Report: Ancient Greek philosophers among the greatest thinkers of all time
![Report: Ancient Greek philosophers among the greatest thinkers of all time](https://www.tornosnews.gr/en/files/800px_Greek_philosopher_busts_Report_Ancient_Greek_philosophers_among_the_greatest_thinkers_of_all_time_657938403.jpg)
Ancient Greek philosophy opened the doors to a particular way of thinking that provided the roots for the Western intellectual tradition and civilisation, so it comes as no surprise that these philosophers of ancient Greece are known as some of the greatest thinkers to have ever stepped foot on this earth, greekcitytimes.com notes in the following report:
Ancient Greek philosophers were the first that doubted the contemporary philosophical paradigm, observed and interpreted the world they lived in and set the foundations of Western civilization.
These early philosophers broke tradition and sought rational explanations, their speculation also shaped the early basis for science and natural philosophy.
There are so many great minds who have made a difference to the way we live, so the article focuses on five of the most influential ancient Greek philosophers to have given humanity a lot to think about, and so much to learn from.
Pythagoras
“As soon as laws are necessary for men, they are no longer fit for freedom.”
Pythagoras is a famous mathematician who is credited with inventing the Pythagorean Theorem, one of the key computations in geometry. Although better known for his legendary contribution to mathematics, his philosophical works and ideas have had a great influence on modern philosophy and on Plato as well. He regarded the world as perfect harmony and aimed his teaching on how to lead a harmonious life. Some legends also indicate that he was the first to teach that the Earth was round.
Thales
“Avoid doing what you would blame others for doing.”
Thales of Miletus is regarded as one of the fathers of Greek philosophy, being a major influence for following generations of famous thinkers, philosophers and scientists. He was the first to try to explain natural phenomena without the inclusion of myths, by theories and hypothesis, ergo science. Aristotle points Thales as the first person to have investigated basic principles such as origination of matter. Thales is also said to be the founder of school of natural philosophy.
Plato
“Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle.”
Plato, a student of Socrates, is regarded as the father of political science and the founder of one of the world’s first known institutions of higher learning, the Academy in Athens. The primary groundwork of Plato’s philosophy is a threefold approach – dialects, ethics and physics, the central point of unison being the theory of forms. For him, the highest of forms was that of the ‘good’, which he took as the cause of being and knowledge. Plato wrote one of the first and most influential works on politics, The Republic, which described an ideal or Utopian society. Like his mentor Socrates, Plato was a critic of democracy.
Socrates
“Strong minds discuss ideas, average minds discuss events, weak minds discuss people.”
The most well-known ancient Greek Philosopher of all time, Socrates, was a master stonemason and social critic. He never wrote anything and most of his philosophical contributions come through his students, mainly Plato. Socrates embarked a whole new perspective of achieving practical results through application of philosophy in our daily lives. Socrates became famous for encouraging people to critically question everything. Socrates’ greatest contribution to philosophy was the Socratic Method in which discussion, argument, and dialogue are used to discern the truth. Eventually, his beliefs and realistic approach in philosophy led to his end, as he was tried and convicted for criticizing religion and corrupting the youth. Socrates then chose death by suicide over exile from his homeland of Athens. His legendary trial and death at the altar of the ancient Greek democratic system has changed the academic view of philosophy as a study of life itself
Aristotle
“Educating the mind without educating the heart is no education at all.”
A student of Plato and the teacher of Alexander the Great, Aristotle is considered one of the world’s greatest ancient philosophers. Aristotle studied a wide variety of subjects, including science, ethics, government, physics and politics, and wrote extensively on them. He believed that people’s concepts and all of their knowledge were ultimately based on perception. All aspects of Aristotle’s philosophy continue to be the object of active academic study today.
