The History of Philosophy: Origins of Ancient Philosophy Around the Globe

Summary

This World History Encyclopedia video, hosted by Kelly, delves into the origins and evolution of philosophy, tracing its roots back to ancient civilizations like Egypt, Mesopotamia, and India. It outlines the five main branches of philosophy, including Metaphysics, Epistemology, Ethics, Politics, and Aesthetics, and highlights key philosophical inquiries that arose from existential crises and religious limitations. The script also explores the development of philosophical thought in Persia, China, and Greece, emphasizing the contributions of figures like Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle, and their lasting impact on the field.

Takeaways

• 📚 Philosophy predates Greek development, with early forms found in civilizations such as Mesopotamia and Egypt.
• 🌐 The term 'philosophy' originates from the Greek words 'philo' (love) and 'sophia' (wisdom), signifying the love of wisdom.
• 🤔 Philosophy is fundamentally about questioning existence, reality, and knowledge, beginning with the first human inquiries into life's purpose.
• 📈 There are five main branches of philosophy: Metaphysics, Epistemology, Ethics, Politics, and Aesthetics, each focusing on different aspects of existence and thought.
• 🏛 In ancient Egypt, philosophy was linked to the concept of Ma'at, emphasizing harmony and balance as a path to the afterlife paradise, the Field of Reeds.
• 📜 Mesopotamian philosophy emerged from existential crises, such as in the 'Epic of Gilgamesh', where the hero seeks meaning after the death of his friend.
• 🧘 Indian philosophy developed from the 'Vedas' and 'Upanishads', and later expanded with the rise of Jainism and Buddhism, initially as philosophical schools before becoming religions.
• 🏛️ Persian philosophy, evident in Zoroastrianism, grappled with the problem of evil, proposing the concept of Zorvanism to explain the coexistence of good and evil.
• 📜 Chinese philosophy, particularly during the Zhou Dynasty, was a response to social chaos, leading to the Hundred Schools of Thought, including Confucianism, Taoism, and Legalism.
• 🏛️ Ancient Greek philosophy began with Thales of Miletus and was further developed by Pre-Socratic philosophers, culminating in the influential ideas of Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle.
• 📝 Socrates emphasized the importance of examining one's life and beliefs, while Plato introduced the Theory of Forms, and Aristotle focused on the pursuit of happiness and the concept of the Prime Mover.

Q & A

What is the origin of the word 'philosophy' and what does it mean?

The word 'philosophy' originates from two Greek words 'philo' meaning love and 'sophia' meaning wisdom. Thus, philosophy literally means the 'love of wisdom'.

How is philosophy defined in the context of the script?

Philosophy is broadly defined as the study of human existence, the fundamental nature of existence, reality, and knowledge.

What are the five main areas of interest in modern-day philosophy mentioned in the script?

The five main areas of interest in modern-day philosophy are Metaphysics, Epistemology, Ethics, Politics, and Aesthetics.

What is Metaphysics and how did it get its name?

Metaphysics is the study of existence and is named after Aristotle's work on the subject. The title 'Metaphysics' was given by his editor, placing it after his work 'Physics', with 'meta' meaning 'after' in Greek.

What is Epistemology and when did the study of this branch of philosophy begin?

Epistemology is the study of knowledge, derived from the Greek words 'episteme' meaning knowledge and 'logos' meaning word. The study of this branch began with the pre-Socratic philosophers.

What does Ethics focus on and what is its origin?

Ethics, from the Greek 'ta ethika', focuses on the study of behavior and action, concerning the idea of morality and how one should live. It originated as a philosophical inquiry into character.

What is the significance of the concept of Ma'at in Egyptian philosophy?

Ma'at represents harmony and balance and is a central value of Egyptian culture. It was developed as a response to the question of how a person should live to ensure they would go to paradise (the Field of Reeds) after death.

What philosophical inquiry is prompted by the 'Epic of Gilgamesh'?

