Most of the inventions and discoveries available today happened during the Greek civilization. This was the period between 1200 BCE to 323 BCE following civilization in Mycenae and the death of Alexander the Great, respectively (Sansone, 2016). During this time, Greek scholars made significant strides in science, art, astronomy, literature, philosophy, and politics whose legacy lasts to date. The cultures of ancient Greek made tremendous contributions to modern civilizations. Although it has evolved dramatically over the centuries, its ways of life and beliefs have lasted long enough and influenced western culture. This paper will explore the contribution of Greek civilization to the developments in the history of politics in Western culture with a focus on the achievements of Aristotle, Plato, and Socrates.
The political cultures in Greece inspired the systems in western countries (Sansone, 2016). Greeks democracy (derived from the Greek word "demos," which means common people) originated from Greece. This ancient nation was the first in the world to form a democratic government made up of the people. It had an assembly that made and passed laws just like the modern parliament. Similarly, the people elected the law-makers, governing council as well as public officeholders. Citizens in Greece fought for their states. They became part of the army by undergoing military training for a certain period where they got armors and weapons (Sansone, 2016). This culture has inspired modern military practice the contemporary society.
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Greece is also the source of the judiciary system practiced in the west. It was the first country to practice legal equality and trial by jury. The nation had several courts trying all kinds of cases with the severity of punishment, varying with the seriousness of the crime (Sansone, 2016). For instance, severe offenses like murder and treason warranted capital punishment or exile, a practice adopted by several Western countries like the USA in the nineteenth century. Historians attribute most features of the modern judiciary system to the Greek culture. In the ancient nation, the courts had magistrates who presided over cases and issued arrest warrants, which were executed by a group of slaves acting as police officers. The court proceedings had an accuser and accused and a jury comprising of citizens trying the case. The western has borrowed heavily from these practices making Greek civilization a vital cradle of their history.
Historians consider Ancient Greece the home of the world's most prominent intellectual minds. The works of Greek thinkers like Archimedes , Aristarchus, Hipparchus, and Eratosthenes
revolutionized the fields of mathematics and astronomy (Sansone, 2016). Modern science still uses their theories. Hippocrates is another prominent figure whose inventions changed the world significantly. He invented the Hippocratic oath taken by all physicians before they begin practices promising to uphold ethical standards. His approach to diagnosis and some methods of treatment are also widely used in modern medicine.
Greek civilization also produced the first alphabetic system that inspired most of the letters used in western words. It has also inspired architectural styles, such as the use of pillars in libraries, churches, and many buildings in America, including the White House. Besides, Greek mythology has significantly shaped modern art and theater, including popular novels, video games, tv shows, movies, and brands (Sansone, 2016). The current annual Olympic Games with practices like the lighting of the flame, olive leaf crowns, and opening and closing celebrations also originated from Greece.
Classical Greek Philosophers
Socrates
Image 1: Socrates, sourced from https://www.britannica.com/biography/Socrates/images-videos
Early life & accomplishments
The actual year of Socrates' birth is not clear, but historians estimate it to be between 470 and 469 BC. His parents, Phaenarete and Sophroniscus, were by no means wealthy, but they gave him a comfortable lifestyle. He had two wives and three sons. Like any other Athenian male, Socrates undertook political duties when he turned 18 years old in his home state of Alopece. He became a member of the Assembly and governing council and joined the military ( Peterson, 2011). In addition to reading and writing, Socrates also had the privilege of having advanced cultural education in music, poetry, and athletics.
Socrates made significant contributions to the fields of epistemology and ethics. Although a mysterious figure and did not leave a written record of his teachings, he had a considerable influence on ancient and modern era philosophers. History credits him as the founder of Western philosophy for his lessons and for setting the pace for great philosophers like Plato and Aristotle ( Peterson, 2011).
Quote
"The unexamined life is not worth living" Socrates ( Peterson, 2011).
Socrates quoted this statement after a jury had sentenced him to death. In this quote, he makes it clear that he would never keep silent or apologize for the way he lived his life. Socrates insists that human beings must reflect upon their beliefs and justify what they know and do not know. They also need to pursue, defend, and live according to those views that they think to make a meaningful and well-lived life. The quote relates the contemporary philosophical thinking of appraising the real worth for the human soul in a world directed by pain, pleasure, power, and wealth.
Plato
Image 2: Plato sourced from https://www.britannica.com/biography/Plato/images-videos
Early life & accomplishments
Plato was born in a royal family between 429 and 423 BC to Ariston and Perictione . Some historical records claim that he dropped his birth name, Aristocles, and adopted Platon as a nickname. They also describe him as being bright and excellent in g ymnastics, music, grammar. Before meeting Socrates, Plato had learned philosophy and was conversant with the Heraclitean and Cratylus doctrines ( Magrini, 2017). In his later life, he almost faced execution, was sold to slavery, and entangled in the politics of Syracuse .
Plato accomplished many things within his lifetime, making him a pivotal figure in Western philosophy. He founded the first institution of advanced learning, the Academy, whose name was later adopted as the standard term for educational institutions ( Magrini, 2017) . He also started the Platonist school of thought , and some sources associate him with the origin of western religion and spirituality and political philosophy.
Quote
"Knowledge is the food of the soul." Plato
Plato quoted this statement in his dialogue, Protagoras ( Magrini, 2017) . It depicts knowledge as the secret to leading a fulfilled life. The quote challenges people to strive for wisdom, learn new things, and embrace rational thinking to have happy lives. This philosophy applies to modern society, where people lose themselves pursuing materi al things instead of happiness and contentment.
Aristotle
Image 3: Sourced from https://www.britannica.com/biography/Aristotle/images-videos
Early Life & Accomplishments
Aristotle was born in Stagira in 384 BC and was raised by a guardian after his father died. He became Plato's student in the Academy, where he learned philosophy until the latter died. The philosopher moved on to become a tutor and build a library where he wrote many books on papyrus scrolls (Blackwell, & Kusukawa, 2017). Mentored by Plato, Aristotle founded the Aristotelian tradition and his philosophy school, Lyceum . He is also famed for teaching Alexander the Great and advancing past philosophies. The philosopher contributed significantly to the fields of logic, ethic, music, metaphysics, psychology, politics, economic, and linguistics. According to Blackwell & Kusukawa (2017) , his teachings led to the inheritance of methods of inquiry and intellectual lexicon by the west. His influence extended to religion as they shaped Christian theory and Islamic thought.
Quote
"It is not enough to win a war; it is more important to organize the peace." Aristotle (Blackwell, & Kusukawa, 2017) .
This quote emphasizes the importance of peace in having an organized society. It applies in the modern world where leaders pursue power to gratify their needs without considering how their actions affect other people. This quote teaches that planning a war should not be the only strategy, diplomatic measures should also be considered to facilitate peace and leisure.
References
Peterson, S. (2011). Socrates and Philosophy in the Dialogues of Plato . Cambridge University Press.
Sansone, D. (2016). Ancient Greek Civilization . John Wiley & Sons.
Magrini, J. M. (2017). Plato’s Socrates, Philosophy and Education . Springer.
Blackwell, C., & Kusukawa, S. (2017). Philosophy in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries: conversations with Aristotle . Routledge.
