Ancient Philosophy

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The Big Three : Classical Greek Philosophy

The Pre-Socratics approached philosophy on a metaphysical level they focused their questions on the nature and essence of the universe and the argument between a monistic or dualistic `reality ' of the universe The Pre-Socratics then laid the groundwork for Western philosophy but the Classical philosophers approached such intellectual pursuits with respective methods and further elaborating on different aspects of human existence , the universe , and different worldly phenomena . They ask whether there exists a world of ideas , or a

unified body and soul ? What is the human soul 's ultimate purpose ? What can be considered virtuous These questions provide endless possibility of ascertaining true knowledge , and answers , as one of the philosophers would say , can be answered with another question

This will discuss the founders of Western philosophy : Socrates Plato , and Aristotle as well as their respective philosophies and how such ideas have influenced the growth and development of philosophy in Europe

The Why : The Socratic Method

Socrates was the first among the three , but there is no complete certainty whether he existed or whether his philosophies were real . The Socratic Dialogues supposedly narrates the experiences of Socrates through the writing of his student , Plato . Thus , there is confusion whether Socrates ' philosophical views are unique or the same as that of his student . Socrates lived in Athenian society as a wandering questioner , aptly so because of his nickname as a `gadfly one who pesters or intrudes into other people 's...