Philosophy Paper # 1

The philosophical revolution took place in ancient Greece between 500 and 600 B.C.
It is hard to say exactly when it started but we have a pretty good idea. The ideas and thoughts at
the time were the Gods were all powerful and dictated everything that happened. The people
were living their lives in fear of the gods and it didnt matter what one did because the will of the
gods would ultimately win out. No one questioned the gods. Everyone thought that the athletes
and the men of war were the most powerful and this is what pleased the gods. One of the first to
question this idea was a wandering poet named Xenophanes. He was born around 560 B.C. and
traveled all over writing poems and sharing his ideas and thoughts. He was one of the first to
question the Gods and their power. Xenophanes believed more in a religion based on rationality
and less on traditionally held beliefs. In his fragments Xenophanes talks about all of the warriors,
boxers and wrestlers whom have accomplished amazing things but he says (even if he won with
horses, he would get all of this, but would not merit as I: for better than the strength of men and
horses is our wisdom. But most vain is the present custom: it is wrong to prefer strength to noble
wisdom. For neither is there a good boxer among the people nor a pentathlete nor a wrestler, nor
one swift of foot, the gift most honored in feats of strength, in contests, would the city be one
whit better governed. Small is the delight that would come to a city if someone wins a contest by
the banks of the Pisa, for this does not fatten the coffers of the city.) Daniel Graham The texts
of Early Greek Philosophy. Xenophanes believed knowledge was power and that a city would
be much more affluent if left to the intelligent people. Xenophanes also believed that Earth and
Water were fundamental to creation and gathered these thoughts through his studies of fossils.

Xenophanes was one of the first to try and get people to look at things differently and not just
take things for what they are but to think outside the box and challenge the status quo. Some of
Xenophanes writings and poems let to change and the education of Parmenides that took things
to another level.
Parmenides felt that his predecessors didnt do a very good job explaining how one thing
can turn into many things. In his search to explain the problem of the one and the many"
Parmenides turned away from the study of individual things and devoted his attention to an
analysis of the process of change itself. (Soccio chapter 2, p 66). Like many early philosophers
Parmenides shared his thoughts and ideas in the form of a poem. The poem On Nature
Parmenides shares a story about a goddess that talks about three possible paths but only one of
them is the right path. Parmenides reasoning is based on two ideas: What is, is and What is
not, is not. According to Parmenides, strictly speaking, nothing can never refer to anything or
object. Thus, strictly speaking, the sentence Nothing exists is self-contradictory. The
Parmenidean nothing paralyzes reason: Lacking any content whatsoever, it cannot be
comprehended at all. Since it cannot be comprehended, it cannot be described-there is nothing to
refer to. (Soccio chapter 2, p 66). Parmenides believed that thinking and being are the same,
being is always thinkable, and being is fundamentally intelligible. Parmenides felt that reality
could not be felt by one of our senses. He believed that what we think is change is really just an
illusion. He stated that change equals transformation into something else. When a thing becomes
something else it becomes what it is not. Based on his idea (what is not) does not exist so
something cannot change, change does not exist. (Soccio chapter 2, p 68). Parmenides idea of
what is and what is not were very forward thinking for the time and many of his critiques
say that his ideas contradict themselves but it continued the ball rolling in thinking outside the

box and trying to explain anything and everything that is happening around us. Parmenides ideas
were closely studied by many and played an important part in the development of Platos theory
of Forms.
Before Plato there was his mentor and teacher Socrates. Socrates never had any of his
own writings so a lot of what me know about him and his ideas is based on the writings of Plato.
Plato was loved and admired by many and at the same time many people did not like him and
thought that he was corrupting the youth and constantly annoying people with all of his
questioning and wanting to explore things much deeper. He was known as the Gadfly of
Athens. Socrates was the type of person that was trying to get the people of Athens to think
more, question more, and try to find the answers to many of lives questions and mysteries.
Socrates taught that true beauty is inner beauty-beauty of spirit and character. Socrates himself
was not a good looking person and tried to explain that one cannot know if someone is happy
based merely on their outer appearance but knowing what is inside the person is where one can
find the value. Unlike the Sophists who looked to gain lots of power and money by sharing their
knowledge, Socrates was not after monetary gain. He was trying to find the purest form of
knowledge and wanted the people in Athens to be the best versions of themselves. Socrates was a
lover of knowledge in the truest form and spent his life finding it and helping others as well.
One of his friends went to the Oracle at Delphi and asked the question: Is anyone wiser than
Socrates? The Oracle was believed to have the gift of prophecy. The Oracle said: No man is
wiser than Socrates. It could have meant two things: either Socrates is the wisest man in Athens
or Socrates was not very wise but he is the smartest person that the people of Athens have.
(Soccio, chapter 4, p 110). Socrates took what the Oracle had to say very seriously and said that
it was a huge turning point in his life. From that point forward and for the rest of his life