Read more at greekcitytimes.com
RELATED TOPICS: Greece, Greek tourism news, Tourism in Greece, Greek islands, Hotels in Greece, Travel to Greece, Greek destinations , Greek travel market, Greek tourism statistics, Greek tourism report
Photo Source: Wikimedia Commons Copyright: Matt Neale License: CC-BY-SA
- 1) Guards at e-ticketed ancient sites, museums announcing work stoppage Thursday
- 2) Cyprus displays in Nicosia once-looted antiquities dating back thousands of years
- 3) Culture Minister inaugurates renovated theater at Dion in Central Macedonia
- 4) SNF extends support for the Greek National Opera in Athens with an €11 million grant
25/07 23:18
Greek banks and EIB join forces to enhance access to finance for mid-cap firms
25/07 23:10
Hotel occupancy in Athens reaches 75.5% during the first half of 2024
25/07 23:01
25/07 21:07
Fifty-two municipalities throughout Greece embrace digital transformation
25/07 14:22
Bank of Greece: Loans and deposits by households and institutions rise in June
24/07 23:04
St. Irene Chrysovalantou Astoria marks its Annual Festival from July 25-28
24/07 22:46
Greek Finance Ministry enforces beach regulations after 4,500 citizen complaints
24/07 21:13
Greek president organizes reception for 50th anniversary of restoration of democracy
24/07 19:53
Guards at e-ticketed ancient sites, museums announcing work stoppage Thursday
24/07 16:08
Minister: Disbursement of €2.3 billion from the loan part of the Recovery Fund
22/07 23:29
Cyprus displays in Nicosia once-looted antiquities dating back thousands of years
22/07 23:25
Greek high school students clinch 6 medals at International Math Olympiad
22/07 21:37
Greek Climate Crisis Minister meets with visiting British Minister of State for Europe
22/07 21:33
Hellenic Parliament indowntown Athens undergoes energy upgrades
22/07 18:19
Book of condolences for Nguyen Phu Trong to open at Vietnamese embassy in Athens
21/07 18:05
Sharp hike in the viral load of SARS-CoV2 in the Greek city of Thessaloniki
21/07 15:29
Events for 50-years from democracy restoration in Greece start at the Presidential Mansion
21/07 14:14
Deputy Tourism Minister: Greece can emerge as a protagonist in diving tourism
21/07 13:24
19/07 00:18
UN Tourism and TUI Care Foundation jointly support African artisans in rural areas
16/07 14:47
16/07 11:55
Very high risk of fire for nine regional units across Greece on Tuesday
15/07 23:28
AADE implements mandatory digital export notification system beginning September
15/07 23:26
Hellenic Land Cadastre to be the first Greek state service to implement AI tools
15/07 21:06
US Embassy event marking July 4th: Embracing inclusion and accessibility
15/07 19:13
Athens Municipality opens air-conditioned halls during heatwave
14/07 14:39
National Tourism Organization and Netflix ink cooperation memo to promote Greece
13/07 23:31
OECD report: Greece makes significant strides in competition strengthening
10/07 22:53
Greek-American congressmen meet Greek Prime Minister in Washington DC
10/07 22:50
Greek National Gallery's 'Democracy' looks at Southern European history and art
10/07 21:56
10/07 19:59
Cypriot President visits Athens for event on 50th anniversary of Turkish invasion
10/07 15:44
09/07 22:28
The SFGFF comes to Athens in cooperation with Feelgood Entertainment
09/07 20:34
09/07 18:30
Deal for development of Sani-Kassandra property in Chalkidiki is inked
09/07 14:57
Golf & Maritime for a Good Cause at the 10th Greek Maritime Golf Event
09/07 11:56
The Ultimate Sports Event of Santorini Experience Coming to Santorini on October 3-6
08/07 22:53
Capital Link Invest in Greece webinar series continues on July 9 and 16
08/07 22:25
08/07 20:43
New data on the burial site of Lord Byron's illegitimate daughter Allegra
08/07 15:37
German ambassador: 'To live and work in Greece has always been my dream'
05/07 22:14
Greek port of Piraeus approves distribution of highest dividend in its history
04/07 23:09
Culture Minister inaugurates renovated theater at Dion in Central Macedonia
04/07 19:17
The 43rd Thessaloniki Book Festival opens at the waterfront Friday until July 21
04/07 17:20
Piraeus Port greenlights distribution of highest dividend in its history
03/07 00:24
03/07 00:02
Hotrec reveals digital trends in tourism: Hotels, Booking.com and DMA
01/07 19:28
Higher June temperatures in Greece compared to 2010–2019 average
01/07 19:13
More firefighting aircraft to reinforce firefighting efforts in Greek island of Kos
01/07 17:26
SNF extends support for the Greek National Opera in Athens with an €11 million grant
01/07 12:31
Amendment extending duration of measures against high prices tabled in Greek Parliament
28/06 19:18
Mount Pelion steam tourist train resumes daily service beginning July 1
27/06 14:36
Minister: Mycoast app received 8,911 complaints of illegal activities on beaches
26/06 22:56
Significance of OECD anti-bribery report for Greece's good image highlighted
25/06 19:08
FTI insolvency: Operational business of hotels remains unaffected
25/06 16:19
FinMin urges Greek banks to emulate European counterparts regarding commission charges
