II. Classical Philosophy:

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II. Classical Philosophy

• Plato

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II.A. Plato (428-348 B.C.)

• Platos major principles --
• True knowledge is possible. (Socrates)
• Only what is motionless can truly be an object of
  knowledge. (Parmenides)
• Everything in this world is in motion.
  (Heraclitus)
• Thus there must be another world which is
  motionless and which we can know truly.
• This is the world of the Forms.

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II.A. Plato (428-348 B.C.)

• Platos major conceptual assumptions --
• The presence of ideal standards
• The existence of immutable objects
• The existence of timeless truths
• The priority of the one over the many
• The possibility of certainty
• Certainty does not depend on the senses.

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II.B. Platos Theory of the Forms

• Intelligible World
• Concept-Objects
• The Good
• Source
• Most Real
• Sensible World
• sensible objects
• good
• image
• less real

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II.C. Our Link to the Forms

• Tripartite division of the soul
• Nous (mind or higher soul later rational
  soul)
• Thymos (roughly will)
• Epithymiae (desires, impulses)
• The nous belongs to the intelligible world.
• The nous is able to remember that world from
  which it came.

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II.C. Our Link to the Forms
The Illustration of the Sun --

• Light is the link between what is seen and the
  eye/sight.
• The sun is the source of light.
• Thus the sun both illumines the sensible objects
  and gives us the power to see.

Intelligence is the link between the forms and
the soul. The Good is the source of
intelligence. Thus the Good both gives the forms
their truth and gives the soul the ability to
know that truth.
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II.C. Our Link to the Forms

• The Illustration of the Line
• Degrees of reality
• Four levels of knowing
• Reason
• Understanding
• Faith
• Perception of shadows

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II.C. Our Link to the Forms

• The Illustration of the Cave --
• The goal contemplation of the Good as it is
• Vision of the Good brings about a changed life.
• The souls inherent capacity to ascend/learn
• Those who have seen the Good should govern the
  Republic.

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II.D. Plato and Creation

• Creation to reflect the creators goodness
• Creation from pre-existing materials
• Four elements earth, water, air, fire
• Human soul is a reflection of the worlds soul.

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III. Classical Philosophy

• Other Greek Philosophies

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III.A. Stoicism

• The major philosophy among the educated in both
  Greece and Rome until about A.D. 100
• Influential on the Church fathers
• Begun by Zeno (ca. 333-ca. 262 B.C.)
• Refined by Chrysippus (died ca. 205 B.C.)

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III.A. Stoicism

• Stoicism on God --
• God is within the world as a forming and
  harmonizing power.
• No qualitative difference between God and the
  rest of the universe
• Only bodies exist, so God is a kind of body
  artistic fire or pneuma
• Words for God creative fire, ether, logos,
  world-reason, world-soul, law of nature,
  providence, destiny, order

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III.A. Stoicism

• Stoicism on the Universe --
• A sphere held together by tension/God
• Four types of bodies
• Rational beings (human beings and gods/stars)
• Animals
• Plants
• Inanimate
• A cyclical view of history

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III.A. Stoicism

• Stoicism on Human Life --
• Strong belief in providence
• Evil is good that is not yet fully understood.
• Living in harmony with Nature/God
• Apatheia

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III.A. Stoicism

• Other Significant Aspects of Stoicism --
• Ways of referring to the Logos
• Logos spermatikos
• Logos endiathetos
• Logos prophorikos
• Ways of describing mixtures
• Composition
• Mixture
• Fusion
• Interpenetration

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III.B. Epicureanism

• Epicurus (341-271 B.C.) --
• Belief in divine intervention in the world is a
  major cause of anxiety and failure.
• The gods do not influence our world.
• We have no component that survives death.
• Pleasure consists of tranquility and freedom from
  pain.
• Pursuit of the simple life

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III.C. Skepticism

• Pyrrho (ca. 365-ca. 270 B.C.) --
• Goal is harmony with the universe.
• We cannot know whether our perceptions are
  accurate.
• Suspension of judgment both in science and in
  morals
• Carneades (ca. 195-129 B.C.)
• Argued both sides of any case
• Looked for probability, not certain knowledge