Greek Philosophy Research Articles

A new Chinese-language textbook of ancient Greek with a historical outline of teaching Greek and Latin in China

In this paper we present the project of a new Chinese-language textbook of ancient Greek. This textbook is intended for students majoring in philosophy. In the first part of the paper, we provide an introduction to the historical circumstances inwhich ancient Greek literature and philosophy were originally introduced to China. We draw an outline of the cultural significance of the studies of ancient Greek in China, especially from the beginning of the 20th century. This helps explains the reasons why studies of ancient Greek were tightly connected to those of ancient Greek philosophy — and hence shed light on the intended focus of our textbook. In the second part of the paper, we present the textbook properly speaking: its intended audience and general structure, and an overview of the linguistic diff erence between ancient Greek and modern Chinese. This overview will reveal the types of issues faced by native Chinese speakers when learning ancient Greek and show that in some cases, such as the verbal aspect, Chinese has better resources to translate Greek sentences than English. We provide the example of a sample chapter to make the discussion more material and also to illustrate how the specific resources of Chinese language allow the translator to render the uses of subjunctive in ancient Greek.

Celebrating Nicaea

AbstractWhy should Christians from churches of the Reformation be marking the 1700th anniversary of Nicaea? Some Christians from such churches regard Nicaea as emblematic of Christianity's “fall” from the radical and subversive faith of Jesus’ teaching, miracles, and welcome to become an abstract and theological discourse dependent not on the Bible but on Greek philosophy. Some ask why they should pay any attention to a long ago gathering of male bishops or let that gathering, rather than simply the Bible and their own personal faith experience, shape their understanding of Christianity. In this paper, the author, herself from a church often inclined to such Protestant critiques of Nicaea, suggests a more open approach and a positive understanding of Nicaea for today's church.

In Memoriam

In Memoriam Steven Nadler, President It is with deep sadness that the Board of Directors of the Journal of the History of Philosophy, Inc., mourn the passing of Gerald Press, who died suddenly on December 26, 2022, at the age of seventy-seven. Jerry was a longtime member of the JHP Board. He was book review editor for the Journal from 1990 to 1997, and editor from 1998 to 2003. He also served terms as treasurer and vice president. Jerry received his PhD in 1974 from the University of California-San Diego, where he worked with Richard Popkin (who established the Journal in 1957). He was a professor of philosophy at Hunter College and the CUNY Graduate Center for forty years and proud chair of the Thomas Hunter Honors Program from 2012 to 2020. A specialist in ancient Greek philosophy, Jerry was the author of Plato: A Guide for the Perplexed (2007), as well as numerous articles and reviews. He was also editor of the volumes Plato's Dialogues: New Studies and Interpretations (1993); Who Speaks for Plato? Studies in Platonic Anonymity (2000); and The Continuum Guide to Plato (2012). A passionate teacher, dedicated mentor, and learned scholar, Jerry was warm, generous, and totally unpretentious. He will be greatly missed by his many students, colleagues, and friends. Our condolences go out to his family. [End Page 1] Copyright © 2023 Journal of the History of Philosophy, Inc.

Science and Arts, Philosophy and Science: Why after All? Why Not?

AbstractThis perspective summarizes some interdisciplinary aspects of science and the relation to philosophy, also including the basic motivations and aims as they might be discussed with young scientists starting their careers and presented also in the form of a commencement speech. The contents of this speech were repeatedly discussed also with Jack Dunitz, who showed great interest in it, given his broad interests. The speech also referred to an earlier commencement speech by Jack Dunitz in 1989. In the introduction of our essay, we mention the early common history of science and humanities under the name of philosophy. This early history can be traced back to ancient Greek philosophy and the ‘academy’ of Platon in Athens with a history of more than 1000 years until closure in 529 AD, in modern times revived as the National Greek Academy in Athens in the 19th and 20th centuries. Other ‘academies’ in Europe started in the 17th century and had publications under various names involving ‘philosophy’ with a focus on what we call science (natural science) today. After about 1800 there was increasing fragmentation of the various fields of knowledge and philosophy was considered to be part of the modern ‘humanities’ quite separate from science, and the natural sciences were fragmented into physics, chemistry, biology etc., and even finer subdivisions. The essay also describes an effort at ETH Zurich, reintegrating the various subfields of science and also stressing an education of scientists and engineers in the humanities. The essay concludes with a discussion of several global risks for mankind and a scientific imperative to maintain life on Earth.The common aspects and the foundations of all sciences as fields of knowledge aiming for an understanding of the world around us and of human beings as part of it are discussed from various perspectives.