The 'Epic of Gilgamesh' explores the moment of existential crisis, particularly the question 'why did something bad happen when we have been honoring the gods as we're supposed to?', prompting philosophical inquiry into the nature of existence and faith.

What is the significance of the 'Vedas' and 'Upanishads' in the development of Indian philosophy?

The 'Vedas' were the literal words of God in Hindu texts, and the 'Upanishads' were written to clarify and explain aspects of the Vedas. They represent an early form of philosophical inquiry in India, responding to religious texts and social reform.

What is Zoroastrianism and how does it relate to the development of Persian philosophy?

Zoroastrianism is a monotheistic faith founded by Zoroaster, worshipping the god Ahura Mazda as the creator and sustainer of the universe. It influenced Persian philosophy by introducing the concept of an eternal struggle between good and evil, and the importance of free will in human life.

What was the context for the development of philosophy during the Zhou Dynasty in China?

Philosophy in China developed during the Zhou Dynasty in response to times of chaos and disorder. The period known as the Hundred Schools of Thought emerged, including Confucianism, Taoism, and Legalism, all focused on establishing order.

What is the significance of Socrates in the history of Western philosophy?

Socrates, known as the 'Father of Western Philosophy', emphasized the importance of examining one's beliefs and improving individual character. Although he did not leave any written work, his ideas are known through the works of his students, Plato and Xenophon.

What is the Theory of Forms attributed to Socrates and how does it relate to the concept of truth?

The Theory of Forms suggests that what we perceive as reality is a reflection of a higher, perfect world of abstract and unchanging truths. These forms are what make statements true and give concepts like justice and beauty their meaning, aligning one with truth rather than mere opinion.

How did Aristotle's view on the purpose of human life differ from Plato's Theory of Forms?

Aristotle rejected Plato's Theory of Forms as it could not be proven. Instead, he proposed that the purpose of human life was happiness and that everything in life had a purpose, including the human pursuit of a good spirit to encourage others.

Outlines

00:00

📚 Introduction to Philosophy and Its Origins

This paragraph introduces the concept of philosophy, tracing its roots back to ancient civilizations before the Greeks. The narrator, Kelly, welcomes viewers to the World History Encyclopedia and sets the stage for a discussion on the essence of philosophy in honor of World Philosophy Day. The paragraph delves into the etymology of 'philosophy' and its branches, including Metaphysics, Epistemology, Ethics, Politics, and Aesthetics. It also touches on the early philosophical inquiries in Mesopotamia and Egypt, highlighting the Egyptian concept of Ma'at and the Mesopotamian's existential crisis as depicted in the 'Epic of Gilgamesh'.

05:03

🌏 The Development of Philosophy in Ancient Civilizations

This paragraph explores the development of philosophy in various ancient cultures, starting with the Indian 'Upanishads' and the emergence of philosophical schools like Jainism and Buddhism. It then discusses the Zoroastrian scripture 'Avesta' and the philosophical inquiries in ancient Persia, particularly the Zorvanism's explanation of the origin of evil. The paragraph also covers the philosophical advancements during China's Zhou Dynasty, known as the 'Hundred Schools of Thought', and the rise of Confucianism, Taoism, and Legalism. Finally, it touches on the beginning of Greek philosophy with Thales of Miletus and the Milesian School, setting the stage for the Pre-Socratic philosophers.

10:08

🗝️ The Evolution of Greek Philosophy and Its Impact

This final paragraph focuses on the evolution of Greek philosophy, starting from Thales' inquiry into the basic substance of the universe to the teachings of Socrates, who emphasized the importance of examining one's life and beliefs. It highlights Plato's portrayal of Socrates and the introduction of the Theory of Forms, which posits the existence of abstract, perfect truths that give meaning to our reality. The paragraph also discusses Aristotle's rejection of the Theory of Forms and his focus on happiness as the purpose of human life, introducing the concept of the Prime Mover. The influence of Aristotle's teachings through Alexander the Great is noted, as well as an invitation for viewers to share their favorite philosophers and philosophies in the comments.

