Philosophy 203
Professor Borrowdale
Tues./Thurs.
1:00-2:20 p.m.
Week 2
Tuesday
October 1, 2002
Paula Jones

Class Notes

Students are instructed to begin reading chapter 4, and have it completely read by next Tuesday. Today’s discussion covered information found in chapter 1. Key terms were highlighted and paired with interesting and important history relating to the beginnings of philosophy.

Philosophy: An attempt to come to a systematic understanding of the world through the use of reason. (The love of wisdom/the love of learning).

Pre-Socratic Philosophers/Natural Philosophers. “First scientists” who paved the way for philosophy. First to use reason and logic in a systematic way.

Mythos: Mythological or religious explanation. Gods and worship began as humans to personify forces of nature and maintain a feeling of control.

Social and Cultural traditions: How you live your life.

Logos: Using reason.

Natural philosophers applied reason to the physical world/the natural world. They applied the use of reason and system, theories.

Professor told of the mythos perspective and the logos’ perspective for the changing of seasons. (Theory, p7-8). These pages discuss the importance to the mythological belief vs. the scientific justification of something, creating a balance defined through the impersonal and mechanical forces.

Second group to philosophers:

Sophists: Teachers of argument, rhetoric, political law, maneuvering, all for a fee. The selling of services. Today sophists are known as political consultants, public relation representatives. They teach how to make a good logical argument.
They are Relativists. Sophists use logic to defeat an opponents position.




Sophists Natural Philosophy
Argumentative Use reason
Use techniques Systems, theories
Logic

Socrates

The father of philosophy,

1. Uses sophists argumentative tools to get to the truth.
2. Uses systematic thinking theorizing of natural philosophers.
3.
Socrates was put on trial. The apology-Socrates defense.
4 charges were brought against Socrates:

1. Socrates is a natural philosopher/irreligious scientist
2. Socrates was accused of being a sophist. “Makes the weaker argument to feed the stronger.”
3. Charged with corrupting the youth. (His behavior encouraged the young to begin asking question).
4. Religious heresy.(Having or teaching false religious beliefs). The belief in foreign divinity, not the gods approved by the state.


At trial, Socrates lost. He asked to propose a penalty. Socrates proposed to be “regarded as a state hero and supported.” Socrates suggested he pay a small fine. His companions suggested a medium fine and worked to save the money. The third decision from the prosecutors was death.
Socrates was sentenced to death. Socrates chose to drink the poisonous Hemlock. Socrates was a man of principle. “He unexamined life is not worth living.”

Begin reading chapter 4 and be prepared for class discussion to take place on Thursday. Chapter should be completed by next Tuesday.
Class dismissed at 2:20 p.m.