Socrates made it his mission to try and find someone that was wiser then him. He went all over
talking to various people that were well respected and considered experts in their field to try and
find someone smarter than him. The idea that Socrates was the wisest was called Socratic
Ignorance. Socrates was smart enough to know that the more he got to know the more he
realized he didnt know. One of Socrates biggest missions was to educate people of the
importance of the soul. He wanted to expand the notion of the self as the soul. He encouraged
people to seek wisdom and truth. For Socrates, knowledge of virtue is wisdom; it goes beyond
theoretical understanding of justice or right and wrong and includes living justly, living
honorably and well in the highest sense. (Soccio chapter 4, p 117) Socrates was able to
question Athenian values and ruffle some feathers of important people for many years but
eventually it led to his death. He was taken to trial for not worshipping the gods of the state
and corrupting the young. In his apology he went out to prove his accusers wrong with his
smarts, wit, and showing the charges were incorrect but he was still found guilty. He was
encouraged by family and friends to give up what he believed in and leave the city and stop
teaching his ideas and thoughts because it was what one should do when punishment was death
but Socrates did not follow the norm and said that the state would regret their decision and he
was not going to stop teaching what he believed in. W herefore, O judges, be of good cheer
about death, and know of a certainty, that no evil can happen to a good man, either in life or after
death. He and his are not neglected by the gods(Socrates/Soccio chapter 4, p 121) Socrates
had such a love for wisdom and looking inside ourselves to be the best versions of ourselves that
ultimately he was put to death for what he believed in. Socrates influenced many people and his
teachings have lived the test of time and that is why we are still talking about him and teaching

his ideas thousands of years later. Two people he had the biggest influence on were Plato and in
turn Aristotle.
Plato wrote most of what is known about Socrates and expanded more on the ideas of his
mentor. Plato is considered one of the most imposing and influential, philosophers in the
Western world. Plato set out to improve and get a better understanding of metaphysics/ontologyultimate reality, moral questions, relativism of the sophists, and the governmental Instability in
Athens. Plato built on the ideas of Socrates that those regarded as experts in ethical matters did
not have the understanding for a good human life, Plato introduced the idea that their mistakes
were due to their not engaging properly with a class of things he called Forms. Some examples
of his Forms are justice, beauty, and equality. Plato taught that the forms exist even though they
are not physical objects. Plato stated that forms exist independent of human consciousness. Plato
wanted the theory of forms to provide a rational explanation of how knowledge is possible.
(Soccio, chapter 5, p 135). When it came to the Sophists there was a challenge distinguishing
between knowledge and opinion. Plato used the concept of a divided line to illustrate the
relationship of knowledge to opinion, reality to appearance, metaphysics to epistemology, and
the world of being to the world of becoming. (Soccio, chapter 5, p 138). Plato stated that there
are 4 different levels of awareness: pure understanding, deductive thinking, common opinion,
and uncritical expressions. Plato uses the smile of the sun to explain this and the difference on
how something is viewed with the sun, moon, and darkness. Plato identifies the different levels
of awareness to the different people in the cave and their reality based on shadows versus seeing
things first hand. Plato also did not feel the rulers of Athens at the time that had put his great
friend and mentor Socrates to death for trying to make Athens a better place had the right
governmental system. Plato did not agree with democracy. Plato stated: Until philosophers are

kings, or the kings and princes of this world have the spirit and power of philosophy cities will
never have the rest from their evilsnor the human raceand then only will our Statebehold
the light. (Soccio, chapter 5, p 125). Plato was and still is one of the most influential figures in
the history of time. His ideas are still taught and practiced thousands of years later. A true
testament to his brilliance and ability to make things better.
When comparing ultimate reality and morality and goodness based on the four
philosophers that have been discussed I believe there is a correlation and as each philosopher
expanded on the previous ideas it became more clear that there as a belief in a greater being and
that ultimately if we are the best versions of ourselves we are becoming more like the Gods, or
God, or some sort of superior being. When it comes to the political side of things I think that all
of the philosophers are saying that knowledge is power and the most educated and well prepared
person can lead a country that has high standards for him or herself. Having the balance of being
smart and ethical is the ideal. Having a good soul as Socrates would say is what is necessary to
rule a country or a state in a prosperous way. I think that the same holds true today that if we are
good to our souls and try to be the best versions of ourselves with a moral compass we will
prosper and our community will prosper as well.

References Page

1. Daniel Graham, The Texts of Early Greek Philosophy

2. Soccio, Chapter 2 p 66
3. Soccio, Chapter 2 p 66
4. Soccio, Chapter 2 p 68
5. Soccio, Chapter 4 p 110
6. Soccio, Chapter 4 p 117
7. Soccio, Chapter 4 p 121
8. Soccio, Chapter 5 p 135
9. Soccio Chapter 5 p 138
10. Soccio Chapter 5 p 135