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Philosophers

Ellen Whyte

Philosophers try to reason out answers to the most important questions we ask ourselves: What is the nature of the universe? What is life about? What are the qualities of good, evil, justice, mercy, beauty and truth?

It's not an easy subject but those who master it can make a big difference to the way we see the world around us.

A. Confucius (551-479 BC)

Underline synonyms (words that mean the same) for: bureaucrat, rule, think about Confucius (pronounced: kon-FEW-see-us) was born in Qufu in Lu. While his family were noble, his early life wasn't easy. His family was very poor and his father died when he was just three years old.

After working as an administrator for the Lu government, Confucius went travelling. During this time he saw for himself the terrible effects of war and bad government on the people of China.

As a result Confucius focused on the importance of peace, ethics, and practical moral values. He directed his students to study, reflect, and learn from observing how people behave.

Confucius' disciples collected his wise sayings and published them after his death in a book called the Analects.

Learn more about the teachings of Confucius by visiting http://library.thinkquest.org/19053

B. Socrates (469-99 BC)

Use these words to complete the sentences: nature, hemlock, sparingly Socrates (pronounced: soh-KRAH-tease) was born in Athens, one of the most powerful city-states in Ancient Greece. But Socrates wasn't interested in power, money or fame. He went barefoot, ate _________, and wore the same tunic day and night.

Socrates was only interested in one thing: understanding the _______ of ethics. After asking questions and analysing answers, Socrates concluded that errors come from lack of knowledge.

While Socrates wasn't interested in politics, his teachings made him powerful enemies. Falsely accused of introducing strange gods and corrupting the young, Athens' city leaders ordered Socrates to commit suicide by drinking ________.

Explore the life and times of Socrates and his disciples Plato and Aristotle at http://tinyurl.com/y448a5

C. Thinking Phrases

1. If you can 'think on your feet' you ...

2. To 'think the world of' means ...

3. If you 'can't think straight' you ...

4. To 'think big' means ...

a. To plan on a grand scale

b. Think quickly

c. To like very much

d. Are confused

D. Karl Marx (1818-1883)

Karl Marx was born in Trier, Germany. His grandfather was a rabbi, his father a lawyer, and Marx himself studied law at Bonn and philosophy at the University of Berlin.

Marx believed that social class was the root of all society's problems. He blamed the middle-classes (the bourgeoisie) whom he said exploited the working people (the proletariat).

When Marx wrote books recommending a social revolution where everyone would live together on an equal basis, official censorship forced him to move from Germany to France, to Brussels, and finally to the UK.

While Marx was revered by millions of communists after his death, he had few disciples while he was alive. Only eight people went to his funeral.

True or false?

1. The working classes are also called the proletariat.

2. Marx's ideal society was one without a class system.

3. Marx was famous in his own lifetime.

Check out the bio at www.philosophypages.com/ph/marx.htm and click on the links in the side menu to learn more about this influential philosopher.

E. Rene Descartes (1596-1650)

When French mathematician Descartes (pronounced DAY-kar) questioned many people of their beliefs, he realised his own thoughts and conscious experience were the only certainties in his life.

Concluding, 'I think, therefore I am,' Descartes believed that reality is experienced through two separate channels: the mind and body.

While he eventually decided the body was a machine connected to the mind by a small gland in the brain, the mind/body question is still hotly debated today.

Descartes also invented a way of using co-ordinates to locate a point in two or three dimensions, and proposed that all scientific fact should be based on observation and experiments.

His work was so influential that the town he was born in, La Haye, was renamed Descartes in his honour.

1. Descartes was only certain of his _____ (a. religion, b. maths, c. thoughts)

2. Descartes believed the ___ is like a machine (a. body, b. mind, c. government)

3. Descartes believed _______ was an important part of science (a. debate, b. experiment, c. philosophy)

Check out more about Descartes life and thoughts at http://library.thinkquest.org/18775/descartes/index.htm

F. Link these five quotes to the VIP philosophers:

1. 'The only good is knowledge and the only evil is ignorance.'

2. 'Only the wisest and the stupidest of men never change.'

3. 'From each according to his ability; to each according to his needs.'

4. 'There are no facts, only interpretations.'

5. 'It is not enough to have a good mind; the main thing is to use it well.'

a. Marx

b. Nietzsche

c. Confucius

d. Socrates

e. Descartes

G. Friedrich Nietzsche (1844-1900)

Find the words in the text that mean: the study of religion, pioneering, admirable

Nietzsche (pronounced: NEAT-shuh) studied theology and classical literature at Bonn and Leipzig in Germany, and then devoted himself to literature.

His work was revolutionary because he believed traditional ethics and religion weakened people.

Nietzsche wanted to create 'supermen', a noble race who would create their own morality. These people, he thought, would be able to live truly worthy lives.

Although considered a genius, Nietzsche was also unstable. He became insane in 1889. After his death his sister added her own political opinions to his manuscripts before publishing them.

Because of this, Nietzsche's work was for some time mistakenly associated with German Nazi philosophy.

Investigate Nietzsche's work by visiting http://simple.wikipedia.org/wiki/Friedrich_Nietzsche

H. Be a philosopher

Worried you don't have the skills to ponder on the nature of matters such as taboos, morality, art and personal identity?

Visit Philosopher's Net at www.philosophersnet.com/games and hone your philosophical skills by working your way through the fun quizzes and activities offered here.

For a rousing start, try Strange New World in which you discover if you could battle your way out of a virtual reality called the Matrix.

Answers: A. administrator, government, reflect; B. sparingly, nature, hemlock; C. 1b 2c 3d 4a; D. 1. True, 2. True, 3. False; E. 1c 2a 3b; F. 1d 2c 3a 4b 5e; G. theology, revolutionary, worthy

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