Keywords

💡Philosophy

Philosophy is defined as the study of human existence, the fundamental nature of existence, reality, and knowledge. It is the core theme of the video, which explores the history and development of philosophical thought across different civilizations. The script mentions that philosophy began with fundamental questions about existence and reality, such as 'Why was I born?' and 'What is my purpose?'

💡Metaphysics

Metaphysics is one of the five main branches of philosophy discussed in the script, focusing on the study of existence. Named after Aristotle's work, it seeks to understand the nature of reality beyond the physical world. The script explains that the title 'Metaphysics' was given by Aristotle's editor, indicating that it followed his work 'Physics', and the term 'meta' in Greek means 'after'.

💡Epistemology

Epistemology is the study of knowledge, derived from the Greek words 'episteme' for knowledge and 'logos' for word. It is concerned with questions like 'how do we know what we know?' and 'how can we define knowledge?'. The script mentions that the study of epistemology began with the pre-Socratic philosophers, emphasizing its importance in understanding the nature and limits of knowledge.

💡Ethics

Ethics, from the Greek 'ta ethika', is the branch of philosophy that examines behavior and action, focusing on morality and how one should live. The script discusses ethics in the context of decision-making and the basis for moral actions, highlighting its relevance to understanding societal norms and individual conduct.

💡Politics

Politics, as discussed in the script, is the study of governance, derived from the Greek 'polis' meaning city and 'politicos' referring to city affairs. It extends beyond government administration to include the concepts of being a good citizen and contributing to the community. The script connects the dilemma of living harmoniously with neighbors to the study of politics, tracing its origins back to ancient civilizations.

💡Aesthetics

Aesthetics is the branch of philosophy that deals with the study of art, beauty, and the perception of beauty. It seeks to answer questions about what makes something beautiful or meaningful. The script uses aesthetics to illustrate the philosophical inquiry into the nature of beauty and its significance in human experience.

💡Ma'at

Ma'at is an Egyptian concept of harmony and balance, central to their culture and philosophy. The script explains that a good life in ancient Egyptian belief was one lived in harmony with oneself, others, the gods, and the natural world. Ma'at is exemplified in the script as a philosophical principle guiding ethical conduct and societal order.

💡Epic of Gilgamesh

The 'Epic of Gilgamesh' is an ancient Mesopotamian narrative that the script uses to illustrate a moment of existential crisis leading to philosophical inquiry. After the death of his friend Enkidu, Gilgamesh embarks on a quest for meaning in life and to escape death, reflecting on human mortality and the search for purpose beyond religious explanations.

💡Upanishads

The 'Upanishads' are ancient Indian texts that developed as a response to the 'Vedas', aiming to clarify and explain aspects of the sacred texts. The script describes the 'Upanishads' as part of the philosophical development in India, arising from a tradition that did not initially distinguish between religious and philosophical thought.

💡Zoroastrianism

Zoroastrianism is an ancient Persian religion founded by Zoroaster, which the script mentions as a monotheistic faith centered around the worship of Ahura Mazda, the creator and sustainer of the universe. The script discusses the philosophical implications of Zoroastrianism, particularly the concept of good and evil, and the role of free will in human life.

💡Hundred Schools of Thought

The 'Hundred Schools of Thought' refers to the period of philosophical advancement in ancient China during the Zhou Dynasty, marked by the development of various philosophical schools, including Confucianism, Taoism, and Legalism. The script describes this period as a response to societal chaos, where traditional religious beliefs failed to provide a divine plan or maintain order.

Highlights

Philosophy was practiced long before the Greeks, challenging the common notion of its origin.

World Philosophy Day is celebrated on the third Thursday of November every year.

The term 'philosophy' originates from Greek words 'philo' meaning love and 'sophia' meaning wisdom.

Philosophy is defined as the study of human existence and the fundamental nature of existence, reality, and knowledge.

Ancient philosophy often emerged when religion failed to provide answers to existential questions.

Metaphysics, Epistemology, Ethics, Politics, and Aesthetics are the five main branches of philosophy.

