Chapter 4, section 4Chapter 4, section 4

The Culture of Classical The Culture of Classical GreeceGreece

RELIGIORELIGIONN

ConsidereConsidered religion d religion necessary necessary to the to the well-being well-being of the of the statestate

12 main g12 main gods & godods & goddessesdesses

Religion had no doctrine or moral Religion had no doctrine or moral codecode

Rituals & festivals were popularRituals & festivals were popularOlympics, 776 BCOlympics, 776 BC

OracleOracle, sacred shrine where a god or , sacred shrine where a god or goddess revealed the future through goddess revealed the future through a priest or priestess; Delphia priest or priestess; DelphiResponses were often puzzlingResponses were often puzzling

GREEK DRAMAGREEK DRAMAFirst performed outdoor tragedies, First performed outdoor tragedies,

usually in a trilogy; evil acts give way usually in a trilogy; evil acts give way to reason in the endto reason in the end

Sophocles, Sophocles, Oedipus RexOedipus RexEuripides; controversial, questioned Euripides; controversial, questioned

traditional valuestraditional valuesFocused on nature of good and evil; Focused on nature of good and evil;

striving to do best did not always lead to striving to do best did not always lead to successsuccess

Greek comedy developed later and Greek comedy developed later and was used to criticize politicians and was used to criticize politicians and intellectualsintellectuals

Greek PhilosophersGreek PhilosophersPhilosophyPhilosophy – organized system of – organized system of

thought; Greek for love of wisdomthought; Greek for love of wisdomEarly philosophers wanted to explain Early philosophers wanted to explain

universe on basis of unifying principlesuniverse on basis of unifying principlesPythagoras – music & numbers, theoromPythagoras – music & numbers, theorom

Sophists Sophists – traveling teachers who – traveling teachers who rejected the work of early rejected the work of early philosophers; beyond people to philosophers; beyond people to understand universe, better to understand universe, better to improve yourself; stressed rhetoric; no improve yourself; stressed rhetoric; no absolute right/wrong (often viewed as absolute right/wrong (often viewed as harmful people)harmful people)

SocratesSocrates – did not like sophists – did not like sophistsGoal of education was to improve Goal of education was to improve

individualindividualSocratic method – get student to Socratic method – get student to

question themselves, use own reasonquestion themselves, use own reason““The unexamined life is not worth The unexamined life is not worth

living.”living.”Questioned authorityQuestioned authorityWas sentenced to death for being aWas sentenced to death for being a

danger to the statedanger to the state

PlatoPlato – Socrates student – Socrates studentFascinated by reality; How do we Fascinated by reality; How do we

know what is real?know what is real?Higher form of reality; objects we Higher form of reality; objects we

perceive with our senses are perceive with our senses are reflections of the ideal Formreflections of the ideal Form

The RepublicThe Republic bashed democracy; bashed democracy; men & women were equal; people men & women were equal; people were in three groups:were in three groups:Philosopher kingsPhilosopher kingsWarriorsWarriorsThe massesThe masses

AristotleAristotle – Plato’s student – Plato’s studentBelieved that by studying an object Believed that by studying an object

we could perceive it’s Formwe could perceive it’s FormLoved to observe & investigateLoved to observe & investigateAlso studied govt and found that Also studied govt and found that

there were three good forms:there were three good forms:MonarchMonarchAristocracyAristocracyConstitutional (best form for most Constitutional (best form for most

people)people)

Works CitedWorks Citedhttp://astronomylinks.wikispaces.comhttp://astronomylinks.wikispaces.com

/Planets+and+the+Greek+Gods/Planets+and+the+Greek+Godshttp://www.crystalinks.com/delphi.hthttp://www.crystalinks.com/delphi.ht

mlmlhttp://www.crystalinks.com/delphi.hthttp://www.crystalinks.com/delphi.ht

mlmlhttp://law2.umkc.edu/faculty/http://law2.umkc.edu/faculty/

projects/ftrials/socrates/socrates.HTMprojects/ftrials/socrates/socrates.HTM