The Intellectual Movement Of Ancient Greece - 1624 Words

Finding a Balance In current society, people question the true essence of a happy life: is it money, power love, sex, or religion? In retrospect, however, this is a contemplation that also wondered the minds of people from ancient times. Ever since the emergence of early civilizations, human beings have attempted to identify the elements that can allow them to live happier lives. For the early thinkers of these civilizations, this quest for a more meaningful and satisfying life could be acquired only through the application of philosophical thought. According to them, philosophical thinking, which strictly focuses on the use of reason and logic (Pojman and Vaughn 2), offered the only tools that would allow them find the true sources of happiness. A prime example of a civilization that used critical thinking and reason to identify these seemingly complex elements were the ancient Greeks. Essentially, Greek philosophy attempted to find rational answers to basic questions about man and the universe (Owens). These questions included the quest for happiness. The intellectual movement of ancient Greece nurtured many different kinds of philosophies, and in particular, there were two different kinds of philosophies that attempted to guide people towards the quest of a fulfilled and happy life: the philosophies of Epicureanism and Hedonism. These philosophies, however, didn’t offer the conventional ideas like love or religion as the key components of a happy life. Instead, theyShow MoreRelatedEssay What Does Violence Mean to the Greek?1142 Words   |  5 PagesViolence was the basis of polis culture and it helped unify Hellas. In every aspect of the polis some sort of violence is involved, whether it is athletic or intellectual, violence exists everywhere. 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This cultural and intellectual movement began primarily in Italy and later spread to the rest of Europe. The period of innovative change is called The Renaissance. The word Renaissance originates from the French word, rebirth. The Renaissance is considered a crucial and pivotal periodRead MoreAncient Greek Philosophical Views are Still Relevant Today Essay1576 Words   |  7 PagesAncient Greek Philosophical Views are Still Relevant Toda As a strategy to defeat the invading Persians during the Persian War, the poleis (Greek city-states) of Greece united in order to form one large military force. Following the war, Greece decided to adhere to this idea of unity and form the Delian League in order to protect Greece from Persian domination. However, many of the poleis begin to resent the fact that the polis of Athens held a roll at the top of the League. This tension