philosophychapter2.ppt

PHILOSOPHY 1001 – PPT2

WORLD HISTORY/WESTERN CIVILIZATION

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PPT 2

THE HISTORICAL ROOTS OF WESTERN CIVILIZATION AND PHILOSOPHY.

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-Our study will emphasize Western Philosophy but will consider other philosophies as well.

– This ppt will lead us historically from the beginning of world civilization to the Greek and Roman empires.

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SEGMENT 1 – TIME FRAME

AXIAL AGE , 800BCE- 500BCE

Era that gives rise to new ways of thinking across the world.
Religions and Philosophies that are established.
Religions; Jainism, Buddhism, Hinduism, Zoroastrianism, Judaism (Christianity)
Philosophies; Confucianism, Greek Philosophy

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TERMS TO KNOW
Civilization
Polytheistic
Theocratic (government)
BCE (before the common era) = BC
CE (common era) = AD
Judeo-Christian
Monotheism
Progressive History
Circular History
Western Civilization
Eastern Civilization
Greco-Roman
Ism- (a distinctive practice, system or philosophy)

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CIVILIZATION

(1.) level of interaction greater than tribal
(2.) the common culture of certain peoples extending over many centuries
(culture= sum of religion, politics, economy, values etc.)
(3.) For our purposes, when we refer to Western Civilization, we will be focusing on the distinct thinking/values/ideas of “Western” people
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BEGINNINGS OF CIVILIZATION (UP TO THE GREEKS AND ROMANS)

#1. Egypt- Nile river (Egypt)
#2. Mesopotamia – Tigrus and Euphrates rivers (Iraq)
#3. Indus- Indus river (Pakistan)
#4 China – Yellow river
Begun within 500 years of each other sometime after 5000BC (BCE- before common era)
Agricultural dependence on water in river valleys
Polytheistic- belief in many Gods
Theocratic governments- government focus on particular religion and/or divine leadership
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NILE, MESOPOTAMIA, INDUS, YELLOW

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Jared Diamond- east west migration key to superiority of West

EMPIRES OF MESOPOTAMIA AND THE MEDITERRANEAN AND RISE OF GREECE AND ROME
“Ancient World” 5000BC to 400AD
Beginning of civilization to end of Roman Empire
Mesopotamia – Sumerian, Babylonian, Persian
Egypt – Egyptian
Indus – Civilization disappears
China – Continues to today
Mediterranean – Phoenician, Greek, Roman
(From Asia peoples migrate to North and South America)

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Egypt 1600-1200BC

Assyrian 900-607BC
Babylonian 606-536 BC
Persian 535-330BC
Greek 330- 146 BC
Roman 145BC- 476 AD
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HEBREWS /ISRAEL/JUDAISM

2000-584 BC
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Hebrew Kingdom
A small kingdom with a great impact on Western Civilization. At its high point politically around 1000BC.

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6 CONTRIBUTIONS OF THE HEBREWS TO WESTERN CIVILIZATION/THINKING
While Judaism was present in the Mediterranean before Christianity, its influence upon Western thinking comes most powerfully through Christianity beginning in the first century AD. Judeo- Christian- the combination of influence of the Hebrews and the Christians.
1. Covenant with God – (unlike other religions)
2. Monotheism- one God
Most of ancient world- Polytheism
3. Ethical Monotheism
One God through whom one standard of Ethics come

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HEBREW INFLUENCE CONT’D
4. Progressive History – (as opposed to circular history)
Breeds idea of Hope – key idea in Christianity- in the Roman era
Created interest in history
Circular history- tends toward fatalism (Eastern)
Reincarnation is an example
What are the implications for philosophy and ethics of these views of history?
5. Importance of the individual
Individualism / Freedom /Democracy

Bible – -source document for Judeo-Christian ethics
10 Commandments
Christian ethics
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GREEKS AND ROMANS (GRECO-ROMAN)

BEGINNING OF WESTERN THOUGHT
A new way of looking at the world
From superstition to reason- from relying on authority to challenging authority-
Ancient world thinking continues in East
Greek empire
800 BCE, Greek speaking people organizing around Aegean sea
High Point 500-300 BC – Golden age of Greece
Three most notable Greek philosophers
Socrates, Plato, Aristotle
Alexander the Great – “conquered the world” – died 323 BC.
Roman empire
700 BCE beginnings
By 27 BCE Roman rules Mediterranean world
Seneca, Porphyry, Pliny, Cicero – notable Roman philosophers
Greece known for culture/ Rome known for military, political organization

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WESTERN CIVILIZATION

…A WAY OF THINKING
(“Western” thinking emerged through the Greco-Roman era)
1. Democracy- rule of law, consensual government separate from control of religious dogma
2. Rationalism- use of logic/scientific inquiry over superstition/authority – free exchange of ideas – self critical (and loud) evaluation
“I know you won’t believe me but the highest form of excellence is to question ourselves and others” – Socrates
3. Individualism – individuals can dictate own life
4. Freedom- liberty, equality

Critique of Western Civilization today –
No longer pertinent do to mixing of cultures
A force of evil in history

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Pythagoras 569-479 – traveled much in early life , egypt and east
First person to call self Philosopher
The word Philosophy in itself really is a Western concept – loving wisdom and the life of rooting it out.

THE SPREAD OF WESTERN

THINKING AND CULTURE
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European explorers take western influence around the world.

WEST AND EAST
United States is a “Western” nation
We will be focusing on Western Philosophy
Examples of Eastern Nations
China, India, Korea, Japan
What about Eastern Philosophy?
Lao Tze, Taoism
Siddhartha Gautama, The Buddha
Confucius, Confucianism
Sun Tzu, The Art of War
Differences between East and West
Wholistic vs. Individualistic
Circular vs. Linear (view of universe)
Accept world vs. Change world

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Compare to Eastern Thinking

KEY IDEA! OUR WAY OF THINKING ABOUT LIFE IS THE PRODUCT OF THOUGHT PASSED DOWN FOR THOUSANDS OF YEARS
Much of present day western culture bears the mark of the Greco-Roman world
Examples
Architecture
Education
Scientific understanding

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TIME LINE OF AGES/ERAS

– SEE FAMOUS FACTS AND FIGURES RESOURCE SHEET

800- 500 BC Axial Age
500 BC – 400 AD Classical Ages
Greco-Roman Era (end of “ancient” world)
400 – 1300 AD Middle Ages, Medieval
1300 – 1700 AD Early Modern Ages
Renaissance 1450-1550 AD
Reformation 1517-1685
1700-1969AD Late Modern Ages
Enlightenment 1700-1800
1969AD Post Modern Era begins

(these eras don’t start/end overnight and they overlap)

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TERMS TO KNOW
Civilization
Polytheistic
Theocratic (government)
BCE (before the common era) = BC
CE (common era) = AD
Judeo-Christian
Monotheism
Progressive History
Circular History
Western Civilization
Eastern Civilization
Greco-Roman
Ism- (a distinctive practice, system or philosophy)

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THINGS TO KNOW – LIKELY TEST TOPICS
List of terms
Six specific influences on Western thinking from Hebrew ideas
Main values of Western thinking

To ponder; Can you list both a few countries that are Eastern or Western in their basic philosophy frame work? Can you compare a few values of Western thinking with Eastern thinking?

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