Lesson 8: Philosophy I - The Greek Connection

Question 1

Bases of Arabic Philosophy

Answer 1

1. Islam
2. Greek philosophy

Question 2

Arab philosophers were the first to …

Answer 2

Discuss the relation between religion and philosophy (Christina only posed this question in the 13th century)

Question 3

Basics of Islam

Answer 3

1. Belief in one God, creator & master of the world
2. Submission to God’s precepts
3. Belief that Muhammad is the messenger of God

Question 4

The School of Athens

Answer 4

• Philosophy school in Athens founded by Plato
• Situated on a land called Academos Gardens
• Depicted in a painting by Raphael

Question 5

Socrates

Answer 5

• Socratic method: having people form epistemological precepts from their own answers/logic
• Condemned to death for “corrupting the youth” by making them question preconceived ideas and submitting them to the sole authority of reason
• Never wrote a word - only know through writing of his disciples; especially Plato who wrote dialogues with Socrates at their center (Apology of Socrates, Crito, The Republic)

Question 6

Plato - Epistemology

Answer 6

• World of Ideas or ideal world - one we have known since birth (innate knowledge)
  Vs.
• Material world or imperfect world - in which we live, which we compare with the ideal world we have in mind
• Allegory of the cave:
  Enlightened world = Ideal world
  World of shadows = Material world
  For Plato: Truth = Supreme Good

Question 7

Plato - Politics

Answer 7

• Philosopher:
  => knows the truth
  => not interested by material, imperfect world
  Only one suited to govern the city
  Oversimplification: philosopher-king concept

Question 8

Plato - Metaphysics

Answer 8

• World has one creator who is necessarily perfect
  => close to conception of monotheist god but too simple, lacking convincing logic & argumentation
• Idea used by later philosophers, but not as much as Aristotle’s

Question 9

Aristotle - Epistemology

Answer 9

• Born totally ignorant
  We acquire knowledge with experience ; classify things into categories only through accumulation of experiences
• First Motor/Uncaused Cause
  => material world we live in cannot be the cause of itself
  => causes with their own causes, but chain must stop somewhere

Question 10

Aristotle - Politics/Governing the City

Answer 10

• Governor should seek the “golden mean” or “middle ground”
  => essence of governance = relation between citizen and governor
  => not up to governor to lead the people on the path to perfection
  => citizens should be virtuous by obeying the laws of the city
• Anyone who seeks the middle ground can govern the city
  &
  The Good exists in the middle, not somewhere else, in an ideal world

Question 11

Neo-Platonism (3rd century AD)

Answer 11

• Philosophical school born in Alexandria
• Combines Plato’s philosophy and Christian ideas (but not a Christian philosophy)
• Had a major impact on Arab philosophy
• Most known figure: Plotinus

Question 12

Neo-Platonism: Hierarchy of the existing beings

Answer 12

• The One = God
  [anniyya = Arabic for “now” - does not abide by time, exists outside of it, all times are one moment for him]
  => cannot be divided
  => transcends all qualifications
  => not created or dependent on a higher power
• Other Beings
  => emanations from the one - multiple = divisible
  => each level = less perfect image of the preceding one
  => each can ascend by acquiring better qualities (i.e. less interest in material world)
• VS -
  Christian Theology
  => God created world by deliberate decision
  => result of this decision but not part of his nature