Back in action!

So after what feels like a decade long summer holiday – with still three weeks to go – I felt as if I’ve been lazying around way too much now, and as if the time has finally come to get back in action and do some proper studying. The pile with the philosophy books that are supposed to be read over the summer break have been lying there on my table for quite a while staring at me. Now I’m finally staring back at them, opening them and realising that my choice is wise, this is probably going to take up all my time I’ve still got left before Uni once again kicks off. History of Western Philosophy (Bertrand Russell) and Plato to Nato (Brian Redhead). Not what I would choose to read in my spare time, but quite interesting since I don’t know very much about the history of philosophy at all, and I love to learn new things – that’s what life is all about.. Right?

The book I decide to start with happens to be the heavy brick book about western philosophers from years and years before Christ, leaping through time and eventually ending up with modern times and the present ideas and theories presented by the philosophers active in today’s society. But not to rush things, first thing first. Let’s begin with the rise of the Greek civilisation.

The Greeks are known to have invented mathematics, science, philosophy and they are also getting the credit for being the first to write history . The Greek society was divided into many small independent provinces, and therefore the social systems differed depending on if you were living on the country side or in a city. Kings ruling the country were not absolute and their power were not inhereditary. Democracy included all citizens, except from slaves and women who weren’t considered citizens.

Philosophy is said to have begun with Thales about 585 B.C. He said that everything is made out of water and he also had a great part in evolving the first steps of the geometry we still use in Western societies today. Throughout the years, many ideas were built upon Thales first philosophical ground stones, such as water being one of the four elements that create everything, as well as his ideas getting scrapped by others who couldn’t understand how something liquid and a subject that were always moving could be a corner stone for something bigger.

To think that someone made a discovery that water is probably a part of everything, more than two milleniums ago without the equipment we use in today’s society, is fascinating. Especially when science men and philosophers still agree that water is a part of life and death, heaven and earth and everything in between.

During the early years of Western philosophy Greece was definitely the country were the action took place. Philosphers like Anaximanes (everything is made of air), Pythagoras (mathematics), Heraclitus (everything is made of fire) lived and worked along side less famous philosphers. Their ideas were eventually brought together as Empedocles stated that everything is made of a mix of fire, water, air and earth and due to this nothing ever stays the same, everything flows. For example, you cannot step into the same river twice, because the water will not be the same as new fresh water is always flowing upon you.

I must admit from reading about all these genious men – becuase unfortunately it was only men who were allowed to ‘think’ and act – I get a bit dizzy. So many thoughts and ideas circulating around, how to be able to seperate right from wrong, the truth from the lies and the visible from the invisible and still believe in it.. It is just amazing.. And, realising these guys were actually doing it two thousand years ago.. Wow.. If it wasn’t for them, maybe the earth would still be flat..

Tomorrow a short review of the second part of the first book, Socrates, Plato and Aristotle, will be up on the blog accompanied with a few of my own ideas and thoughts. Hopefully you will be here taking part of it as well!

Cheerios
Mads x