The minds that shaped Western thought

So many aspects of our Western culture have been shaped by the Greek Empire. Notably famous for its contribution to art, architecture, literature, as well for being the birthplace of democracy and our beloved Olympic Games. But, likely the top thing attributed to the classical Greek civilization is establishing Philosophy as an academic science given its thirst for reason and inquiry.

Today we look back, and reflect, on the shoulders of its famous recipients of the "Ballon d'Or" in classical Greek Philosophy: Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle.

I am the wisest man alive, for I know one thing, and that is that I know nothing. 

Plato        

Plato, a student and advocate of Socrates, is one of the three renowned Greek classical philosophers. Famous for starting his own school named "The Academy" which opened up in 387 B.C., a name that even today is associated with higher learning and yes, your toddler's Day Care...

Plato explained human behavior three dimensionally, that is, via Emotion, Desire and Knowledge, expounding further:

1. Emotion is comprised by ambition and courage
2. Desire holds within it impulse and instinct
3. Knowledge encapsulates reason and intellect.

Individuals are best suited for specific roles in society depending on their guiding beacons. People driven by Emotion make great auxiliaries such as military commanders and top executive aides. Individuals driven by Desire are generally good producers. Whilst a person driven by Knowledge can best serve a ruler, a leader, yes even a politician. Please note all the applications are the Platonic Ideal, or the "Should-Be" state, reality is unamusingly different.

I really like the concept of the Platonic Form or Ideal, in that mankind was abased by the expulsion from the Garden of Eden. In life we will never see anything truly perfect, not a person, not a thing, not a man-made theory or anything similar. That does not preclude us from being positive change agents and contributing to society in all we can. We might never reach the Platonic Form but it's best to try and reach for excellence and not be comforted by mediocrity.

Educating the mind without educating the heart is no education at all.

Aristotle        

Unlike Socrates and Plato, soft-spoken Aristotle was a refined man who dressed extravagantly with meticulously combed hair, born into a privileged home and highly educated (student of Plato's "The Academy" for 20 years!). Not surprising to see that Aristotle's preferred system of rule was Aristocracy believing that the "best" citizens are selected to represent the interest of the many. Later in his life he served as tutor for a young 12 old named Alexander, who would later become "Alexander the Great".

Scripture says the heart is a deceitful thing, and desperately wicked above all, who can know it? Aristotle did have great insight in that education which solely focuses on the mind is no education at all. Today we have circa 1 bn individuals with higher-education diplomas of some sort. How many of the 1 bn people are "Platonically educated (i.e., educated hearts and minds)"?

Whilst I respect his contributions to Philosophy and Science, I believe that Socrates and Plato were humbler in many ways and in my value system, are individuals whom I admire more. I believe there is arrogance in man believing that the scientific method can be used to explain all things in existence.

Romans 1:20 "For from the creation of the world the invisible things of Him are clearly seen, being understood through the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse.

If Aristotle was alive today, he likely would be in the "Big Bang theory" camp believing that particle Physics might be able to explain how the universe came about. Man is naturally arrogant to believe that we can reduce all things seen and unseen to equations. Moreover, the Big Bang Theory violates both the 1st and 2nd laws of Thermodynamics but that is for another blog. Only thing I will say is that the James Webb telescope results which look into the farthest realms of the universe throws a pie in the face of cosmologist that cling to the Bing Bang.

It is not living that matters, but living rightly.

Socrates        

Circa 2500 years after his birth Socrates remains a well-recognized name by philosophy buffs, yet he did not have a school, nor did he pen any of his work and thoughts. All we know of him came via other philosophers of the age, principally Plato, Aristophanes, and Xenophon.

Apparently, he was a modest man, apparently a heavy drinker, not consumed by possessions, but happy in his tunic and walking barefoot. He most famous for establishing the Socratic method (i.e., form of argumentative dialogue between individuals).

I respect a lot of his philosophy especially for his view that there is a relationship between wisdom and morality. His thesis is that if we know what is good, then there is no reason do evil hence the quote. What he failed to note or acknowledge is, man is inherently prone to sin thus proving that our natural state is that of being unwise in some measure. Notwithstanding, I happen to agree with Socrates in this relationship insofar as corroborated by the Bible which says, "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding."

Nowadays there is vast confusion between wisdom and intelligence and I pretty confident that if we queried 100 people randomly, few would point to this relationship of wisdom and morality. Furthermore, money, fame, being a good investor, having millions of followers, or anything similar has no bearing on one's wisdom. The present age is not seeking wisdom (or morality) but sensorial stimulation as a Pavlovian dog hearing a bell. It really is a sad state of human history.

You might have heard from me prior; life is about choices. Ask yourself:

1. What really drives you?
2. What do you consider success to be?
3. What is your life calling?
4. and What is your life purpose?

I earnestly ask that each of us reflect on these basic questions and if there are things to course-correct, then fine. It is better to be wise for a day than a fool for a lifetime...