TITLE:
Freedom and Destiny in Ancient Greek Thought: Some Footnotes for Contemporary Scientific Research and Education
AUTHORS:
Moïra Anne Müller
KEYWORDS:
Scientific Deliberation, Practical Wisdom, Ancient Greek Philosophy, Ethics, Personal Freedom, Determination
JOURNAL NAME:
Advances in Historical Studies,
Vol.5 No.1,
February
17,
2016
ABSTRACT: In the history of thought it has been common to inquire about the relation between personal
freedom and necessity. The question of self-determination and self-sufficiency was an essential
question for the ancient philosophers and poets in their enquiries about how to live a good life. In
this paper we will discuss the ancient Greek interpretation of freedom and its collateral of responsibility.
This will bring us to three important questions for scientific research and education: 1)
Are scientific deliberation and practical wisdom exclusive skills? 2) Is the will an unneeded faculty
of the soul? 3) Is the katharsis a footnote for the lucid and robust contemporary state of mind?