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MODULE 2

TOPIC 3

ANTIQUITY: ANCIENT GREEK PHILOSOPHY

Lecture 6. The originality of ancient philosophy

1. Main stages of development.

2. Philosophy of the pre-Socrates period.

Studying the so-called Western philosophical paradigm, it should
be noted that unlike the Eastern way of thinking, there is a clear

distinction of objectical and subjectical existance of the world. Students
should consider the fact that Greek philosophy, namely the early period
of its development, its problems, start with the question of the

fundamental principle of everything (arhe). Representatives of Milesian
school believed that the world was based on material substance: Fales
(624-547 BC) considered water the primary element and foundation of

everything, Anaksiment (588-525 BC) – air, Anaksimandr (610-546 BC)
– apeiron, and Geraklit (530-470 BC) – fire. Without studying these
material substances, they were still convinced that everything was

constantly moving around. During the same period there appeared
Pythagoras school, which considers the quantitative characteristics of
the world - a number as the basis of the world existence, thus rejecting
the quality of objects. An interesting personality in the history of Greek

philosophy was Zenon with his idea of aporiis. In the works "Ahil and
Turtle," "Arrow" and others he considers the movement as a basis for
understanding the "unity of opposites", "a whole and a part”, "a

phenomenon and essence". Prospective understanding of the world
developed philosophers Levkipp (500-440 BC) and Demokrit (460-370
BC). They recognize the atoms (life) and the void (non-existence) which
display the emergence of the universe and the origin of a living object as

a result of water, heat, light, and soil interaction. International students
must be able to compare the ancient philosophy of the early period with
the already known to them teachings of the Ancient East.

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