From mythos to logos
Philosophy was born in 6th century BC Greece. Shift from mythological explanation to rational explanation (logos = reason).
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Lesson overview
This lesson brings together the PDF, study notes and chapter flow so you can revise Birth of Philosophy without losing the thread.
From mythos to logos
Philosophy was born in 6th century BC Greece. Shift from mythological explanation to rational explanation (logos = reason).
The Pre-Socratics
Thales, Heraclitus, Parmenides. Seek the principle (arche) of all things. Thales: water. Heraclitus: fire and constant change.
Socrates and maieutics
Socrates (470-399 BC) wrote nothing. Method: irony and maieutics (bringing forth ideas through dialogue).
Problematisation
Turn a topic into an explicit philosophical question: concepts, tension, stakes.
Conceptualization
Define key notions precisely (reason, truth, freedom, value) and distinguish meanings.
Argumentation
Support a thesis with arguments, examples, objections, and critical synthesis.