The flourishing of Greek thought during its heyday was so profound in its effect on cultural understanding and western society that many of the traditions and values it established are still very relevant today. Most of these advances were made in areas of the mind, as fitting of Athens’s reputation of being an artistic and philosophical hub during its most productive period. This is where these ideas came into their own, although many of their groundworks were laid out in early periods of the civilization. These include, but are not limited to, rationalism, humanism, the development of political forms, poetry, drama, and the historical method.
The roots of some of the most pervasive schools of thought in the western tradition – humanism and rationalism – can be seen in the conflict between several prolific philosophers. The heart of the dispute is found in a fierce debate over the merits of democracy as a form of government. Plato, the disciple of Socrates, makes a rational argument against democracy in which he turns what is generally praised about democracy and makes it into an insult. This can be seen in the textbook when he calls it “a charming form of government, full of variety and disorder, and dispensing a sort of equality to equals and unequals alike.” Through taking an argument for Democracy, which is typified by fairness and equality, and turning it against itself, he makes a strong, rational argument based on logical inferences. On the other hand, there is Pericles and his defense of Democracy as a righteous institution. His argument essentially just states various praises of the the institution, but it takes a more logical and rational turn when he talks about “if we prefer to meet danger with a light heart but without laborious training, and with a courage which is gained by habit and not enforced by law, are we not greatly the gainers?” Despite the discrepancies in each of their viewpoints, both men are working for the good of the people. This can be seen through Aristotle and his more relativist outlook on politics. He says that “Every state is a community of some kind, and every community is established with a view of some good; for mankind always act in order to obtain that which they think is good.” In this quote Aristotle makes a very statement, asserting that regardless the method, all people are striving towards their understanding of what is good. This is a concept that continues on through western thought for centuries to come.
The greeks contributed many methods of government to the annals of history, ranging from absolute monarchy and dictatorship to a full fledged democracy. No system was without its faults, but the greeks acted in many ways as a crash-test dummy for political experimentation, trying one method, then moving to the next. Evidence for their discoveries of these nature can be seen in many of the primary documents in Uncle Shermie, which tell the story of the growth and development of the amalgamation of city states. For a period in the early days of Greece, it was dominated by Aristocracies, before making the transition to tyrants who claimed to be fighting for the will of the people. This change is evidenced by a poem from Theognis of Megara, an aristocrat who was exiled during this period: “Court not a tyrant’s favor, nor combine / To further his iniquitous design.” This clearly anti-tyrant sentiment appears as a warning towards the common folk of the state. Around the same time as Theognis and the development of tyrants, Sparta was developing into a state that resembled the fascist ideals that appeared in places like Germany and Italy in the early 20th century. This can be seen in the writings of Xenophon regarding its functioning, with values placed on strength: “He insisted on the training of the body as incumbent,” compliance: “they pride themselves on their humility, and on a prompt obedience,” and the indoctrination of children from a young age: “he set over the young Spartans a public guardian… with complete authority over them.” Greece made possibly its most relevant contribution to western governments with the more liberal Athenian democracy, setting the stage for the most popular form of government in our time. Pericles sings its praises in this speech, outlining its function, “for the administration is in the hands of the many and not the few.”
Delving now into the more artistic and interpretive side of Grecian influence; the effect the greeks had on storytelling was astounding, both from the perspective of Drama and Poetry, and through the more secular craft of recording history. The ancient Greeks were some of the first to develop drama, and held various plays at festivals throughout the year. One such play by Sophocles is a tragedy detailing the life of Antigone, and in this particular excerpt relates to her struggle in calling for a proper burial of her brother Polyneices, who had attempted to take over the city. In the excerpt, Creon, the King of the Thebes is making his argument against the burial, stating that, “A man who rules a state and will not steer the wisest course … and if any holds a friend of more account than his own city, I scorn him.” In saying this he is asserting that Antigone’s claims to her brother’s burial contradict the laws of the city, and thus it is the wrong course of action, although looking at it from a religious standpoint would imply otherwise. The conflict seen here is both an emotional and intellectual one, as it shows the emotional reactions to a brother’s death, as well as the difficulty that appears when the religious or moral obligations of an individual clash with the social interests of the society. Poems were also employed by the Greeks to summon emotional response and tell stories, such as the Iliad, which outlines the Trojan war. However, as Greek society progressed more accurate forms of recording history were developed, forefronted by the first historians, such as Herodotus, or in this case, Thucydides. One quote from the textbook by Thucydides establishes just how sophisticated his method for recording history was: “(The Historian) must not be misled by the exaggerated fancies of the poets, or by the tales of chroniclers who seek to please the ear rather than the truth.” Through this we can see the development of Greek society and their understanding of history, viewing it from a more secular standpoint, resulting in a tradition of learning and thought that remains relevant today.
The greeks were pioneers of many concepts and ideas that are now heavily associated with the western tradition, such as Rational and Humanist ideals, Political forms, poetry, drama, and a high standard for accuracy in recorded history. Rationalism and Humanism are certainly needed in today’s world, given the seeming lack of both in a particular orange presidential candidate this election cycle. The political forms that were established by the greeks still remain very relevant, as the most powerful country in the world utilizes a system derivative of Athenian democracy. The arts, poetry and drama included, are always important, regardless of time or place for their intrinsic value towards a fulfilled life, and history remains hugely influential on the way people shape their opinions and actions towards various cultural stimuli.