MAPE Assignment 6-Philosophy Questions (Essay Sample)

MAPE Assignment 6 1.What do we understand by "Hellenistic" schools of philosophy? 2.What schools of thought are considered as Hellenistic school? 3.Who were the founders of these schools? 4.Make a brief outline of the lives of their founders and the main teaching MAPE Assignment 6 Hellenistic philosophy is a collective term referring to several schools of philosophical thought that emerged during the Hellenistic period (323-87 BCE). This period marked an era of philosophical brilliance as philosophers in Athens deviated from their predecessors who concentrated on searching for universal understanding. Hellenistic philosophers were more concerned with physics, logic, epistemology, and ethics. Therefore, they established the foundation of what modern philosophy has come to be defined and understood. There are several schools of thought that are considered Hellenistic. The first Hellenistic school of thought is Cynicism, which was developed by Antisthenes (c.444-365 BCE). Antisthenes was a student of Socrates, but was not inspired by his teachings. Therefore, he developed cynicism which condemned traditional social values and norms, such as pleasure, wealth, fame, religion, and family duties. Aside from condemning established conventions, cynicism also supported following one’s innate inclinations. The second Hellenistic school of thought was Epicureanism, which was named after its founder Epicurus (341-270 BCE). He studied under Democritus, but also listened to many great philosophers like Aristotle who influenced him. According to Epicureanism, pleasure was the greatest good which could be attained through modest living, limiting one’s desires, and gaining knowledge of the world. This would result in tranquility (ataraxia) and a lack of body pain (aponia), which constitute the highest form of happiness. Thirdly, there is Stoicism that was developed by Zeno of Cituim (334-262 BCE). Zeno was born in Citium, Cyprus, but later moved to Athens at 22 where he studied philosophy under various Greek teachers, including Crates, Polemo, Stilpo, and Euclid a pupil of Socrates. Stoicism emphasizes the importance of virtue as a necessary condition to achieve happiness (eudaimonic happiness). Happiness in the eudaimonic sense is only attained through experiences of meaning and purpose. Consequently, stoicism became the biggest critics of Epicureanism, which argued that happiness could only be achieved through pleasure and enjoyment (hedonic happiness). The last school of thought during Hellenistic period was skepticism. There were two distinct schools of skepticism at the time. First, there was Academic skepticism that was founded in Plato’s Academy by his followers several generations after his death. Plato himself did not teach skepticism nor did he believe in the idea since he was anti-skeptical. The second school was Pyrrhonism named after its founder Pyrrho of Elis (c.365-275 BCE). He is reported to have travelled to India, where he studied under mystics who shaped his philosophical ideas. The main premise behind pyrrhonism is that nothing is indeterminable. Therefore, suspension of judgment and doubting everything is the only way people can attain tranquility and happiness. source..