The Philosophical Roots of the Philosophy of Rights

Georg Wilhelm Hegel’s book Elements of the Philosophy of Right and the discussions of his work initiated modern perception of the philosophy of rights, support, and critique. Many studies focused on the concept of rights, especially natural and divine rights. Still, research on the roots of the philosophy of rights remains interesting. Accordingly, this research examines the concept of rights to understand the beginnings that heralded modern and contemporary philosophical positions, starting with Greek philosophy and all the way to the dawn of modern philosophy. The study aims to examine the philosophical origins and schools of philosophy on the issue of rights by tracing the gradual development of this concept, starting with Greek philosophy, through the Middle Ages and ending with Descartes. It aims to reveal the role played by these philosophical schools in developing the concept of rights within their various natural, social, and political frameworks. The research also reviews the works of the most prominent philosophers of the period. The problem at the heart of the research lies in the crucial questions it raises about the concept of rights, its origins and features and in showcasing the main differences among the philosophical schools regarding such a concept. These questions are: What are rights? What are the philosophical schools of thought on which this concept is based, and how did these contribute to its development? The research adopts the historical-analytical method, with the aim of providing a historical vision of the concept of rights and its predicaments. The historical review of philosophical positions reveals that the concept of rights had its origins in ancient and medieval philosophy, which had not been combined as an independent unit of philosophy; rather, it was a combination of the relationship among concepts of rights, duties, justice, and freedom. Therefore, Hegel’s description of the history of philosophy as evolutionary is valid since it is continuous, structural, and evolving in nature. The foundations of the concept of rights did not originate with Hegel, as these were natural and appropriate developments of the relationship of the idea and its opposite within a historical process that led to Hegel’s views extrapolated in his book “Elements of the Philosophy of Right”.

좋음의 이데아로 헉슬리 ‘멋진 신세계’ 다시읽기

The book 'Sapiens' written by Yuval Harari, it's argued that the Homo species was able to shape human history due to their desire to alter their destiny through continuous revolution. By relying on cutting-edge science and technology to enhance human physical and mental abilities, human capacities have been transformed beyond recognition. This phenomenon is analogous to the current situation in which science and technology have permeated people's lives and significantly altered their lifestyles. This is particularly evident after the four industrial revolutions. Consequently, the challenge facing humanity extends beyond humans to non-human entities. In 1932, 'Brave New World' was published, which depicted a society dominated by science and technology. It allows us to re-examine ourselves and understand the significance of human existence in future society characterized by science and technology. This report focuses on the novel's unreasonable educational systems, which reflect some of the current educational situations in society. Plato, an ancient Greek philosopher, emphasized the importance of education and the educational process through three metaphors. His theory is also applicable in the current social environment of scientific development. From an educational perspective, we must ask ourselves what goodness is and find our own answers. The education of goodness represents the true meaning of our current social education.

Normativity and Ontology of Law in Early Greek Philosophy

The paper is devoted to the issues of the emergence of European science and philosophy, founded by the ancient Greeks. In the period known as the First Enlightenment, there was, on the one hand, a gradual departure from the mythological explanations of the reality, and, on the other, the construction of a new way of looking at the world, known as the study of nature. The inquiries of the ancient Greeks had an ontological dimension; they consisted in searching for the arche of the world and they were looking for the ultimate structure of reality, and, what is important, the human being was situated in these studies as an integral, but not the most important part of the Cosmos, subject to its laws. Presocratics did not put the human being above nature, because they did not strictly distinguish between the laws of nature and the laws of community. This was one of the reasons why the science of law did not arise at that time. Besides, the Greeks never reduced their right to the system, because too often gods or demos ‘interfered’ with the laws of the polis. It was a typical example of “law without jurisprudence”, because it was flexible and had vaguely formulated rules and institutions. Another significant factor here was the lack of the trained group of professional lawyers. This period ended with the advent of Socrates’ philosophy. Up to his time, philosophy had studied numbers and movements, and had dealt with the question of where all things have their origin and where they disappear; it also had observed the stars, the distances between them, their circuits, as well as had studied phenomena which appear in the sky. The early sages believed that they could gain knowledge by conducting research into natural phenomena themselves. Socrates rejected the ontology and study of nature initiated by the Milesians and other early Greek thinkers in favour of searching for the meaning of words and concepts found in the Athenian polis language. He believed that finding the meaning of words translated into revealing the reality which could not be reached otherwise.

