POST GREEK PHILOSOPHERS
ANISTHENES & THE CYNICS:
It was founded by Anisthenes, in Athens
around 400 B.C. He had been a pupil of
Socrates, and had become particularly
interested in his frugality.
The Cynics emphasized that the true happiness
is not found in external advantages such as
material luxury, political power, and good
health. True happiness lies in not being
dependent on such stuff.
DIOGENES
What a lot of things I dont need! (One day,
this is the remarks Socrates said, gazing at a
stall that sold all kinds of wares). This
statement is the motto for the Cynic school of
philosophy.
Diogenes is the best known Cynics, a pupil of
Anisthenes, who reputedly lived in a barrel
and owned nothing but a cloak, a stick and a
bread bag
The Cynic believed that people did not need to
be concerned about their own health. Even
suffering and death should not disturb them.
They should not be affected by concern for
other peoples woes.
Nowadays, the term cynical and cynicism have
come to mean a sneering disbelief in human
sincerity, and imply insensitivity to other
peoples suffering
EPICURUS & EPICUREANISM
Founded by Epicurus
Studied under the followers of Plato and
Aristotle
Greatly influence by Democritus philosophy
He founded a school and met his student in
garden later known as Garden Philosophers
Garden Philosophers
Entrance sign Strangers, here you will live
well. Here pleasure is the highest good.
Epicurus advocates simple life: healthy body
and healthy soul.
Epicurean at present usually refers to Eat,
Drink and be Merry, for tomorrow you might
die!
Epicurus distinction of desire
1. Natural Desires-desires which are easy to satisfy.
We will suffer by discounting them.
2. Unnatural Desires-desires which are difficult to
satisfy. The more we get it, the more we want it.
Four Types of Pleasure
1. Intense & Short lasting Pleasure
2. Less intense & Longer lasting
3. Pleasure that culminate in pain
4. Pleasure that give a sense of peaceful well-being
Four Medical Herbs - summary of Epicurus
philosophy
We should not fear the gods.
Death is nothing to worry about.
Good is easy to attain.
The fearful is easy to endure.
ZENO & THE STOICISM
Zeno is Phoenician merchant came to Athens
after being shipwrecked.
Founded Stoicism from the word stoa
Greek word for portico.
Look for a serene and controlled life through
self-discipline.
The animating principle of all things are FIRE
and REASON (logos)
Everything in world including God & soul is
matter-dynamic, changing, active and arranged
in orderly manner.
They defined logos as rational spirit and
makes itself into all things. This makes the
universe systematic, good, and well organized.
Whatever happens, happens for a reason. We
can do nothing to alter the logos already made.
Humans are miniature logos-a microcosm-
reflecting the macrocosm. The human soul is
part of God, as God is part of the world.
Since nothing happens by chance, we must
learn to accept our destiny.
Wisdom is our ability to distinguish the things
that we can and cannot control.
Evil is the failure to control our emotions that
clouds our reason. Virtue is the ability to
control our emotions
PYRRHO AND SKEPTICISM end is absolute darkness, which receives none
of the light from the One.
Skeptic from Greek skeptikoi meaning Darkness actually has no existence. It is
inquirers or doubters. simply the absence of light.
Aim to attain life of inner peace. Union with the One is the essential goal of all
Questioned the concepts of Plato, Aristotle and persons, a unification that was attainable
Epicureans. through meditation and contemplation.
They classified DOGMATIC Philosophers into
two: 1) Those who think they found the truth
2) Those who said no one could know the
TRIADIC SCHEME OF REALITY
truth.
1. The summit is the One-the absolute simple
SEXTUS EMPIRICUS
goodness, the unknowable God, yet apprehended by
A physician and Philosopher the soul as a presence transcending all knowing.
Wrote an Outlines of Pyyrhonism, Against the (Burning fire)
Dogmatists
2. From the One proceeds the mind (nous), a unity
Our senses give us different impressions. We
which comprehend the system of forms. (spark from
can never achieve certainty with aid of senses.
the fire)
What is considered good or evil is also subject
to doubt. 3. From the mind, the world soul which embodies
these forms and matters.
PLOTINUS & NEO PLATONISM
Plotinus discussed the hierarchy of being as
Plotinus was born in Egypt and little known
emanation, a strongly physical image. In the
about his life. It is through Porphyry, we know
process of emanation, there is a gradual loss,
about him.
for every effect is slightly inferior to its cause.
Neo Platonism-is a time refering to beginning
It attempts to produce a synthesis of
the work of Plotinus and closing of Platos
philosophy and religious.
Academy;
They are mystical and religious in nature.
It attempts to produce a synthesis of
philosophy and religious.
Plotinus believed that the world is a span
between two poles. At one end is the divine
light which he called the One, and at the other