Donald Robertson

But also he took the method of dialectic or philosophical question and answer, turned it into his own trademark method called the Socratic method, and really began to much more radically and thoroughly question the assumptions about morality, mainly, that people around him were making. And that made him a controversial figure, He was like dynamite.

But also he took the method of dialectic or philosophical question and answer, turned it into his own trademark method called the Socratic method, and really began to much more radically and thoroughly question the assumptions about morality, mainly, that people around him were making. And that made him a controversial figure, He was like dynamite.

But also he took the method of dialectic or philosophical question and answer, turned it into his own trademark method called the Socratic method, and really began to much more radically and thoroughly question the assumptions about morality, mainly, that people around him were making. And that made him a controversial figure, He was like dynamite.

Some people were almost addicted to being questioned by Socrates. They found it an incredibly liberating experience. Other people found it embarrassing, humiliating, and they hated him, and they went after him. So it wouldn't be overly simplifying things to say that Socrates asked too many questions, rocked the boat, upset some powerful people, and we all know how that ended for him.

Some people were almost addicted to being questioned by Socrates. They found it an incredibly liberating experience. Other people found it embarrassing, humiliating, and they hated him, and they went after him. So it wouldn't be overly simplifying things to say that Socrates asked too many questions, rocked the boat, upset some powerful people, and we all know how that ended for him.

Some people were almost addicted to being questioned by Socrates. They found it an incredibly liberating experience. Other people found it embarrassing, humiliating, and they hated him, and they went after him. So it wouldn't be overly simplifying things to say that Socrates asked too many questions, rocked the boat, upset some powerful people, and we all know how that ended for him.

He was made to drink hemlock.

He was made to drink hemlock.

He was made to drink hemlock.

Well, the two main philosophical traditions that preceded him, and there were others, so it's a little bit more complex, but the ones that are most relevant to him is the first philosopher at Athens was a guy called Anaxagoras, who came from the Greek colonies, which would be in Ionia, which would be on the coast of Turkey, basically.

Well, the two main philosophical traditions that preceded him, and there were others, so it's a little bit more complex, but the ones that are most relevant to him is the first philosopher at Athens was a guy called Anaxagoras, who came from the Greek colonies, which would be in Ionia, which would be on the coast of Turkey, basically.

Well, the two main philosophical traditions that preceded him, and there were others, so it's a little bit more complex, but the ones that are most relevant to him is the first philosopher at Athens was a guy called Anaxagoras, who came from the Greek colonies, which would be in Ionia, which would be on the coast of Turkey, basically.

So when we talk about Greek philosophers, we're often a bit confused about where they came from. They didn't all come from Athens. Many of them came from Greek colonies that were much further afield. So, Anaxagoras was what we call a natural philosopher. The famous thing about Socrates is we refer to everyone that came before him as pre-Socratic. That's how influential he was.

So when we talk about Greek philosophers, we're often a bit confused about where they came from. They didn't all come from Athens. Many of them came from Greek colonies that were much further afield. So, Anaxagoras was what we call a natural philosopher. The famous thing about Socrates is we refer to everyone that came before him as pre-Socratic. That's how influential he was.

So when we talk about Greek philosophers, we're often a bit confused about where they came from. They didn't all come from Athens. Many of them came from Greek colonies that were much further afield. So, Anaxagoras was what we call a natural philosopher. The famous thing about Socrates is we refer to everyone that came before him as pre-Socratic. That's how influential he was.

Yeah, he's the before Christ. He's the before Christ of philosophy. Yeah. So the natural philosophers are kind of, in many ways, precursors of modern science. They try to explain things, broadly speaking, using physical descriptions. They were very interested in astronomy, very interested in physiology. And that was a great thing for Athenian culture and Greek culture.

Yeah, he's the before Christ. He's the before Christ of philosophy. Yeah. So the natural philosophers are kind of, in many ways, precursors of modern science. They try to explain things, broadly speaking, using physical descriptions. They were very interested in astronomy, very interested in physiology. And that was a great thing for Athenian culture and Greek culture.

Yeah, he's the before Christ. He's the before Christ of philosophy. Yeah. So the natural philosophers are kind of, in many ways, precursors of modern science. They try to explain things, broadly speaking, using physical descriptions. They were very interested in astronomy, very interested in physiology. And that was a great thing for Athenian culture and Greek culture.

It was also very controversial because they challenged traditional superstitions. So people would think that thunder and lightning was caused by Zeus and the natural philosopher said, we reckon it's caused by clouds rubbing together or something like that. You know, earthquakes are just a natural phenomenon and things. And that had a surprisingly big impact on society.

It was also very controversial because they challenged traditional superstitions. So people would think that thunder and lightning was caused by Zeus and the natural philosopher said, we reckon it's caused by clouds rubbing together or something like that. You know, earthquakes are just a natural phenomenon and things. And that had a surprisingly big impact on society.