Greece: History

The trifecta of Greek philosophy was Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle, who have influenced all of Western society. One of them was killed for his ideals, and some fought for the right to freely think and observe. These men can be defined as the leading thinkers of Greece.

Socrates-

“I know that I know nothing” was a famous quote from Socrates stating that all wisdom begins with wondering, thus one must begin with admitting one’s ignorance. Socrates laid down the fundamentals of modern Western philosophy. He is known for Socratic Method, which clarified the concepts of Good and Justice. He is considered the father of political and moral philosophy and a leader in mainstream Western philosophy. He was on trial for corrupting the mind of young Athenians by telling them that they should be concerned about the welfare of their souls over their families and careers. He had a choice to change his beliefs or die, and he chose death. Being sentenced to death, his friend Crito found a way for him to escape. He was reluctant to the plea, and found that his death was the only way to live by his ideals, and if he were to escape, he would be letting down his family and friends.

Plato-

This Greek philosopher was a student of Socrates and a teacher of Aristotle. He helped lay the fundamentals of Western philosophy. Being a mathematician and philosopher, he was also a founder of an Academy in Athens, which was the first institution which offered higher end education to students. Plato wrote the Apology of Socrates which defined what Socrates did and believed in.

Aristotle-

He was a student of Plato, and a teacher of Alexander the Great. He wrote on many subjects including physics, metaphysics, poetry, theater, music, logic, rhetoric, politics, government, ethics, biology and zoology. Aristotle came up with the five elements which in fire, earth, air, water, and aether, which was the divine substance that makes up the heavenly spheres and heavenly bodies (stars and planets)

Without these three men, our history and present could have been completely different. If you’re traveling to Greece, it may be a good idea to see Athens. Here is a guide to traveling in Athens where you will be able to see history first hand!

When traveling to Athens, a traveler must be aware of protesters that can be engaged in violent confrontations. These confrontations may include destructive vandalism and rioting in localized areas, sometimes where tourists may reside. Visitors should be aware of and avoid places where demonstrators frequently congregate, such as Polytechnic University area, Exharchia, Omonia, and Syntagma Squares in Athens, and Aristotle Square in Thessaloniki. It is wise to avoid these areas between 9 pm and dawn. If you are traveling to Greece and want to know more, you can always contact Passport Health to set up a consultation where you will get a detailed itinerary that includes advice on having a safe trip to Greece.

“I know that I know nothing,” is a quote that has been interpreted in many different ways. What do you think the quote that started philosophy means?