Единство и множественность космогонического процесса в поэме Эмпедокла

Among the ancient Greek philosophers Empedocles is the one who attempted to create a complete picture of the world, taking into account the knowledge of the thinkers who preceded him. It is an entire philosophical system that explores eternal and true principles and seeks to discover the causes of the being of all things and at the same time to explain their empirical becoming. It is a theory of the cosmic cycle, an eternal alternation in which the four elements that are the roots of all things--earth, air, water and fire--interact with the opposing forces of Love and Enmity, both in macrocosmic and microcosmic perspective. Empedocles does not give preference to any of the four elements, as had been done before him, but gives each of them their proper place. He introduces acting forces, by means of which he explains the reasons for the appearance and destruction of the world, and, moreover, in his views one can see the foundations of future conceptions of an impersonal law. Because of the fragmentary nature of the poem’s text, however, it is still not easy for us to grasp Empedocles’ thought consistently. Based on his own observations and taking into account the knowledge accumulated by previous generations of scholars, the author tries to offer his own reconstruction of the cosmogonic process presented in Empedocles’ poem. The reconstruction is carried out taking into account new fragments from the Strasbourg papyrus, thanks to which we have at our disposal a rather long and coherent piece of text, which makes a significant contribution to understanding the philosopher’s thought. The emphasis of the article is on the physical exposition of the poem with the application of philological methods and the subsequent interpretation of Empedocles’ verses. The physics of unity and multiplicity within the interaction of the forces of Love and Enmity and the four roots is reconstructed. The article also considers the didactic component of the poem, showing that Empedocles does not think of himself as separate from sensual nature, and that he and his disciple Pausanias are aware of their full involvement in the universal cosmogonic process.

A general description of the issues of origin and creation in Boston's Greek philosophy

In the article, the author discussed the issue of the origin and creation of the world from the point of view of Boston Greek thinkers . The use of analytical, historical, comparative, critical and scientific - theoretical methods during the investigation of the issue is widely observed/ The author tried to investigate the issue of origin and creation in the works and opinions of the Greek thinkers of Boston and shows the similarities and differences of their opinions on the issue. In the article, more attention is paid to the ideas and thoughts of Thales, Anaximander, Anaximenes, because the ideas of these Boston Greek philosophers are the starting point of the evolution of the mythological and religious worldview into the religious - philosophical worldview. At the same time, the philosophical-scientific assumptions in the mentioned works of Fales are not lacking, and most of them still keep their position . It can be said that the relationship between the issues of origin and creation has been investigated to some extent in the article, and the author has discussed the goal and goal he set before him as much as possible.

The Genesis of Theory and Practice

One of the questions in social science is about the relationship between theory and practice. It goes back to the ancient Greek philosophers whose world was strictly separated into polis and oikos. The actors of polis were engaged in the formation of a democratic society requiring active action in the sense of vita activa. According to Arendt, with the decline of the polis and the emergence of the new forms of the society, vita activa was initially set in opposition to vita contemplativa and then later devalued in favour of vita contemplativa. However, with Galilei and Kant, there has been a counter-movement, which no longer understood theory as isolating oneself from the world but as shaping social realities. Theory and practice are joined today by the concept of research. The relationship between theory and practice will be examined initially within a historical perspective offering the genesis. Then the features of some institutions are discussed in terms of their communications with theory and practice and redefined accordingly.

Focus on Subjective Well-Being and “Ikigai” As Reason for Living or “Eudaimonia”

Research on the meaning of life has shown that the value and worth of each individual’s life hold significant importance, and this is closely associated with the concept of “eudaimonia” from ancient Greek philosophy. More recently, the Japanese word “ikigai” has gained attention as a similar concept, referring to one’s sense of well-being, reason for living, or purpose in life. Through various studies, it has been discovered that ikigai is closely related to factors such as happiness, anxiety, depression, stress, and employment status. In fact, it has been identified as a key predictor of both psychological well-being and physical health. As such, the research on ikigai has important implications for preventative medicine and positive psychology, as it can help individuals lead more fulfilling, successful, and responsible lives on a daily basis.