The 'Epic of Gilgamesh' represents an early existential crisis in Mesopotamian philosophy.

Egyptian philosophy focused on the concept of Ma'at, emphasizing harmony and balance for a good afterlife.

Indian philosophy developed from the 'Vedas' with the 'Upanishads' and included systems like Jainism and Buddhism.

Zoroastrianism and Zorvanism in ancient Persia explored the concept of good and evil and their origins.

Chinese philosophy during the Zhou Dynasty was written down in early Confucian texts and developed further during periods of chaos.

The Hundred Schools of Thought in China represented a diverse range of philosophies attempting to establish order.

Ancient Greek philosophy began with Thales of Miletus, questioning the basic stuff of the universe.

Socrates, known as the 'Father of Western Philosophy,' emphasized the importance of examining one's beliefs.

Plato's Theory of Forms introduced the concept of abstract, unchanging truths that define reality.

Aristotle, a student of Plato, defined the purpose of human life as happiness and introduced the concept of the Prime Mover.

Aristotle's philosophy was spread by Alexander the Great, influencing the known world including the Near East and India.

The development of Greek thought is often considered the birthplace of philosophy, despite its global origins.

The video invites viewers to share their favorite philosophers and philosophies in the comments.

World History Encyclopedia provides articles and interactive content for further exploration of historical topics.

Transcripts

Did you know that philosophy was practiced  long before the Greeks developed it?  

Hello and welcome to World History Encyclopedia!  My name is Kelly and today's video, in honour of  

World Philosophy Day, which is celebrated on  the third Thursday of November every year,  

we are having a look at what philosophy  is, some of its earliest history,  

and developments. Don't forget, the easiest  way to support us is by giving this video a  

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The word 'philosophy' comes from the two Greek  words 'philo' meaning love and 'sophia' meaning  

wisdom, so philosophy literally means the "love of  wisdom". Philosophy can be broadly defined as the  

study of human existence, and the fundamental  nature of existence, reality and knowledge.  

The first time somebody asked a question about  existence and reality like 'Why was I born?' 'What  

is my purpose?' or 'how do I understand my life?'  would be considered the beginning of philosophy.  

In the ancient world, philosophy was turned to  at the times when religion couldn't provide an  

answer, which we will see time and time again  in the examples throughout the ancient world.

There are five main areas of interest in  modern-day philosophy which can be applied  

to philosophy in both the east and the west, but  the names that they're now known by come from  

the Greeks. The first branch is Metaphysics;  which is the study of existence and is named  

after Aristotle's work on the subject, however  the title of Aristotle's book "Metaphysics"  

was given by his editor, who placed it after his  work "Physics". In Greek, 'meta' simply means  

after, and the title was originally only meant  to clarify that the one piece came after the  

first. Next is Epistemology; which is the study  of knowledge and comes from the two Greek words  

'episteme' meaning knowledge and 'logos' meaning  word. This branch asks 'how do we know what we  

know?' 'How can we define knowledge?' And the  study of this branch of philosophy didn't begin  

until the pre-Socratics - we'll get to that very  soon. Next is Ethics from the Greek 'ta ethika'  

which translates to on character and is the study  of behaviour and action. Ethics is concerned with  

the idea of morality and how one should live,  and on what basis should one make decisions.  

The fourth branch is Politics; which is the study  of governance and whose name comes from the Greek  

'polis' which means city and 'politicos',  meaning that which has to do with the city.  

Politics isn't concerned with simply running  a government but is concerned with how to be a  

good citizen, a good neighbour and a contributor  to one's community. The dilemma of how to live  

best with one's neighbours, although popularised  in the west by Aristotle, is a concept which can  

be traced back thousands of years to Mesopotamia,  Egypt, Persia and India. Finally, we come to  

Aesthetics; which is the study of art, of beauty,  and the perception of beauty. This branch of  

philosophy strives to answer questions like 'what  makes something beautiful or meaningful?' Now that  

we've introduced the main concepts of philosophy  and how philosophy can be understood, let's have  

a look at its development throughout the ancient  world starting with Mesopotamia and Egypt.

