Phronimon Volume 1 Number 1 (1999)

Permanent URI for this collectionhttp://hdl.handle.net/2263/4137

Contents
A J Antonites	The Greek philosophers and the development of Science. Will their influence also lead to the completion of science?	1
L C Bargeliotes	Aristotle's Stoichiology: its rejection and revivals	16
K S Duffey	Søren Kierkegaard se keusevryheid as invloed op eksistensiële fenomenologie	24
C C Evangeliou	Plotinus' defense of the Platonic cosmos and its Demiurge	37
J D Gericke	Information strategies and democracy	50
K W Junker	Reading nature through culture in Plato and Artistotle's works on law	61
J Langley	Christianity and the State: towards a liberal politics	73
J Philippoussis	The question of Plato's nation of "leadership" in the Republic	109
L Wilkinson	Ancient scepticism: a change for happiness	144

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Now showing 1 - 9 of 9

Ancient scepticism : a chance for happiness
(South African Society for Greek Philosophy and the Humanities, 1999) South African Society for Greek Philosophy and the Humanities; Wilkinson, Lisa Atwood
In this paper, an attempt will be made to examine the concept ataraxia as it appears in the works of Pyrro of Elis, Sextus Empiricus and other philosophers belonging to the ancient sceptical tradition. This school of thought is primarily concerned with the avoidance of disturbance (ataraxia), and they do this by suspending judgment. But the suspension of judgment is only possible given the suspension of belief. They wish to avoid disturbances which arise not only in the act of disputing judgments, but also those which arise by virtue of believing the premises involved in the dispute. The sceptic says that ataraxia comes by chance where "chance" means that ataraxia is inexplicable and naturally so. Just as the sceptics will not engage in a language of essences because they question the possibility of presenting nature in such a language, neither will they engage in the pursuit of something which cannot, in principle, be pursued - absence from trouble. For exactly how does one pursue an "absence"? Whether we agree with the ancient sceptic's way or not, there is a degree of wisdom in their recommendations that we suspend judgment on what is, in principle, not judgeable. If human happiness is such a matter, we cannot fault the sceptics for questioning philosophical attempts to arbitrate what happiness is, especially if happiness stands over and against nature.
The question of Plato's notion of 'leadership' in the Republic
(South African Society for Greek Philosophy and the Humanities, 1999) South African Society for Greek Philosophy and the Humanities; Philippoussis, John
There is obviously no question that the notion of "leadership" is central in Plato's Republic, nor is there apparently any question that it is crucial, since it is foundational for Plato's society. Writing his Republic, Plato's aim as he says, was to write a "theoretical constitution"(or to critically present the theoretical framework and principles for a constitution - logô politeian) in order to "establish a good society" (aristên polin oikizein). A good society, according to Plato's theory, is the one which is founded on a good principle and grounded on a good leadership, that is to say the principle of justice and the leadership of the philosopher. However, along with his notions of "society" and "justice", Plato's notion of "leadership" has been questioned and challenged by many (often quite vehemently, especially in the 20th C. and particularly after the Second World War) and seen as a totalitarian State under a dictatorial justice of an authoritarian ruler. Therefore, the trilogy of Society, Justice and Leadership, as the core of the Platonic Republic, demands and invites again a critical re-examination: What does Plato mean by "society", "justice" and "leadership" and what does he mean by "good" (aristê) as applied to them? Does Plato consider the holistic State as the best kind of Society and the hierarchical Jurisprudence as the perfect Principle? Does he consider the autocratic Potentate as the required Philosopher-king? What does he mean by the philosophical leader under the principle of justice which, in his view, is the bedrock for his constitutionally founded society? The present article proposes to re-examine this question relating to Plato's enigmatic and controversial notion of "leadership".
Christianity and the state : towards a liberal politics
(South African Society for Greek Philosophy and the Humanities, 1999) South African Society for Greek Philosophy and the Humanities; Langley, J.
The basic argument of this paper runs as follows: Using a combination of the doctrine of free will as found in Milton's Areopagitica and the Biblical doctrine of grace as a Christian philosophical basis, Christianity is shown to support freedom, rather than prohibition, both in terms of temporal and eternal results that such political action might achieve. The primary role of the Church is one of caring for the spiritual need in people, by facilitating salvation. The secondary role is caring for the physical needs of people, through concern for their physical welfare. These two concerns may be symbolised in Jesus' injunction to Christians to be Light and Salt respectively. Some current Christian political action (as exemplified in the activities of the New Right in the U.S.A. and similar attitudes in South Africa), in terms of the aforementioned Biblical-Philosophical basis, is not justifiable, and actually harmful to the Christian cause. It creates damaging impressions of Christians on society, as well by diverting attention, manpower, prayer and finance away from more important issues. Christian political activity is very necessary, but should not be linked to the often irrelevant and non-scriptural agendas of the political Right. Rather, it should be focused on issues of Liberty, Social Welfare,and most importantly, salvation of as many souls as possible, in line with the doctrines of Grace and Free Will.
Reading nature through culture in Plato and Aristotle's works on law
(South African Society for Greek Philosophy and the Humanities, 1999) South African Society for Greek Philosophy and the Humanities; Junker, K.W.
In the human and natural sciences there are many ways of examining nature. While archaeologists, anthropologists and other scientists prefer to examine nature empirically, philosophers and other humanists are more likely to examine texts in order to arrive at an idea of, for example, the Greek world's understanding of nature. Among the scholarly treatises that we typically consider to be sources for research into Greek philosophy of nature and the environment, I selected, for the purposes of this paper, Plato's The Laws and Aristotle's Constitutions of Athens. In this paper I will argue that if we want to understand ecology or environment as cultural concepts, and we look to the law of Classical Greece, or at least Athens, we find that knowing the law is not the direct process of the present day - that is to say, we cannot simply look to written codes to understand the legal practices. Plato in The Laws, points to a comportment toward nature, through the law, which can be based upon objectively-obtained values, without resulting in material scientism. With this in mind, we citizens can determine environmental policy and law, without pretending that it is dictated by earth, air and water.
