Plato was born in 427 B.C. in Athens. He was born to one of the oldest and most well known families in Athens. As a child, Plato lived with his mother, Perictione, and his father, Ariston. Originally Plato was given the name Aristocles, but it was later changed do to his wide shoulders. (source)
As Plato grew to be a young man he decided that he wanted to be a politician; but after the persecution of his mentor, Socrates, he discovered how heartless politics can be so he found out that he no longer wanted a place in government. (source)
After the death of Socrates, Plato left Athens and went to Megara, Crete, and Egypt. He came back home for a short visit in 395 B.C., but left soon after that and continued his journey. He found himself in Syracuse where he was sold into slavery. In order to buy back his freedom, he had to raise 3,000 drachmas through his friends. He returned back to Athens in 387 B.C. (source)
In 387 B.C. Plato returned home from travelling and set up an Academy. In the Academy they taught astronomy, biological science, mathematics, and political science. Legend tells us that his University was built on land owned by the Greek hero, Academus. We began saying academy because of the name Academus. (source I, source II)
Plato believed that there was another world beyond this one. He believed that it consisted of unchanging eternal forms. He thought that what we see and touch is related to the ultimate realities that now exist. “He gives, in his work the Republic2, the famous comparison of the human condition with that of prisoners chained facing the inner wall of a cave, so that all they can see are mere shadows of objects in the cave, knowing nothing of the world outside. An example of one of the ultimate realities is Euclidean geometry with its theorems concerning ideal objects that do not and cannot exist in the three dimensional world in which we live, ideal objects such as straight lines without thickness and perfect circles, and other such timeless objects. And just as there are no perfect circles in this world we can not have morally perfect men, no absolutely perfect examples of courage or justice; we can only imagine perfectly moral standards”. (source I, source II)
Book 1
Book 2
Saturday, November 24, 2007
Saturday, November 17, 2007
Socrates
Socrates was born in 469 B.C. in Athens. He was the son of a sculpture named Sophroniskus. Like any other Athenian child, Socrates was taught to speak Greek; he also learned geometry, astronomy and arithmetic. Socrates also served in the army, but there is very little known about that except for the fact that he served as a hoplite for the battle of Delium. Socrates lived from 469 to 399B.C.
(source I, source II)
As he grew older, he became more and more of a philosopher. He did not become great by going to school, but by going to markets, or any where else, and asking questions and discussing them with anyone who would listen, it didn’t matter who it was as long as they listened.(source)
The reason for Socrates’ brilliance is because he knew that he knew nothing. He was aware that he still had much more to learn. One time Socrates’ lover went to the oracle at Delphi and asked it if there was anyone smarter than Socrates. The oracle told him no. Though it was flattering, it troubled Socrates because he knew that he wasn’t wise. So in order to find out if this was true, he put his wisdom to the test. He chose politicians whom he thought were wise and discovered that his so called wisdom was not even really wisdom at all.(source)
Though Socrates was an extremely brilliant man he didn’t find it necessary to write it down. He thought that knowledge was living. It is said that our accounts were written down by Plato. The thing we are not sure if they are Socrates words or if Plato added some stuff in himself. But, we do know that Socrates was a brilliant man and because of that he was persecuted.(source)
Socrates was persecuted for supposedly not believing in the gods and for corrupting the youth. Around town people did not respect Socrates and they made him known as the stinky and smelly man; and when the Athenians lost the war against Sparta, they all blamed him because there was no one else to blame. When he went to court he did not apologize to all of the people and instead said that he deserved free food for the rest of his life. This angered the court and so they decided that he would be persecuted. And they did it by making him drink poison. According to Plato, Socrates trial was called the Apology. The time that Socrates was in prison waiting to be executed was called the Crito, and the death of Socrates is called the Phaedo. (source I, source II)
Book 1
Book 2
(source I, source II)
As he grew older, he became more and more of a philosopher. He did not become great by going to school, but by going to markets, or any where else, and asking questions and discussing them with anyone who would listen, it didn’t matter who it was as long as they listened.(source)
The reason for Socrates’ brilliance is because he knew that he knew nothing. He was aware that he still had much more to learn. One time Socrates’ lover went to the oracle at Delphi and asked it if there was anyone smarter than Socrates. The oracle told him no. Though it was flattering, it troubled Socrates because he knew that he wasn’t wise. So in order to find out if this was true, he put his wisdom to the test. He chose politicians whom he thought were wise and discovered that his so called wisdom was not even really wisdom at all.(source)