By circa 4,000 BCE, it seems that philosophy was  already established in Egypt, in the form of a  

response to the Field of Reeds. The Field of Reeds  was believed to be the paradise in the afterlife,  

where you get to continue living your life as  you did on earth, but better because there's no  

sickness, disappointment or, of course, death.  The philosophical question that Egyptians were  

working with was 'how should a person live in  order to ensure they would go to paradise (the  

Field of Reeds) after death?' The answers  to these questions developed the concept of  

Ma'at - harmony and balance, as a central value  of Egyptian culture. A good life was one lived  

in harmony with oneself, others the gods, and the  natural world, as seen from tomb paintings dating  

from circa 4,000, which also explained where  people came from and how to get into paradise.  

Looking to Mesopotamia - the Mesopotamians saw  themselves as co-workers with the gods. The  

gods created humanity and so the humans owed  the gods a debt of gratitude through worship  

and proper behaviour. Problems arose when  humans kept their part of the bargain,  

but it seemed the gods didn't come through with  theirs. When someone felt they had done as they  

should but did not receive the expected response,  they questioned their faith. This sort of crisis;  

'why did something bad happen when we have been  honouring the gods as we're supposed to,' prompted  

philosophical inquiry. This moment of existential  crisis is explored in the "Epic of Gilgamesh",  

when Gilgamesh's best friend Enkidu dies and  Gilgamesh embarks on his quest for meaning  

in life. Gilgamesh doesn't question  the gods or his relationship with them  

until the death of Enkidu, which spurs him  on a quest to find and escape from death.

Philosophy developed in India as a response  to the Hindu texts known as the "Vedas"  

in the form of the "Upanishads", written  down between circa 1500 and circa 500 BCE,  

but come from an even older oral tradition. The  "Vedas" were believed to be the literal words of  

God and the "Upanishads" were composed as a way  to clarify and explain aspects of the text. In  

around 600 BCE, there was a reform of social  and religious beliefs which developed other  

philosophical systems, which rejected orthodox  Hinduism including the school of Charvaka and  

the systems of Jainism and Buddhism. Both Jainism  and Buddhism would later become religious beliefs,  

but before that, they were philosophical schools  of thought. It is important to note that at the  

time of the development of the new philosophical  beliefs in India, as it is today, there was no  

distinction between religious and philosophical  thought. Philosophy was considered a component  

of religion, which anticipated and answered  people's questions before they could be asked.

Philosophy in ancient Persia was certainly  developed before 1500 BCE, which is known due  

to the "Avesta", (Zoroastrian scripture) that  was written down between 1500 and 1000 BCE,  

and draws on concepts from the  polytheistic early Iranian religion.  

Zoroastrianism is a religion founded by Zoroaster,  which was a monotheistic faith that worshipped the  

god Ahura Mazda; both the creator and sustainer  of the universe, who worked against Angra  

Mainyu - the lord of chaos and darkness, and  the source of evil and suffering in the world.  

The philosophical school known as Zorvanism  developed because of the question about the source  

of evil and suffering, since Angra Mainyu was  understood as a created being, and Ahura Mazda,  

who had no evil in him, as the source of all  creation. If Ahura Mazda was all good, where  

did evil come from? Zorvanism tried to answer  this by claiming that the god of infinite time  

Zorvan created both Ahura Mazda and Angra Mainyu,  and Angra Mainyu then introduced evil through his  

own free will. These two brothers were locked  in an eternal struggle of order and goodness  

versus chaos and evil, and humans had to take a  side. A person's purpose in life was understood  

as exercising one's free will in deciding whether  to devote oneself to the cause of good or evil.

During the Zhou Dynasty in China between 1046  and 256 BCE, philosophy was first written down  

in the form of the early Confucian texts,  and during the Spring and Autumn Period,  

between circa 772 and 476 BCE and the Warring  States Period between circa 481 to 221 BCE,  

these texts were further developed. The Spring and  Autumn Period and the Warring States Periods in  

China were times of chaos and it was in response  to the disorder that philosophy was developed.  

