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Philosophy

Most fields of studies provide us with some sort of knowledge, for example; history, it

teaches us to learn and know more about the past. It tells us how and why things happened in the

past and help us better the future in some way or another. And biology for instance, is the study

of life and living things, biology goes hand in hand with science, it has evolved as a field of

science since it was first studied in ancient civilizations. With science being the study of natural

world through observations and experiments. And off course, philosophy, many might say

defining philosophy is as difficult as trying to define love. The general definition of philosophy

would be that philosophy is the study of ideas about knowledge, truth, the nature and meaning of

life. To put it at its simplest way, philosophy help us to learn to think clearly about a wide range

of issues including the understanding of the nature of existence.

The Ancient Greek philosophers Xenophanes, Parmenides, Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle,

each have slightly different definition or view of philosophy. Some of these philosophers might

say the study of philosophy is concerned with questions about Nature, God, and what is real?

And some might say is the study for proper reasoning. Different philosophers have different

views of the nature, methods, and range of philosophy. One of the first philosopher from the

Western world.

Xenophanes was one of the greatest thinker who lived in ancient Greece during the 6th

century and the beginning of the 5th century, he departed his home town, Colophon, when he was

25 years old, to travel the Greek world and share his knowledge in philosophy and poetry, he

recites his poetry at the appropriate functions and gatherings. (he was also a theologian, and

social and religious critic). Xenophanes was well remembered as the philosopher who
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distinguished between true belief (truth) and knowledge, according to him, human being is

unaware of what is the truth. Especially when it comes to religion, God. He rejected the belief

in many gods, as well as the idea that the gods resembled humans in form. In other words,

Xenophanes is concern that each race or nation might have a different idea or picture of god. like

for instance, the Ethiopians might pain their gods dark skinned and tall, and the Thracians make

their gods red-haired and blue eyed. He even thought of horses, that if they were to draw their

gods they will draw god the same as them (horses). Xenophaness idea of god is different,

believes that God is one, supreme among gods and men, and not like mortals in body or in

mind, he describes god, as one motionless, shapeless, changeless and eternal being. Xenophanes

belief that above everything in the world there is an unchanging, everlasting one. Xenophanes

was one among the greatest teacher of his time, and known as the founder of Eleatic school of

philosophy alongside one of his finest student Parmenides, the thinker who was destined to

carry on the work of his master along the same scientific lines.

Parmenides, the father of metaphysics, was a pre-Socratic Greek philosopher from the

colony of Elea. He was also known as the founder of the Eleatic School of philosophy, alongside

his teacher Xenophanes. Parmenides arguments were like his affluential teacher, Xenophanes.

But Parmenides focused more being and that being is one, and that all is being. Parmenides

considers self-existence and logical self-identity as the first principle of philosophy. He was also

known for this concept of Philosophical Monism, which means that all of reality is One. This

theory is to explain why things (particularly, sensible things) have the properties they do.

Parmenides Being does not change, does not become, does not move, always remains the same

and is everlasting. Parmenides directs us to judge reality by reason and not to trust the senses.

Like Xenophanes, Parmenides considers being as the timeless, motionless, and changeless sole
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reality, and true knowledge. Parmenidess importance lies in his defense on the separation of the

reasons (or understanding) and senses. While Parmenides was teaching and spreading knowledge

in Athens, he met a young man named Socrates, and Socrates was immediately interested and

wanted to know more about Parmenides ideas on Being.

Socrates, who is well known as one of the founders of Western philosophy, was born and

lived nearly his entire life in Athens. In the text, he is described as one of the most powerful,

intriguing, annoying, inspiring, widely known, and yet misunderstood figures in the history of

philosophy. He has been called the greatest of philosophers and also the cleverest of Sophists.

(pg. 95). He was indeed one of the most interesting and influential thinker in the fifth century. He

was one of the greatest educators, when Socrates was in his forties, he begun to go around

teaching the people of Athens by asking questions and the goal is to draw out answers from his

students through the questions and argument. Wanting to know what people thinks about the

questions he has. His questions were: what is love? what is to be considered a good act? Is it

good because gods say it is? what is truth? what is art and what is piety etc. His way of

teaching (by questioning his followers/students) is to engages his students in endless

conversations. He believed that disciplined practice of thoughtful questioning enabled that

student to examine ideas logically and to determine the validity of those ideas. Basically, to

have them think for themselves was his motive so that when they think through or rethink

anything, one must ask questions that stimulate thought. Socrates famous quotes the

unexamined life is not worth living, and True knowledge exists in knowing that you know

nothing and to find yourself, think for yourself. His view on life is an inspiration to many

who came across his teachings.

