Greek Philosophy

Aim for a judicious balance of facts and genuine interpretative reflection. Just choose one topic from the list below.

Was Socrates really a Sophist, as Aristophanes portrayed him in Clouds?

What role or function did comedy serve in Athenian society? Why was it not only tolerated, but, like tragedy, elaborately supported by that society?

How did Aristotle’s ideas about government and society differ from those of Plato?

Was Plato’s Republic intended as a blueprint for actual government and society, or was it a parable of individual morality?

How did Aristotle’s ideas about reality differ from those of Plato? What did each thinker believe is “real”?

Is morality objective (absolute) or subjective (relative)?

According to the various Greek philosophers, what is the purpose of life?