEThe Greek world 450 BCE

• Critical analysisCritical analysis

A. The question of the StuffA. The question of the Stuff“ “ That of which all things consist, from which they first come and That of which all things consist, from which they first come and into which they are ultimately resolved … the element and origin of into which they are ultimately resolved … the element and origin of all things.” Aristotleall things.” Aristotle

1. Thales (624 – 546 BCE)1. Thales (624 – 546 BCE)

The stuff is airThe stuff is air

The stuff is waterThe stuff is water

A. The question of the StuffA. The question of the Stuff

• Mechanistic

• Deterministic

2. The Atomists2. The Atomists

DemocritusDemocritus(460 – 370 BCE)(460 – 370 BCE)

A. The question of the StuffA. The question of the Stuff3. Empedocles (490 -430)3. Empedocles (490 -430)

By earth we earth perceive,By earth we earth perceive,By air bright air, by fire consuming fire,By air bright air, by fire consuming fire,

Love too by love, and strife by grievous strife.Love too by love, and strife by grievous strife.——Empedocles, On NatureEmpedocles, On Nature

Love Love StrifeStrife

(solid, gas, liquid, energy)(solid, gas, liquid, energy)

Earth, air, water, fireEarth, air, water, fire

A. The question of the StuffA. The question of the Stuff4. The Pythagoreans4. The Pythagoreans

Music of the spheresMusic of the spheres

PythagorasPythagoras(580 -500 BCE)(580 -500 BCE)

Geometry of NatureGeometry of Nature

B. The question of changeB. The question of change

Parmenides(520 – 480)(520 – 480)

• Being and Being and not being

• All change is a All change is a logicallogical impossibility impossibility

Zeno of EleaZeno of Elea(490 – 430)(490 – 430)

• Change of place (motion) isChange of place (motion) is impossibleimpossible

Zeno’s paradoxesZeno’s paradoxesSignificance: Significance:

• Everyone following Parmenides must address Everyone following Parmenides must address

• Led to questioning how we know what we know Led to questioning how we know what we know ((epistemology))

• Led to a confrontation: logic versus the sensesLed to a confrontation: logic versus the senses

C. The question of knowledgeC. The question of knowledgeEpistemology Epistemology

• the senses versus the intellectthe senses versus the intellect

• senses unreliablesenses unreliable

• auditoryauditory illusionillusion

• Real truth through the exercise of reason aloneReal truth through the exercise of reason alone

Importance: attention directed to reasoning, argumentationImportance: attention directed to reasoning, argumentation