Classical Studies 2200 Lecture : Hellenistic and Roman Philosophy

• School: Western University
• Department: Classical Studies
• Course: Classical Studies 2200
• Professor: Christopher Brown

Document Summary

Continued to flourish at athens in the century following aristotle s death in 322 bc but there were significant changes such as many more schools, a focus on new questions, and implications of alexander s conquests. People from non-greek background were attracted to athens and alexandria became the focus of scientific research. The focus of philosophy narrowed and it became more like modern notion of philosophy (less comprehensive than the intellectual initiatives of plato and aristotle) and it became more systematic. It is uncertain that plato and aristotle were in face attempting to produce systems. Founded by zeno of citium, who came to athens in 313 bc and named after stoa poikile (painted porch) After zeno the school almost failed, but divergent positions were unified by chrysippus. Stoicism had a strong appeal to the romans because of its sense of duty and the philosophical writings of cicero are extremely important.