Though Socrates was an extremely brilliant man he didn’t find it necessary to write it down. He thought that knowledge was living. It is said that our accounts were written down by Plato. The thing we are not sure if they are Socrates words or if Plato added some stuff in himself. But, we do know that Socrates was a brilliant man and because of that he was persecuted.(source)
Socrates was persecuted for supposedly not believing in the gods and for corrupting the youth. Around town people did not respect Socrates and they made him known as the stinky and smelly man; and when the Athenians lost the war against Sparta, they all blamed him because there was no one else to blame. When he went to court he did not apologize to all of the people and instead said that he deserved free food for the rest of his life. This angered the court and so they decided that he would be persecuted. And they did it by making him drink poison. According to Plato, Socrates trial was called the Apology. The time that Socrates was in prison waiting to be executed was called the Crito, and the death of Socrates is called the Phaedo. (source I, source II)
Book 1
Book 2
Saturday, November 10, 2007
Plato's meno
For those of you who may not know, Plato’s Socratic meno was a discussion between Socrates and meno about human virtue. It is said that this is one of “Plato’s earliest surviving dialogues”. This particular dialogue took place around 402 B.C., which was about 3 years before Socrates’ on trial an executed. (source)
Other early dialogues by Plato call Socrates trial the Apology. The time that Socrates was in prison waiting to be executed was called the Crito. The death of Socrates is called the Phaedo. (source)
“Meno, a young aristocrat from Thessaly, asks how virtue is acquired. In reply, Socrates professes himself unable to answer: since he does not even know what virtue is, how can he know how it is acquired? Meno agrees to tackle the nature of virtue first and offers Socrates a definition, or rather a list of different kinds of virtue. After some argument, he accepts that this is inadequate, and offers another definition – virtue as the power to rule – which is also rejected. In order to help the inquiry along, Socrates gives a short lesson in definition, after which Meno offers his third and final definition of virtue: the desire for fine things and ability to acquire them. When this is refuted, he despairs of ever making any progress in their inquiry: how, he demands, can you look for something of whose nature you are entirely ignorant? Even if you stumble upon the answer, how will you know that this is the thing you did not know before?”(source)
The dialogue of meno is about finding out what virtue is. Socrates askes Meno for a definition of arête. But Socrates says that they can’t figure out if arete can be taught if because they don’t have a clear understanding what it is. (source)
The Socratic paradox is Socrates’ claim that arete is a kind of knowledge. People usually think that arete is more than a knowing, it is also a matter of willing. For example Christians think of sin as knowing what we should do and not doing it. But if virtue is knowledge anybody who really knew good would automatically be good. If Socrates is right that arete is a kind of knowledge, it would be impossible to know what good is and not do it. (source)
Book 1
Book2
Other early dialogues by Plato call Socrates trial the Apology. The time that Socrates was in prison waiting to be executed was called the Crito. The death of Socrates is called the Phaedo. (source)
“Meno, a young aristocrat from Thessaly, asks how virtue is acquired. In reply, Socrates professes himself unable to answer: since he does not even know what virtue is, how can he know how it is acquired? Meno agrees to tackle the nature of virtue first and offers Socrates a definition, or rather a list of different kinds of virtue. After some argument, he accepts that this is inadequate, and offers another definition – virtue as the power to rule – which is also rejected. In order to help the inquiry along, Socrates gives a short lesson in definition, after which Meno offers his third and final definition of virtue: the desire for fine things and ability to acquire them. When this is refuted, he despairs of ever making any progress in their inquiry: how, he demands, can you look for something of whose nature you are entirely ignorant? Even if you stumble upon the answer, how will you know that this is the thing you did not know before?”(source)
The dialogue of meno is about finding out what virtue is. Socrates askes Meno for a definition of arête. But Socrates says that they can’t figure out if arete can be taught if because they don’t have a clear understanding what it is. (source)
The Socratic paradox is Socrates’ claim that arete is a kind of knowledge. People usually think that arete is more than a knowing, it is also a matter of willing. For example Christians think of sin as knowing what we should do and not doing it. But if virtue is knowledge anybody who really knew good would automatically be good. If Socrates is right that arete is a kind of knowledge, it would be impossible to know what good is and not do it. (source)
Book 1
Book2
Saturday, November 3, 2007
Greek Architecture
The first people of the Greek peninsula were believed to be Neolithic. They built very basic structures. The houses were mainly built with a circular, oval, apsidal, or rectangular shape. The rectangular house was mostly square, but some were oblong. They used mud bricks and stones in the mud with reeds or brush to help build the house. Most of the houses had only one room (http://library.advanced.org/10098/greek.htm).
