Greek Philosophers

When you think of the famous Greek Philosopher's you think of Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle. These men are the focus of Greek Philosopher's. I must admit I've never heard of the others that came before them. There was Thales who believed that everything was made from water and left out the Gods. Anaximander rejected what Thales had to say, believing that the Earth was made from cold and wet while the moon and stars from heat and dry. These philosopher's are known as "matter philosophers". There was also Heraclitus who believed that life was a constant battle. These men and others where able to make nature real.

Then there where the men known as "The Sophists". These men where hired to prepare young men for the Council of Five hundred and the Assembly. They felt that the truth was not what was important but whether you could argue and win whether the position held truth.

Next came the more well known Greek philosophers, starting with Socrates. A man who never wrote his own words and was found guilty of impiety. His method of teaching was to never to answer a question, but rather always ask the question. Plato a student of Socrates was the one who wrote Socrates' teachings.

Plato himself opened a school and believed that man was born with knowledge and go through life remembering what we already know. In his writing "The Republic" he believed that society should be lead by the "philosopher king" rather than by a normal man. His hope was to rescue Athens and make it a better society.

Aristotle was a student at Plato's Academy. Like Socrates Aristotle was convicted of impiety, but rather than facing the punishment ran to save his life. Aristotle disagreed with Plato's idea of being born with knowledge, but thought that we go through life learning.

Amazing that the men of these times thoughts and beliefs are still relevant today. Teacher's employ the Socratic method of teaching, Plato's philosopher kings look much like today's dictator's, and Aristotle set a method of democracy that is still used today. These men were truly great thinker's.