25/06 12:12
AEGEAN elected "Best Regional Airline in Europe" at the World Airline Awards 2024
25/06 10:16
Platform for Greece's 'Thessaly & Evros Pass 2024' opens on Tuesday
23/06 14:52
State Minister: Greece is the 8th cheapest country in the European Union
22/06 22:49
Bank of Greece: Travel receipts increased by 22.0% during January-April 2024
22/06 18:11
Greek Tourism Ministry and embassies cooperate to address sector issues
22/06 18:05
Wyndham inked deal with Oikos for the first Ramada Residences in Greece
21/06 17:57
Event organized to present 'The Ilisian' - the new name of the former Athens Hilton
19/06 23:47
Greek state ten-year bond auction concluded with yield at 3.56%
19/06 23:41
Shipping Minister: Greece supports EU's efforts to modernise maritime safety rules
19/06 22:32
Culture minister reviews NSRF projects on the Greek island of Lesvos
19/06 19:41
US Ambassador to Athens applauds Greece’s comeback and investors interest
19/06 11:44
Minister: Reforms must follow investments to boost regional competitiveness
18/06 18:15
ARF 2024: US Ambassador to Athens on Greece's economic miracle
18/06 16:33
Capital Region AHEPA organizes 5th Annual Golf Outing in New York
18/06 14:58
18/06 14:24
Greek Minister refers to multiple benefits from the restoration of the Athens Riviera
18/06 13:35
Regional Governor of Attica: Greeks living abroad are the most important ambassadors
17/06 19:02
Conference focuses on Sifnos and sustainable development on Greek islands
17/06 18:56
Council of State discusses relocation of Mount Parnitha casino to Marousi again
17/06 18:56
Ministers and Super League chief talk digital tickets for upcoming soccer matches
17/06 15:59
Forecast: Very high risk of fire in two Greek regions including Attica
17/06 13:42
Passenger traffic in Greek ports records an increase of 11.1% during Q4 2023
14/06 22:58
14/06 22:03
14/06 17:58
Athens and Thessaloniki added 250 new electric buses to their urban transport networks
13/06 22:43
National Theater to perform Aristophanes at ancient Greek theaters over the summer
12/06 11:48
Athens Acropolis site closed down from 12:00 to 17:00 due to high temperatures
12/06 00:01
'Poor Things' costumes exhbition at Benaki Museum in downtown Athens
11/06 15:53
Schools in Athens to stay closed on Wednesday and Thursday due to heatwave
11/06 00:10
Greek Port Authority to acquire 11 boats for transfer of patients from remote islands
11/06 00:03
Greece's Interior Ministry issues directions for remote work during heatwave
10/06 23:45
Digital app for travellers to Greece 'mAIGreece' goes live on Monday
10/06 22:28
Greek Interior Ministry issues directions for remote work during heatwave on Tuesday-Thursday
10/06 19:38
Traffic restored on new Greek national highway leading to Corinth after truck explosion
10/06 14:42
09/06 22:47
High prices of consumer goods in Greek supermarkets are on a downward trend
09/06 11:18
UK Tourism 2024: Greece named top destination in the world with best value for money
08/06 00:22
Insolvency: FTI Touristik GmbH cancels all trips up to and including 05 July 2024
07/06 02:54
ERTFLIX International takes part in the Los Angeles Greek Film Festival
07/06 02:42
NBG: Greek tourism to break record in 2024 with 35 million arrivals and €22 billion in revenue
06/06 20:50
Greece elected to UN Security Council for 2025-26 in a 'historic day'
06/06 13:57
Hellenic National Archaeological Museum presents "The last Aphrodites" exhibition
05/06 22:00
FTI provisional insolvency admin strives for fastest possible solutions for clients
Hotel occupancy in Athens reaches 75.5% during the first half of 2024
Greek banks and EIB join forces to enhance access to finance for mid-cap firms
St. Irene Chrysovalantou Astoria marks its Annual Festival from July 25-28
Greek Finance Ministry enforces beach regulations after 4,500 citizen complaints
Bank of Greece: Loans and deposits by households and institutions rise in June
Guards at e-ticketed ancient sites, museums announcing work stoppage Thursday
Fifty-two municipalities throughout Greece embrace digital transformation
Minister: Disbursement of €2.3 billion from the loan part of the Recovery Fund
Greek president organizes reception for 50th anniversary of restoration of democracy
High risk of fire for Attica, Viotia and Evia regions in Greece on Thursday
FM: Procedures underway to repatriate 149 Greeks in Israel and Palestinian territories
Greece and Turkey agree to implement or reactivate CBM activity in 2024
Greek Tourism minister meets with Swiss, Albanian ambassadors in Athens
Media report: Cheap airfares aren’t coming back according to airline execs
PM at Axia discussion: Greece offering great investment opportunities in 2023
Bill lifting restrictions for Greeks voting from abroad greenlighted by majority vote
Minister: Greece will continue to demand the return of the Parthenon Marbles
ERTFLIX International takes part in the Los Angeles Greek Film Festival
The SFGFF comes to Athens in cooperation with Feelgood Entertainment
Tri-city winter luncheon unites upstate New York Philoptochos chapters