Did Ancient Greek Search For Truth Have Anything to Do with Ethics?

[mojobadshah]

I take it the search for truth among Greek philosophers begun with Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle, but what I'm wondering is were there any ethical reasons behind it? Like did they believe it would make them better people?

 

[c0de]

I take it the search for truth among Greek philosophers begun with Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle,

Parmenides, Pythagoras & Xenophanes came before Socrates

but what I'm wondering is were there any ethical reasons behind it? Like did they believe it would make them better people?

Aristotle wrote books on ethics specifically

 

[mojobadshah]

Parmenides, Pythagoras & Xenophanes came before Socrates

Well, did any of these or latter Greek philosophers believe that telling the truth would make the world a better place? Secondly, where did their motivation to know the truth stem from?

 

[Eclectic Mystic]

Well, did any of these or latter Greek philosophers believe that telling the truth would make the world a better place? Secondly, where did their motivation to know the truth stem from?

Socrates and Plato were critical of the sophists, who did not believe in telling the truth and were not philosophers. The philosophy practiced by Parmenides, Pythagoras & Xenophanes was being undermined at this time by the sophists.

I believe that many of the Greek philosophers would argue that the motivation to know the truth is inherent in knowing the truth, and thus does not require any other motivations.

 

[c0de]

Well, did any of these or latter Greek philosophers believe that telling the truth would make the world a better place?

To put it simply, yes.

But before you can tell the truth, you have to know what it (or "being" or "truth") is. The Greeks were mostly concerned with that in the beginning.

Secondly, where did their motivation to know the truth stem from?

Depends on the philosophy of particular philosophers.

Aristotle, for example, as far as I remember (I might be mixing this up) thought being good is a purpose that should be realized. Anyone or anything that is not fulfilling its purpose, is thus failing at becoming.

 

[Thomas]

I think most of the philosophers thought truth was transformative, and began the process of self-transformation as part of the practice of aspiring to the true.

God bless,

Thomas

 

[China Cat Sunflower]

I think most of the philosophers thought truth was transformative, and began the process of self-transformation as part of the practice of aspiring to the true.

God bless,

Thomas

To wit: The Cynics, Stoics, Epicureans et al.

Chris