How did
Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle influence the development of Western
Civilization?
SOCRATES 469-399 B.C.E.
In ancient Greek culture there was a man who was very well known as an
influential thinker, his name was Socrates.
During his time he was considered a very smart, but very eccentric man. He coined many new philosophies all the while
looking and acting very different from the usual thinkers of his time. He always wore cheap clothing, was usually
barefoot, and never worried much about his appearance. This was not a common characteristic
of philosophers of his time. He never
taught for money, but he made his teaching known just by inserting his opinion
in mere conversation. I find that very
impressive that a man can become one of the most well known teachers of
philosophy and he did not even charge for his teachings. Socrates was most greatly known for his
teachings on ethics. He believed that if
each individual focused on being morally right they would be happy. He also believed there was no need for
material possessions and they did not determine ones happiness. I do not agree with every aspect of his
teachings, but I do agree that people do not need material possessions to be
happy. I have often noticed some of the
happiest people have very little and some of the unhappiest people have more
than they know what to do with. Of
course this is not true in every case, but this is a general conclusion I have
come to realize. For Socrates all was
centered on moral and ethical teachings.
Those who copied his teaching style were called Sophists and the way in
which they presented their believes was known as the Socratic method. Many knew him; some respected his
philosophies while others were greatly offended by his teachings. Tragically in 399 Socrates was convicted of
not believing in the gods he was supposed to which resulted in his execution.
PLATO c. 429-348 B.C.E.
Plato was one of Socrates greatest students and after Socrates was
executed it was very hard on Plato. He had
such a difficult time dealing with it; he left his family and changed his
occupation. Plato became a philosopher
and is now known as the most famous philosopher of the Western
Civilization. Plato developed a school dedicated
to teaching philosophy, mathematics, and theoretical astronomy. I was very impressed to learn the school set
up by Plato remained for nine hundred years.
If you think about how many people one can influence in nine hundred
years it is easy to see why Plato was so influential in the Western
Civilization. I also found it very
respectable that Plato allowed men and women to study in his academy during a
time where women were not thought of as equal to men. I believe this shows how wise and truly above
his times this great philosopher was. He
wrote a book containing his idea for “utopia” as well as created a few
philosophical theories. One very
influential one was his theory of dualism.
Dualism is a believe “that humans posses immortal souls distinct from
their bodies.” I find it very interesting
that he believed in the theory yet he lived in the times of Greek gods where
Christianity was not a common religion.
Not to say his theory is based on Christianity, but his theory is very
similar to the basic statement of most Christians. Like Socrates Plato trained a very bright
student who became very famous and well known in the Western Civilization, his
name was Aristotle.
ARISTOTLE 384-322 B.C.E.
Aristotle was known for not only becoming a well-known teacher and
philosopher, but he was also a scientist.
Aristotle followed Plato’s footsteps by opening his very own school in
Athens during the year 335 B.C.E. He
taught “biology, medicine, anatomy, psychology, meteorology, physics,
chemistry, mathematics, music, metaphysics, rhetoric, political science,
ethics, and literary criticism.” He was
also known for all of his writings and new philosophies all of these made him one
of the most influential philosopher and scientist of the Western
Civilization. It is amazing to read the
stories of Socrates and then of Plato and see how after each one influenced the
other they each became wiser and more willing to share that wisdom with others. Socrates started philosophy and spent his
whole life teaching others, one of his students, Plato, spent his life doing
the very same thing, and one of his students, Plato, again did the very same
thing the result could be nothing other than greatness. These men not only influenced each other and
made each other better, but they influenced the Western Civilization and aided
in making it a stronger, more educated place as well as instilling the want to
learn in their students. Socrates,
Plato, and Aristotle were great, influential men of their time and even of
today, but none of them would have been as great without the other. 
Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle