Each
philosopher or group of philosophers from the natural philosophers has a
project. This group wanted to explain the natural world.
Questions
posed: Is there a basic substance?
Can water
turn to wine?
How can
earth and water produce a frog?
How does
transformation occur in nature?
Xenophanes(570 BC) – wanted an explanation of
how god created man in his own image.
Thales(585 BS) – thought all life was made
of water.
Anaximenes(526 BC) – air made all life, water
is condensed air.
Parmenides(480 BC) – can’t trust your senses,
things don’t really change, everything stays the same.
Heraclitus(480 BC) – there is constant change,
characterized by opposites
Empedocles(430 BC) – both of the above are
right & wrong. Four basic substances: earth, air, fire, & water. We can
combine these to make everything. Love binds while strife separates – this
explains the chemical changes. Raised the question, “how can I see a flower?”
Believed that the eye contained all four substances.
Anaxagoras(428 BC) – everything is built from an
infinite number of small particles. But, the whole is in every part (like DNA).
He thought that the sun was a red hot stone and that the planets didn’t make
their own light.
Democritus(370 BC) – Hypothesized atoms – you
can use them over & over again. Believed in nothing but material
things(materialist). Did not believe in a soul.
More
questions: Why is Lego ingenius?
Do you
believe in Fate?
Is sickness
punishment from the gods?
What forces
govern the course of history?
Fatalism
is a belief in predestiny. Greeks believed in Oracle at Delphi. Influenza means
malign influence from the stars. Hip. oath + moderation&healtly lifestyle
-> good health
Next summary: Classic Greek Philosophers