Promoting a New Kind of Education: Greek and Roman Philosophical Protreptic, by Daniel Markovich

Promoting a New Kind of Education: Greek and Roman Philosophical Protreptic, by Daniel Markovich

BEYOND RHETORIC: A CRITICAL EXAMINATION OF SOCIAL JUSTICE THEORY IN DEVELOPMENT

This study explores the historical development of Social Justice Theory and its relevance in the context of development planning. The research adopts a descriptive narrative method to trace the evolution of the theory from ancient Greek philosophers to contemporary thinkers. Social justice is defined as a framework for political goals that promote equality of outcome and treatment, recognizing the worth and dignity of all individuals and fostering participation, particularly among the most disadvantaged.The study finds that Social Justice Theory has undergone significant transformations over time, from the distributive approach of Rawls and Craig to the more recent focus on community rights and development impacts, as advocated by Fraser. However, the scope of social justice theory has become increasingly broad, encompassing issues such as land distribution, housing, and economic development policies. This has led to debates about the viability of social justice as the primary parameter for development, as other factors such as economic growth and efficiency may also be prioritized.Overall, the study highlights the ongoing relevance of Social Justice Theory in development planning, particularly in ensuring that policies and practices promote equality and justice for all. However, it also underscores the need for critical examination of the theory's practical implications, particularly in light of its broad scope and potential conflicts with other development priorities.

KEDAULATAN DAN YURIDIKSI NEGARA DALAM PRESPEKTIF HUKUM INTERNASIONAL: SENGKETA PERAIRAN KEPULAUAN NATUNA

ABSTRACT
 
 According to the Greek philosopher Aristotle, humans are social creatures (Zoon Politicon) which means society, that humans need each other, therefore law exists for public order. ? As in the writing of this scientific paper, it is aimed to find out the basis of international law for measuring the territorial borders of a country, in this case the dispute over the dispute over the Natuna territory in the South China Sea. Whereas in writing this scientific paper, normative juridical research methods are used, namely data collection techniques using reference books from competent legal experts and the basics of international law through International Organizational Instruments. From the legal facts found in the historical perspective and international law that the dispute in the waters of the Natuna Islands is a legitimate sovereign territory belonging to the Republic of Indonesia, the People's Republic of China only claims unilaterally without a valid international legal basis.

Middle Platonism in the Wisdom of Solomon: A comparison of Wisdom to Plutarch of Chaeroneia

This essay examines the conjecture that the Wisdom of Solomon was heavily influenced by Greek philosophy most notably in the form of Middle Platonism. In stating it this way, an argument is being made that “Middle Platonism” is a better description for the philosophical thought patterns in Wisdom than, for instance, “Greek philosophical thought” generally, or even “Stoicism.” Therefore, the similarities of philosophical thought between Wisdom and the Middle Platonist Plutarch of Chaeroneia are considered, especially in regard to ethics and physics. No efforts have been made to argue that the naïve level of philosophical development within Wisdom is in any way approachable to the advanced level of philosophical development within Plutarch. However, scholars should feel certain in describing Wisdom as a Jewish writing that evinces Middle Platonic thought patterns.

The Feminist Philosophy in Medieval Literature--- The Case Study of Christines the Book of the City of the Ladies

This research is designed to make womens voice heard and achieve gender equality. Studying medieval women writings is worthy investigating because it can not only show how medieval men view about the other sex but also appeal for womens rights as much as possible. Besides, gender equality is an important problem that affects every single woman in the world. Therefore, gender studies also need researching. As far as feminist philosophy itself is concerned, the theories of Greek and medieval philosophers, such as Aristotle, Plato, and St. Thomas Aquinas, will be used for analysing. Finally, there will be a conclusion that concludes all the discussions in this essay.

