HIS-110 T5 Cultural Expressions PDF

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Cultural Expressions worksheet for week 3 of class...

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HIS 110 Topic 5: Cultural Expressions For this assignment, you will answer questions on your choice of Axial Age thinkers using the documentary series, "Genius of the Ancient World." The three philosophers covered in this documentary series are Confucius, Socrates, and Buddha. Select your favorite, watch the associated episode, and answer the following questions, using three to five academic sources (which can include course materials, lectures, and the documentary episode). 1. Summarize the “Genius of the Ancient World” episode of the philosopher you selected. (250–300 words) The episode I chose to watch was Socrates’ episode. Bettany Hughes the presenter, walked around Greece where some of the popular site where Socrates was known for hanging around while also explaining the life of Socrates. She also sits down with many individuals that are respectable in their fields to talk further about Socrates philosophies and why he thought this way and what may have been some of the factors that influenced his thought. First, she starts off talking about the philosophers in Greece that came before Socrates. Even some of the events that were going on around him before he was known as the Socrates that might’ve influenced his “radical” thoughts. Then she moves onto Socrates actual ideas/philosophy with Professor Angie Hobbs discussing Socrates belief in knowledge of the human good. Bettany also meets up with an individual and participate in Socratic debate with them about what knowledge is. They both go back and forth trying to figure out the definitions with Bettany coming up with answers and the man she was talking to asking her questions to make her rethink and reevaluate her answers. She starts talking about what I would say is one of the pivotal events in Socrates life which was when he went to fight in the Peloponnesian War. She starts diving into how during this most of his most prominent ideas. She continues these discussions with multiple professors including Angie Hubbs again. She concludes this presentation on Socrates analyzing the events that led up to his death. Which is when he was put on trial for execution for corruption of the youth and other counts as well (Film Media Group, 2015). 2. What was the historical context of his life? What were the political, social, and economic events of his time? (250–300 words) Socrates lived in a time where Athens was not known for their reformative thinkers and tradition/ piety was an imperative part of their culture. Socrates did not necessarily disagree with this, but he thought that there was more to our individual lives than just worshipping the gods and sticking to traditions. “In Athens, he became known for his unkempt appearance, his moral integrity, his probing questions, his self-control, his ability to outdrink anyone, and his use of questions and dialogue in the pursuit of wisdom.” (Satris, 2021). There were some events in his life that may influence some of his most famous philosophies. The Peloponnesian war of 431BC a war that Socrates himself has fought in started that trajectory of his history of being one of the world greatest thinkers (Satris, 2021). It was said that he spent his time quietly thinking about the many ideas he is known for today that were radical or controversial during his time such as “Is wealth a good thing?” “Can democracy create a just society?” and so on and so forth (Film © 2021. Grand Canyon University. All Rights Reserved.

Media Group, 2015). During this time in Athens for every male that is 18 or older there are at least 2 slaves that work for them (Film Media Group, 2015). This meant that labor in Athens was not as common and leisure time prompted people to have the liberty for people to analyze the way that life was. Socrates took this into his advantage and expanded on the many ideas and philosophies he was coming up with and those eventually became what he is known for today. 3. Analyze his ideas. What were his main ideas (philosophy)? (250–300 words) Socrates was man who analyzed everything that life had to offer happiness, wealth, morality and more. Though he is known today for being one of the world’s greatest thinker during his time he ideas and philosophies were looked at as non-traditional and controversial. Philosophy then was on a more broader plane such do what pleases the gods and what the government requires of you. Socrates on the other hand thought that there’s was more to life than just that. “It has been said that Socrates brought philosophy down to earth.” (Satris, 2021). Some of Socrates philosophies included things that questioned the common way of life back then and challenged people to think more deeply about the life that they are leading. Some of the questions were “How do we decide what is good?”, “Can democracy create a just society?”, “What makes us truly happy?”. Socrates would regularly have conversations with these questions to whoever would listen “Socrates believed in absolute truths that, if understood by people, would make them virtuous, but he also was suspicious of democracy, favoring government by the chosen few who had acquired superior knowledge.” (Lockard). Some of those truths as mentioned were that “the only good is knowledge” and “the only evil is ignorance”. He also believed that “When we do right we protect our soul and when we do wrong we harm it”. This was the basis of almost all of his ideas the most famous one being “The unexamined life is not worth living”. He wanted to bring the examination of human affairs to the forefront of philosophy. 4. How do his ideas influence the modern world? What about his ideas make them still attractive and influential today? Basically, after more than 2,000 years, why are we still talking about him? (250–300 words) Socrates is one of the most influential philosophers of the Axial age known to our modern world today. Most of his ideas and thoughts are taught today in grade school across the country. Some of his ideas have become our moral rights today. “All beliefs and principles are open to debate. This approach was adopted by some Greeks, notably the Sophists and Socrates. They made enquiry and intellectual openness into the actual aim and principle of mental activity” (Black, 2008). Socrates contribution to this is the Socratic debate which we used today in discussion and debate over anything that needs definition or an agreement. “Plato represents Socrates as hiding behind an ironical profession of ignorance, known as Socratic irony, and possessing a mental acuity and resourcefulness that enabled him to penetrate arguments with great facility.”(Socrates, 2018). His influenced is even found in our own government with how he went about sharing his ideas and thought freely conversing and criticizing without being afraid of the consequences that he might face for it; what we know as one our right as US citizens the freedom of speech. Even if that was exactly what got him in trouble and eventually ended his life, he stood his ground and challenged people way of thinking for the better. “Each of these individuals thought and lived in conscious and difficult otherness from their surroundings. And yet- as Jaspers and others have

powerfully stated- they each affected over very long periods the ways in which people think, live, and behave, even today.” (Black, 2008) References Black, A. (2008). The "Axial Period": What Was It and What Does It Signify? The Review of Politics, 70(1), 23-D. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/S0034670508000168 Films Media Group. (2015). Socrates: Genius of the ancient world. Films On Demand. Retrieved November 12, 2021, from https://digital.films.com/PortalPlaylists.aspx? wID=96349&xtid=114422. Lockard, C. A. WORLD, 1e. Cengage Learning US. Satris, S. (2021). Socrates. Salem Press Biographical Encyclopedia. Socrates. (2018). Funk & Wagnalls New World Encyclopedia, 1;...