The next group of settlers were the Minoan architects. Their towns were mostly residential with little or no temples and public places. Unlike earlier people, their houses were private and had many rooms. To separate rooms, they would use only pillars which made the house very open. The stairways were a very prominent feature for these massive homes. This began a whole new era for the Greeks dealing with architecture (http://library.advanced.org/10098/greek.htm).
During the Classical Greek architecture period, it was made up of three different orders that are most commonly seen in their temples. These three orders were the Doric, Ionic, and Corinthian. The orders are also known for their columns style (http://library.advanced.org/10098/greek.htm).
The Corinthian order is similar to the Ionic except in the form of the capital. Its characteristic feature is the acanthus leaves which enclose the circular body of the capital. The Roman Empire favored this style (http://www.sailinjissues.com/culture.html).
The most basic order for their temples would be the Doric order. Doric architecture was known for being used by the Spartans. It started with wood shafts, which later was replaced by stone. On the top of the shaft, were circular pads with a square block of wood over it. The vertical columns were used to support the beams called architraves. The finishing touches for the roof had to have a flat gables called pediments. The gutter ran along the top of the pediments and ended at a lion's mouth. This acted like a drain. The materials that were used for the roofs were thatch and the terra-cotta and marble (http://library.advanced.org/10098/greek.htm).
The final order would be the Ionic order. Their columns were more slender than those of the Doric order. They had gentler forms than the Doric order, or “male” order (http://www.sailinjissues.com/culture.html). Their dimensions were eight to nine meters high, instead of four to five. The columns had a molded base which was placed under them and then sculpted figures on the lower part of the shaft were added. At the top of these shafts, were rectangular blocks of stone, which were carved in the shape of hair or other wave and line shapes. (http://library.advanced.org/10098/greek.htm).
The next group of settlers were the Minoan architects. Their towns were mostly residential with little or no temples and public places. Unlike earlier people, their houses were private and had many rooms. To separate rooms, they would use only pillars which made the house very open. The stairways were a very prominent feature for these massive homes. This began a whole new era for the Greeks dealing with architecture (http://library.advanced.org/10098/greek.htm).
During the Classical Greek architecture period, it was made up of three different orders that are most commonly seen in their temples. These three orders were the Doric, Ionic, and Corinthian. The orders are also known for their columns style (http://library.advanced.org/10098/greek.htm).
The Corinthian order is similar to the Ionic except in the form of the capital. Its characteristic feature is the acanthus leaves which enclose the circular body of the capital. The Roman Empire favored this style (http://www.sailinjissues.com/culture.html).
The most basic order for their temples would be the Doric order. Doric architecture was known for being used by the Spartans. It started with wood shafts, which later was replaced by stone. On the top of the shaft, were circular pads with a square block of wood over it. The vertical columns were used to support the beams called architraves. The finishing touches for the roof had to have a flat gables called pediments. The gutter ran along the top of the pediments and ended at a lion's mouth. This acted like a drain. The materials that were used for the roofs were thatch and the terra-cotta and marble (http://library.advanced.org/10098/greek.htm).
The final order would be the Ionic order. Their columns were more slender than those of the Doric order. They had gentler forms than the Doric order, or “male” order (http://www.sailinjissues.com/culture.html). Their dimensions were eight to nine meters high, instead of four to five. The columns had a molded base which was placed under them and then sculpted figures on the lower part of the shaft were added. At the top of these shafts, were rectangular blocks of stone, which were carved in the shape of hair or other wave and line shapes. (http://library.advanced.org/10098/greek.htm).
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)