Special Report: Bipolar Disorder II—Frequently Neglected, Misdiagnosed

Special Report: Bipolar Disorder II—Frequently Neglected, Misdiagnosed

Psychoanalysis, Philosophy and Literature- Intersection of Science and Art

IntroductionPhilosophy and psychoanalysis have mutually influenced each other in many ways. Ancient Greek philosophers, Socrates and Plato were frequently cited by Freud in his works and the origins of certain psychoanalytic concepts can be found in their works. The philosophical works of Kant, Schopenhauer, Nietzsche, Heidegger, Husserl, Sartre and many others had a significant impact on the development of psychoanalytic ideas. The intersection of philosophy and literature was best depicted in Simone de Beauvoir’s concept of the metaphysical novel.ObjectivesThe goal of this presentation is to perform a comprehensive historical review of the relationship between psychoanalysis, philosophy and literature.MethodsDifferent philosophical schools from ancient philosophy to classic German philosophy and philosophy of existentialism have been explored in their relationship with psychoanalysis and world literature. Among world literary classics, we selected only those who best represent the role of psychoanalysis in the modern literary critics and on the other hand the influence of philosophy on literature.ResultsEarly origins of the relationship between philosophy, psychoanalysis and literature can be found in the text of ancient philosophers and writers. The great Sophocles’ tragic drama Oedipus the King was the foundation for Freud’s concept of Oedipus complex. The Socratic dialogue, a technique best elaborated by his student Plato was the antecedent of modern psychotherapy. Later in history philosophical works of Kant, Schopenhauer, Nietzsche, Husserl, Heidegger, Sartre and many others had a significant impact on the development of psychoanalytic ideas. There is a number of other philosophical fictions in the world literature written by Sartre, Camus, Kafka, Proust and many others and some of these literary woks may have characteristics of psychological novel as well. Literary critics is an important field for the application of psychoanalysis. Psychoanalytic theory has been always in forefront of Shakespearean studies. Marcel Proust is a writer who gave a significant contribution to modern literary studies. He wrote about the interactive process between the reader and text and emotional impact of reading. Proust recognized the similar psychological processes that we can see in psychoanalytic setting.ConclusionsThis comprehensive historical review of the relationship between psychoanalysis, philosophy and literature demonstrates that all these disciplines have much in common, particularly in their intention to approach truth from different angles. Psychoanalysis is a science and applies scientific methodology in its theory and treatment. Certain branches of psychoanalysis like Jung’s analytic psychology are sometimes closer to philosophy and art than to science. Philosophy as a humanistic discipline has always been in between science and art.Disclosure of InterestNone Declared

Epikureanisme dan Stoikisme: Etika Helenistik Untuk Seni Hidup Modern

Epicureanism and Stoicism are two of all Greek philosophies which aim to answer the question of what man seeks for himself. Aristotle has already answered it as happiness (eudaimonia). In addition to discussing the Stoics as an art of living, this study wants to try to see the needs of Modern Ethics for Hellenistic Ethics. Stoics and Epicureanism want to be juxtaposed as both contradictory, hostile and different Hellenistic Ethics but can be used as a way of how modern man seeks his happiness. Using several quotes from Epictetus, in the end this research wants to show that to achieve happiness humans can try not to make representations, talk about what is factual and act indifferently, while still paying attention to the logical aspect.

A gap in criminal law harmonization: different reactions to illegal gambling in different legal cultures

Substantive criminal law regulation of European countries share major similarities. The reason behind this phenomenon is the fact that certain cultural aspects have had their influence on most of the societies of the continent. Discussing the roots of the common European culture, we have to emphasize the role of Christianity, the legacy of Greek philosophers and the reception of Roman law. Nevertheless, the concept of certain criminal offences may diverge because of the different legal approaches of the same problems. Taking a simple example, the system of public education is probably regulated in detail by the majority of countries. However, the way of regulation highly depends on the values followed by the specific society. Sticking to our example, at what age should a child start to attend elementary school? Obviously, there is no universally acceptable answer to this question. If we imagined a legal system where the failure of making our children attend school is considered a crime, then the rules of compulsory school attendance would be, implicitly, a fundamental part of the definition of this offence. This absurd experiment of thought clarifies that a comparative analysis in the field of criminal law may reveal considerable differences even between resembling legal systems whenever a criminal offence is based on administrative law regulation. That is why the examination of the concept of illegal gambling is a promising field of research: due to a variety of reasons, it is without a doubt that each country has its own instruments to punish this kind of activity, but legal definitions and applied methods are most likely not alike. In the present paper, we introduce a Western, a Central and an Eastern European example to demonstrate diverse approaches. After that, we attempt to outline the essential characteristics of a globally significant, serious social problem, the compulsive gambling to see which strategy proves to be the most suitable to treat it.