The ancient greek philosophers were not liked by the old world rulers, but respected by those who sought to gain power. For instance, if you had money, you would want your son to study under one of them.
The greats were a 3 line succession. Truly remarkable.
The first was Socrates. He is known as the educator/teacher. Socrates taught you learn the answer by posing the question. It was a direct attack upon Sophistry. Question everything your betters tell you. (Think covid and our govt) Socrates wrote nothing down, but he had this amazing student, Plato.
Plato is the second. He would write the Greek Republic, which is his learning and expansion from Socrates. Plato had a student that is arguably the brightes of them all, but would have never existed without the tutelage of the previous 2, Aristotle.
Aristotle gave us the Trivium. Logic, rhetoric and grammar. He loved all 3, but most especially rhetoric. Rhetoric in its based AF form is impossible without a great command of logic and grammar.
I apoligize but will now get to my point.
Aristotle wrote that what seperates a civil society from barbarism is the protection of women and children. Look how people who hate western civilization care little about both today.
Sorry if there are a ton of typos. Sitting in front of a laundromat washing clothes late at night and wrote this on my cell.
One of the most interesting encounters in history was when Alexander the Great came to Israel and the Greeks met the Jews. The monotheistic religion of observing the holiness of G-d combined with the heritage of the original philosophers and historians.
Was quite a moment.
The Septuagint, which translated the Torah from Hebrew to Greek, was also a revolutionary step.
Though the relationship soured in the time of Antiochus, which led to Chanukah.
It's amazing today, people read the Bible and can't understand it -- making those childish criticisms -- because they don't understand the context.
"What? A mother and father can take their rebellious son to the court and have him executed by stoning? That's barbaric!"
"Really? You want the father to be able to make that decision on his own? Because that's what it was prior."
That's true. Alexander had his brilliance. But things fell apart after his death and "to the strongest."
There's a lot of very interesting attributes to Chanukah that gets lost when American Reform Jews just interpret it as being a sort of Jewish Christmas. Many Jews wanted to assimilate completely with Greek culture. They were called Hellenists. The Maccabees actually were fighting two wars: Fighting Antiochus and the Greek suppression of Judaism, and their fellow Jews who wanted to assimilate to Greek culture. It was a civil war as much as a war against a foreign authority.
You have an excellent command of apostrophes, it appears. Your explanation of these three philosophers was most enjoyable, most interesting. Thank for posting that.
The ancient greek philosophers were not liked by the old world rulers, but respected by those who sought to gain power. For instance, if you had money, you would want your son to study under one of them.
The greats were a 3 line succession. Truly remarkable.
The first was Socrates. He is known as the educator/teacher. Socrates taught you learn the answer by posing the question. It was a direct attack upon Sophistry. Question everything your betters tell you. (Think covid and our govt) Socrates wrote nothing down, but he had this amazing student, Plato.
Plato is the second. He would write the Greek Republic, which is his learning and expansion from Socrates. Plato had a student that is arguably the brightes of them all, but would have never existed without the tutelage of the previous 2, Aristotle.
Aristotle gave us the Trivium. Logic, rhetoric and grammar. He loved all 3, but most especially rhetoric. Rhetoric in its based AF form is impossible without a great command of logic and grammar.
I apoligize but will now get to my point.
Aristotle wrote that what seperates a civil society from barbarism is the protection of women and children. Look how people who hate western civilization care little about both today.
Sorry if there are a ton of typos. Sitting in front of a laundromat washing clothes late at night and wrote this on my cell.
The people who find a typo, may keep it.
Sounds like an Aristotle quote.
Thanks!
One of the most interesting encounters in history was when Alexander the Great came to Israel and the Greeks met the Jews. The monotheistic religion of observing the holiness of G-d combined with the heritage of the original philosophers and historians.
Was quite a moment.
The Septuagint, which translated the Torah from Hebrew to Greek, was also a revolutionary step.
Though the relationship soured in the time of Antiochus, which led to Chanukah.
It's amazing today, people read the Bible and can't understand it -- making those childish criticisms -- because they don't understand the context.
"What? A mother and father can take their rebellious son to the court and have him executed by stoning? That's barbaric!"
"Really? You want the father to be able to make that decision on his own? Because that's what it was prior."
This is a brilliant post. You are bright. One thing you forgot to mention that would help your post (realize most people have no clue) is that...
Alexander the Great was a student of Aristotle.
Hope you do not think I threw shade, because not the intent.
That's true. Alexander had his brilliance. But things fell apart after his death and "to the strongest."
There's a lot of very interesting attributes to Chanukah that gets lost when American Reform Jews just interpret it as being a sort of Jewish Christmas. Many Jews wanted to assimilate completely with Greek culture. They were called Hellenists. The Maccabees actually were fighting two wars: Fighting Antiochus and the Greek suppression of Judaism, and their fellow Jews who wanted to assimilate to Greek culture. It was a civil war as much as a war against a foreign authority.
great reply. problem is most people in the world today have no clue. we need to focus on the past but make it applicable to today.
love your posts, dear sir!
As one of my high school teachers frequently said, "it all goes back to The Allegory of the Cave"
Love this and all we’re reminded of, or learn here ?
You have an excellent command of apostrophes, it appears. Your explanation of these three philosophers was most enjoyable, most interesting. Thank for posting that.