The link between Classical Greece and Western Political Philosophy

1. The link between Classical Greece and Western Political Philosophy Senior Seminar Mrs. Civitella 2011-2012

2. The origin of political philosophy • In most civilized societies, the learned persons were priests or religious leaders. • In Greece, learning was not tied to religion • Intelligent Greeks tried to study nature and human beings • They were not against religion, but they believed that polytheism stopped people from thinking about the natural causes of things

3. Naturalism and Humanism • Naturalismis the theory of looking for answers to the world in nature, not religion • Humanism is another idea that originated with the Greeks • Humanism is the idea that studying the behavior of human helps to identify the purpose of human life

4. Naturalism and Humanism • Finding the answers to why events occurred in the world were called laws of nature • Finding answers for the behavior of men and women were called human nature • The name for the persons who sought truth through observation and thought were called Philosophers • Philosophy is the study of laws of nature and human nature • The term philosophy mans “love of wisdom”

5. School of Athens by Raphael 1510-1511

6. Greek Art and Athletics • Greek art was the first to copy natural replicas of the human form • The objective of Greek art was to capture the beauty and strength that humans had the potential to acquire • Every four years the best athletes from all of the city-states met in the city of Olympia for the Olympic Games

8. The Beginning of Political Science • The Greeks believed that humans could control society and government • The Greeks started Political Science or the study of government • The people of Greece had the freedom to discuss changing their government, something that was not available in the other empires of the world

9. Forms of Government Philosophers studied different forms of government • They saw governments where one person ruled and called it a monarchy (from monos, meaning “one”) • When several people ruled the government was called either: • An aristocracy (from aristos, meaning “best”) • An oligarcy (from oligosmeaning “few”) 3. When the majority of men ruled by voting it was called a democracy (from demos, meaning “ordinary people”)

10. Political Science Questions the Greeks Tried to Answer What is justice, or fairness? Can there be different kinds of governments? Can people choose the kind of government they want? Which kinds of governments are good? Which kinds are bad? What is freedom? Should people love their city-state and be loyal to it? How should young people be educated? What should they learn in order to be free people?

12. Athens vs. Sparta • By 500 B.C., the two strongest city-states were Athens and Sparta • Athens had a strong navy and was a sea power • Sparta, in the Peloponnesus, was a land power

13. Athenian Democracy • Only adult male citizens could share in the government • Athenian voters did not elect representatives • The male citizens would go to a big meeting or Assembly • In the Assembly each citizen voted for or against any law that was proposed • This is direct democracy

14. The Assembly • Even in Athens all the citizens could not meet every day • 500 citizens were chosen each year to carry on the government • This Council of 500 was chosen randomly using a lottery • All government positions were chosen by lot every year • Ten military leaders were chosen by the Assembly based on their ability • They were called generals • One general was chosen to rule the other generals. He was called the commander in chief

15. The Age of Pericles • Elected leader of Athens from 461 B.C. to 429 B.C. • Pericles dedicated his reign to making Athens beautiful • Marble temples were raised on the Acropolis • Sculptors made beautiful statues • Men wrote histories and plays that are still read and performed • tragedies- serious plays that help us understand human problems • comedies- plays that make fun of human foolishness

16. The Rise and Fall of the Athenian Empire • Under Pericles, Athens was able to gain an empire • Greek successes in the Persian Wars showed the city-states how much strength they had if they united • Many city-states formed a league for mutual protection

17. The Delian League- 478 B.C. • Each city-state agreed to give ships or money to the league • Athens had given more ships than any other city-state and was chosen to command the Delian League • By 465 B.C. Athens had complete control over the league • Other city-states had to ask permission to sail and trade throughout Greece

18. All city-states paid money to Athens to keep the Delian League running Eventually Athens took a position of superiority over the other city-states Over time, all city-states had to obey the laws of the Athenians The Delian League had turned into an Athenian Empire

20. Athens vs. Sparta • Sparta had never joined the Delian League • Sparta was an aristocratic military polis • Other Delian League members eventually turned to Sparta for help • War over territory eventually broke out • For almost 30 years, the Peloponnesian War was fought between Athens and her allies and Sparta and her allies

22. The Peloponnesian War • Pericles died soon after the Peloponnesian War began • Less capable rulers reigned in Athens following his death • By 404 B.C. Athens was forced to surrender • The Spartans broke up the empire • They set up a rule of 30 men in Athens

23. Socrates: A Great Philosopher • Athens had lost its empire • Athenians did not like to be reminded of the mistakes they had made • Uneducated men came into power in Athens • Socrates was a philosopher who pointed out the flaws in bad rulers

24. Questions raised by Socrates • What is justice? • What is beauty? • What is friendship? • He listened to the answers given by the Athenian rulers. • When he thought them wrong, he tried to lead people toward the truth by argument • This is the origin of the Socratic method

25. Socrates as teacher • Socrates did not have a school or regular students • He went around Athens talking to people • He attracted many young people to his teachings of reason • Many people did not like Socrates because he reminded them of their flaws and the mistakes that their rulers had made • Eventually Socrates is put on trial for being unfaithful to the gods and of teaching young men false truths

26. The Trial and Death of Socrates • Socrates could have gone into exile, but he chose to stand trial • Socrates was found guilty by an Athenian jury • He was ordered to drink poison hemlock • After a month with his family and friends, Socrates thanked the jury for letting him die rather than forcing him to live false truths • Socrates had lived from 469 B.C. to 399 B.C.

27. Socrates and Plato • Socrates left no writings of his teachings • He is known through the works of his famous pupil, Plato • Plato was 28 years old when Socrates died • Plato was the son of a wealthy aristocrat • Following the death of Socrates, Plato left Athens for 12 years

28. The Academy • Plato returned to Athens and set up a school in a public garden outside of the city • Plato’s school, the Academy, taught Greek youth for 900 years • Curriculum included philosophy, science, and mathematics

29. Plato’s dialogues • Plato’s writings are in the form of conversations in which different speakers articulate their views • In The Republic, Plato explained his concept of the ideal state through a series of conversations with Socratesand other prominent Athenians • The Republic determines that the best ruler should be a philosopher-king and that each citizen should do the job best suited to his/her abilities

30. Aristotle • The most brilliant student at the Academy was Aristotle • Aristotle went on to tutor the son of Philip II of Macedonia, Alexander • Aristotle is credited with teaching Alexander the most effective methods of governance leading him to become Alexander the Great • His empire led to the spread of Greek ideas throughout the Ancient world • This culture is called the Hellenistic Civilization