Role of Philosophy in Ancient Greece Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Role of Philosophy in Ancient Greece - Essay Example Although Greece prospered as a superpower, its iron-fisted rule caused frustration and discontentment. The teachings and admonition of Homer, Hesiod, and other philosophers, thinkers, and other men of renown had an impact although they were neither taken seriously nor officially acknowledged. It would be incorrect to say that they were totally and exclusively rejected. However, at best, the ruling class’ opinion was divided. Thus, a conscientious section among learned men of the times deemed it necessary to invoke the gods, goddesses, the consequences of evil, and the trysts and involvement of the divine beings with the lives and affairs of men. They exhorted the people in the name of their god, Zeus, and other gods including the deathless gods, that these great divine beings hated violence and injustice. Ancient inscriptions, texts and another archaeological evidence point to the greatness of the empire, its height of power, corruption, and decline, and ultimate albeit temporary demise in the times of Hesiod. The empire was to resurrect a few centuries later. The political, economic, social and administrative structure of the great monolith was so powerful and wielded such influence that there was no way it could not find its way back. Those who recorded the decrees and events and the architects and sculptors who designed city and town structures conformed to the best information and technology available at that time. They did so under duress. However, the system was near perfect and all-pervasive to the extent it left no stone unturned in ensuring a feasible, time and motion-based planning and execution. The execution of administration itself was ruthless enough to quell insubordination. Obviously, the Greek rulers had in place some form of reward and punishment system in place to spur performance and forbid failure.