The period of philosophical advancement at the  end of the Zhou Dynasty is referred to as the  

Hundred Schools of Thought, when many different  schools developed including Confucianism,  

Taoism and Legalism. These three schools of  thought, among others, were very different but all  

were focused on attempting to establish order in  the chaos, since the traditional belief that Tian,  

or heaven, which legitimised a monarch's rule  and maintained order seemed to be failing,  

since the monarchs of different states  were fighting each other for supremacy.  

China during this period is among the best  examples of philosophy developing after the  

traditional religious beliefs failed to explain  the world and assure people of a divine plan.

Ancient Greek philosophy began in the 6th century  BCE, with Thales of Miletus asking the question  

"what is the basic stuff of the universe?" What's  interesting about Thales asking this question in  

the 6th century BCE, is that there isn't any  evidence that the religious beliefs of the  

ancient Greeks were being questioned or doubted.  The ancient Greeks believed their pantheon of gods  

created the world and human beings, and  questioning this was neither appreciated  

nor encouraged. Thales was clever though, and  never actually denied the existence of the gods;  

instead he just suggested that the First Cause of  Existence was water, which could be interpreted as  

including the deities. He ended up establishing  a school known as the Milesian School;  

which is considered the first philosophical school  in the west, and his followers, Anaximander and  

Anaximenes, continued his work, although rejecting  Thales suggestion of water as the First Cause,  

and they suggested their own instead. These three  men initiated ancient Greek philosophy which  

continued to be developed by other Pre-Socratic  philosophers, so-called because they lived and  

wrote before Socrates of Athens - considered the  "Father of Western Philosophy." What's equally  

fascinating and frustrating is that Socrates,  who lived between circa 470 or 469 to 399 BCE,  

didn't leave a scrap of work that he wrote himself  and everything that we know about him, his beliefs  

and philosophy, and his death comes from the works  of his two students Plato and Xenophon. According  

to Plato in his "Apology", Socrates believed that  an unexamined life is not worth living and his  

focus was on improving individual character and  examining your beliefs to see if they are true,  

or if you only think them true without good  reason. Most of Plato's dialogues feature Socrates  

as the central character, but even contemporaries  of Plato claimed that his character of Socrates  

did not resemble the real person and the Socrates  character was only Plato's mouthpiece. This may be  

true, but Plato attributes the Concept of the  Theory of Forms, which is basically the idea  

that what we call reality is just a reflection  of a higher and perfect world, to Socrates. The  

Theory of Forms claims there are these abstract,  unchanging and perfect truths that exist outside  

of time and place, which make all things we see on  earth what they are. These truths are what make a  

statement actually true; "what makes a horse or a  person actually beautiful?" "What makes concepts  

like justice and right meaningful, instead of  just someone's opinion?" The forms made life  

meaningful because acknowledging their existence  aligned one with truth, instead of merely opinion.  

Plato's student Aristotle rejected this theory  because it could not be proven and instead  

suggested that the purpose of human life was  happiness. Everything in life had a purpose,  

Aristotle said, and the purpose of a human was  to be happy, or as he put it to be possessed of  

a good spirit which would then encourage others  to do the same. A theory similar to the ancient  

Egyptian concept of Ma'at. He didn't concern  himself as much with the concept of a First Cause,  

instead focusing on how best to live one's  life, but he did define the First Cause as  

the Prime Mover which set everything in motion,  and afterwards, things just stayed in motion.  

Aristotle became the tutor of Alexander the  Great who would spread Aristotle's philosophy  

throughout the known world; through the Near East  and as far as India. The development of Greek  

thought throughout the ancient world established  Greece as the birthplace of philosophy,  

but as we have seen, philosophical inquiry began  long before Thales started asking his questions,  

and most likely when the first person asked  why things happened as they did. Who is your  

favourite philosopher and what's your favourite  philosophy? Let us know in the comments below!  

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