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Questions define tasks, express problems and delineate issues. Answers on the other

hand, often signals a full stop in thought. And that is a major part of philosophy; critical

thinking, which is the ability to question your (or anyone elses) assumptions. His way of

teaching or defining philosophy is through critical thinking, feeding his students with endless

contents. Socrates ways of spreading knowledge help us understand the importance of critical

thinking. To think for yourself is the beginning of all knowledge in my book. Socrates, alongside

his student Plato, were influential in terms of spreading knowledge and teaching us the

importance of life.

Socrates, Plato, alongside his most famous student, Aristotle, were known as the trio who

laid the very foundations of Western philosophy and science. They have a major impact on

todays generation.

Platos work was commonly referred to as Socratic represent the sort of things the

historical (and his teacher) Socrates was doing. Platos way was different from Socrates. Even

though, Plato was Socrates student, he was more interested to know what this world is made up

of and what does it mean to say something is real. Plato believed that the things we perceive on

Earth are really composed of ideas or forms. Although Socrates way of teaching was by asking

questions, he was less concern about stating things as absolutely true. Platos way was like

Socrates, he believed that one of the few forms of true knowledge was mathematics. He was

concerned about metaphysic more so than Socrates. Socrates always denied the existence of

material world and Platos view was much like Socrates, he believed that the material world as it

seems to us is not the real world, but only a shadow of the real world. This is based on Platos

concept: Hylomorphism, which means the idea that substances are forms inhering in matter.
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According to Plato, true knowledge or intelligence is the ability to grasp the world of Forms

with ones mind

The greatest and most influential of Platos students was Aristotle. Aristotle better known

as the founder of formal logic. His ways or the logic he uses is to help us understand the way

things really are, as well as understanding every area of human knowledge about the world.

Aristotles field of studies expands to a wide range studies including; the study of anatomy,

geography, geology, physics and zoology. He made contributions to logic (Aristotelian logic)

metaphysics, mathematics, physics, biology, ethic, and politics. He made a big contribution to

science education, and he believed that the best way to understand nature is through reasoning

and observation. As a philosopher, Aristotles work shaped the world of philosophy throughout

centuries. Aristotle does not believe that the purpose of logic is to prove that human beings can

have knowledge, the purpose is to investigate, classify, and evaluate good and bad forms of

reasoning. Though, Plato mostly argues about forms or the theory of ideas and refers to the

basic of questioning a thing or existence of a thing. He suggests that these forms are only the

objects of study that can provide knowledge. While Aristotle introduces matter and form, in the

physics, in hopes for changes in the natural world. He thinks that you never find form without

matter, he believes that every physical object is a compound of matter and form.

So, when it comes to knowledge, Plato and one of the greatest philosopher named

Descartes have that one thing in common. They both agree that knowledge is what is certain and

everything else is false and questionable. Platos argument about knowledge is not to know the

object itself but to understand the idea of that object. Descartes on the other hand, who was

considered by many as the father of modern philosophy because of the fine work he has blessed

us with. He is referred to as the first philosopher to use reasons to explore the natural sciences
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and philosophy. His ways of approaching philosophy were different. Descartes basically start

from the beginning, he questioned the existence of all things, he started with the approach I

exist. Which came from his famous quote, I think, therefore I am. They referred to as cogito,

in Latin. Descartes arguments about existence is that even if he doubts all things in the world, he

cannot doubt himself, he cannot doubt his existence. He identifies himself with the mind, and

came with a conclusion that he is a thinking thing. Descartes agrees that the mind is not

identical to the body, but he believe that the mind affects the body. His examples of the bod/mind

relationship are that what makes the arm to be raised (the arm being a part of the body, and what

makes it raised is caused by the mind). And being hit by a hammer on the finger causes the mind

to feel pain. In the meditation 6, paragraph 9, he stated I have a clear and distinct idea of

myself, in as far as I am only a thinking and unextended thing, and as, on the other hand, I

possess a distinct idea of body, in as far as it is only an extended and unthinking thing, it is

certain that I, that is, my mind, by which I am what I am], is entirely and truly distinct from my

body, and may exist without it. Which it simply means that known thyself (and by thyself, I

mean your mind) is the beginning of all knowledge and unless you know something for certain

and what it means, you cannot move forward in getting to know and learn about other things, and

in this case knowing yourself and knowing that your mind and body are two separable things is

the first step to knowledge.

These great philosophers are the most influential men in the western world, they

influence the way we think, and affected major parts in society such as religions and

governments. and help us understand the fundamental social, political, and economic principles

of modern society. The Ancient Greek philosophers helped us use reason and evidence to

understand human and actions in the material world. These philosophers were considered the
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greatest minds who helped shape the culture in their times. These five philosophers helped us

learn and gain more knowledge about laws of nature, causes, values, and things that exist in the

world, they helped us learn about proper reasoning, and helped us understand the nature of

existence based on natural and moral knowledge. They believed that using philosophy (love of

wisdom) they can influence society. They wanted to educate the people in hopes to better

understand and improve society and to create a better place to live in, a better world in other

words.