Terms and Concepts to Remember about
Hellenism and Hellenistic Philosophy
See Sophie's World, pages 121-139


Hellenism
  • Alexander the Great (356-323 BCE)
  • Hellenism
  • Late Antiquity (What does the term mean?)
  • Syncretism
  • Growing Concern with "Salvation"
  • Alexandria
  • New focus on Ethics

Hellenistic Philosophical Movements
  • The Cynics
    • Antisthenes (c. 400 BCE)
    • Focus on independence from physical and social concerns
    • Diogenes
    • Change in the meaning of "Cynic" ("cynical," "cynicism")
  • The Stoics
    • Zeno (c. 300 BCE)
    • logos
    • Natural Law
    • Monism
    • Strong interest in Politics
    • Marcus Aurelius (121-180 CE)
    • Cicero (106-143 BCE)
    • Humanism
    • Seneca (4 BCE-65 CE)
  • The Epicureans
    • Different Interpretation of Socrates from that of the Cynics and Stoics
    • Aristippus
    • Epicurus (341-270 BCE)
    • Epicurean School (c. 300 BCE)
    • Endebtedness to both Aristippus and Democritus
    • Pleasure-Pain Calculus (Weighing the probable consequences of an action)
    • The Four "Medicinal Herbs"
    • Lack of interest in politics and community
    • Late (Roman) Epicureanism
  • Neoplatonism
    • Plotinus (c. 205-270 CE)
    • "Salvation"
    • Body/Soul Dualism
    • Light/Dark Polarity
    • "The One"
    • Mystical Experience
  • Mysticism
    • Cosmic Spirit
    • Angelus Silesius (1624-1677)
    • Western Mysticism (How is it different from Eastern Mysticism?)
    • Eastern Mysticsim (How is it different from Western Mysticism?)
    • Swami Vivekenanda (Who was he? What did he say?)
    • Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan (Who was he? What did he say?)