Philosophy and Polotics of Ancient Greece
Out of all the Greek city-states in Ancient Greece, Athens was the most democratic of them. However, there were some limits, such as only free men born in the city having the right to vote. Political and philosophical debate went very much arm-in-arm, and it was some of the Philosophers who entered into political debate that we most know of today.
Aristotle ( 843-322BC )
Probably one of the most influential of Western Thinkers, Aristotle was the tutor of Alexander the Great, and a pupil of Plato. Explaining physical and organic phenomena was where most of his thinking was aimed towards. The image to the right is a piece of work called "The School of Athens", and depicts, at the centre of the painting, Plato and Aristotle. The painting was by Raphael, dated 1510-1511, and is on show at the Fresco Vatican in Stanza, Della Segnatura in Rome.
Plato ( 427-347BC )
One of the most well known of the Greek Philosophers, Plato was a prolific
writer, and many of his writings survived and are still being read today.
He pushed the idea that only by thought, and not senses, could the deeper
meaning of all things be explained.
Socrates ( 469-399BC )
Though Socrates left no writings of his own, we know of him through the work of pupils of his, such as Plato and Xenophon. Socrates lived and taught in Athens, where he ultimately made many enemies due to his championing of reason over superstition.
He was tried and convicted of corrupting the youth of Athens. His penalty was death by poisoning, which he could have avoided if he pleaded guilty to the charges, which he did not.
