Philosophy: Greek & Hellenistic

By Brian Phillips The Greeks around the sixth century B.C.E. invented philosophy. The word philosophy itself derives from the greek, meaning, "love of wisdom". The Hellenistic philosophy was a manifestation of Greek influence. Although the Hellenistic literary works lacked the inspired slendor of the great Greek tradgedies, and while none of the philosophers matched the insightfulness of Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle, the Hellenistic philosophy had its own accomplishments to offer. Greek thinkers between …

…and evil, they will attain peace of mind, which is the highes satisfaction that life affords. Judged from the vantage of classical Greece, Hellenistic civilization may at first seem no more than a degenerate phase of Greek civilization. It is obvious that the works of Hellenistic philosophers could not compete with the intellectual insights derived from the classical Greeks. However, we have seen that numerous Hellenistic thinkers developed important new ideas, and imaginative new styles.