Information strategies and democracy
(South African Society for Greek Philosophy and the Humanities, 1999) South African Society for Greek Philosophy and the Humanities; Gericke, J.D. (John Daniel)
Many attempts have been made to define the concept of democracy. These definitions are usually accompanied by certain basic ideas such as that of self-government by and for the people (i.e the state is a res publica and not the dominium of the people). The problem with this and similar definitions is that they don't reflect a true and valid picture of a political reality, but rather something like an abstract ideal for which a working realization is envisaged. To this could be added that experience with democratic systems have shown that the formal system of determining the formation of the collective will is not sufficient for guaranteeing democratic life as such. One of the consequences from this recognition is that the formal rule of voting and holding elections is not by itself sufficient for granting the realization of democratic ideals; it must be accompanied by an effective system of discourse about political and social questions, by transparency of public relations and by appropriate access to relevant information. It is the intention of the author to indicate what relevant information in a true democracy is and the negative results of withholding such information.
Aristotle's Stoichiology : its rejection and revivals
(South African Society for Greek Philosophy and the Humanities, 1999) South African Society for Greek Philosophy and the Humanities; Bargeliotes, L.C.
Aristotle's rejection and reconstruction of the Pythagorean mathematization of things, of the Democritean and Platonic atomism, and the "materialism" of the pre-Aristotelian cosmologies, in general, are mostly based on his strikingly original theory of stoichiological opposites that is, the basic triadic set of principles, which, though ontologically distinct, are, intimately related. The theory involves: (a) the subject-in-process, which is continuous throughout the process of change or the substrate matter or the potentially perceptible body, (b) the four perceptible contrarieties, hot, cold, wet, and dry, which form the prime pair of contraries of the chemical elements, and (c) the four primary, actually perceptible bodies, fire, air, water and earth, which are subject to destruction and generation, also designated by the terms: "the first bodies" "the simple bodies" and which are distinguished from the traditional, the "so-called elements".
Søren Kierkegaard se keusevryheid as invloed op die eksistensiële fenomenologie
(South African Society for Greek Philosophy and the Humanities, 1999) South African Society for Greek Philosophy and the Humanities; Duffey, K.S.
A specific analysis of the work of Søren Kierkegaard pertaining to the freedom of making choices shows that the later tradition of phenomenology and existentialism can be judged in terms of their relevance to this aspect of Kierkegaard's work. In this regard the ideas of the early founders of the discerning movements (Brentano, Husserl, Jaspers and Sartre) are examined.
Plotinus' defense of the Platonic cosmos and its demiurge
(South African Society for Greek Philosophy and the Humanities, 1999) South African Society for Greek Philosophy and the Humanities; Evangeliou, Christos
In the histories of Philosophy, Plotinus is usually portrayed as an otherworldly philosopher whose ideal was "a life taking no pleasure in the things of earth, so much so that "he seemed ashamed of being in the body." Yet, a careful reading of the Enneads and Porphyry's Vita Plotini reveals a different picture of this extraordinary man. For example, in his effort to revive Platonism and defend the Hellenic heritage in philosophy and culture, Plotinus was compelled to engage in polemics against Gnosticism which, in the circle of the philosophers, was considered to be a form of Barbarism. It is difficult for us to imagine the calm Plotinus in the role of a passionate advocate of Platonic doctrines and the Hellenic way of living in harmony with the world. Yet, that is exactly what we find in his Against the Gnostics. The purpose of this study is, through a critical examination of the above treatise and other relevant evidence, to provide an answer to the following related questions: How did the Gnostics, in Plotinus' view, use or abuse Plato? Who were these Gnostic opponents of Plotinus and why did he find it necessary to write against them himself and to instruct his students to do the same? What is the bearing of Plotinus' anti-Gnostic polemics on the problem of the relationship of Greek philosophy, and Platonism in particular, to Gnosticism as a religious movement? I shall begin with the question of the identity of Plotinus' Gnostic opponents; I shall proceed with their use and abuse of Plato in Plotinus' view; and I shall conclude with some remarks pertaining to the problem of the relationship between Platonism and Gnosticism.
The Greek Philosophers and the development of science. Will their influence also lead to the completion of science?
(South African Society for Greek Philosophy and the Humanities, 1999) South African Society for Greek Philosophy and the Humanities; Antonites, Alex J.
In this paper it will be argued that Ancient Greek Philosophy, seen from the point of view of contemporary science is not only important but also of guiding influence. Many scholars are of the opinion that science has, in many aspects, reached its final success, that the truth has already been attained and further research in all the fields of science is not deemed necessary. The best that may happen is that very small modifications may occur, but still no new substantial discoveries could in principle be made because we have reached the limits of what is to be known. What is more, is that this possible dramatic event, even though far off in time from the the Greeks, may have something important to do with them. In this respect, a few questions will come under consideration such as: Were the basic scientific guidelines that came from the Greeks, ways of thinking which led science to this high mark and end limit? Could it be claimed that the influence on science is in all aspects related to the Greeks? What about so many other cultures and technological civilizations? What would the important influence of Greek thinking be on contemporary scientific thinking? Is it really the case that the Greek influence would bring science to its completion and end? These questions immediately brings two issues to the fore a) the possibility of other technological civilizations that influenced the development of science until today and be the possible end of science. Although these two issues, are distinguishable issues, the first one is a necessary condition for the second one. The article is designed by faking this conditionality into account.

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