A return to the high ethic of the Ionian Greek Culture
©Shawn Murphy,
It took nearly 2000 years[2] for the physical sciences to return to the level of knowledge of the physical world known to the Ionians, recovering from the suppression that started with
Especially in an age with both nuclear weapons and gene manipulation, such an all-encompassing Ideal embraced by government, the scientific community, the business community and the general population is desperately needed. The Ionian Ideal motivates people to pursue a virtuous life in lieu of an unscrupulous one. It provides the needed logical and reasonable explanation that only the highest ethical stand is acceptable.
The strides made in the last 400 years in the physical sciences are fantastic[6]. After having been freed from the control of the church, science has been able to help us understand the “how?” of our world. But a highly developed philosophy is required to complement this growing scientific knowledge in order to be able to present a meaningful “why?” to mankind. Starting from the newly discovered understanding of the Ionian culture[7] can help us to form the basis of a philosophy worthy of explaining the great discoveries of science and bringing their meaning into the larger picture of our world.
Let us look at one example where a greater understanding is desperately needed today. A pure mathematical view of the identical twin studies done throughout the last decades has shown that at least five independent variables are required to define the statistical variances found in human behavior and chronic disease[8]. Modern medicine only recognizes 2 of these 5 required variables: genetics and environment. A complete lack of understanding and acceptance of the missing three factors is responsible for modern medicine’s lack of successful treatment of emotional and mental disorders, as well as chronic disease. This was not the case in the Ionian culture because their philosophy helped them understand the three other “soft” factors currently overlooked by modern medicine[9].
The benefits this Ideal brings are many, but I have just listed a few.
Like many “Great” figures of history, a true understanding Socrates has faded over time. Recent researchers have carefully applied the scientific method in order to present a number of these important figures in a new light: that of their contemporaries[10]. The pictures that emerge are exciting, and present our society with perfect role models.
Socrates placed his highest value on teaching people to use their reason in all walks of life. Only through reason can man come to higher knowledge and ethic. He spent his life seeking goodness, truth and beauty while remaining true to his virtues of modesty and self-knowledge. One can see, with these noble requirements for the true philosophy, how philosophy became fragmented over time. Understanding the true philosophy requires strict pursuit of the highest ethical standard.
For many years, Plato’s dialogs were thought to have been fictitious, but they were not. A better understanding[11] of the Ionian culture has shown us how professional journalists of the time were motivated to stenograph[12] the discussions of the best-known personalities. This allowed him the greatest possible circulation for the published work. Plato’s motivations were nobler, but his tactics were the same. He wanted to thank his teacher of 30 years by making sure that Socrates’ words and lessons lived on.
Knowing now that real people were involved in the dialogs, it is possible to achieve great insight into the various philosophical differences that existed within the Greek culture. It is also amazing to see Socrates in action as a teacher. He was really too modest and too wise to stand up and preach his ideas to others. Rather he used his wisdom, reason and humor to help his opponent see the truth for himself. He did this by asking thought provoking, exacting questions and only accepting exact answers.
Today, people tend to view the Greeks as one people and do not recognize the internal struggle that continually existed between the Ionians and the Dorians[13]. But during the time of Socrates, he knew exactly who belonged to which camp. In Plato’s dialogs, he allows both the Ionians and the Dorians fully express their opinions, allowing the reader to see the very basic differences in the two group’s view of the world. Below is a list of the typical traits of these two opposing ends of the Greek culture.
Ionian[14] | Dorian[15] |
Settlers | Conquerors |
Builders | Takers |
Democracy | Monarchy (Tyranny) |
Wisdom | Power |
Love | Lust |
Spiritual (Music, Art, Poetry) | Material ( |
Freedom | Slavery |
Reason | Mystery |
Truth | Dogma |
Sexual Equality | Male-Dominance |
Respect | Sarcasm |
“There is no one to whom history has nothing important to teach.”[24]
A broad adaptation of the Ionian Ideal will put an end to the monotonous repetition of social and humanitarian disasters, and show that the best route for mankind is only to pursue the highest ethic. By using the systematic methods given to us by Socrates and Galileo, we need to examine history. Only by understanding a person’s philosophy and their personal motives are we able to determine whether our children should be given them as personal idols or as negative examples. The current non-judgmental view towards historical figures leaves open the opportunity for every generation to pursue these same negative virtues with materialistic short-term rewards. We must show our children, in a logical and reasonable form, how the behavior of various historical individuals has impacted mankind, both positively[25] and negatively[26]. Not only showing them how much a single individual can contribute to society, but also giving them the needed tools to interpret their current environment and to make their own impact.
More than 250 years ago, Sir William Jones discovered the relationship between the Indo-European languages that led to the linguistic hypothesis that all peoples of
When looking at the early history of this area, a clear picture emerges of two totally different types of societies: those who settled and cultivated the land (Celts) and those who conquered it (Kaukasiern). The characteristics of these two types of peoples were described above, and the roots of all peoples can be traced back to these two basic and very different lifestyles and philosophies. When looking back into history, it is the ancestors of the Celts that are hardest to find because their societies did not leave behind many monuments, certainly none as big as could have been built with slave labor.
When looking at history it is important to understand which philosophy one is studying. The following points need to be considered.
Requirements for achieving the Ionian Ideal
Only by fulfilling all of the following is it able to re-achieve the high level of understanding of all areas of studies and life.
· A complete scientific understanding – One that explains not only “how’s” the physical world, but attempts to answer the “why’s” of our entire world.
· A schooled reason – In conjunction with the use of reason in every aspect of life, an exact thinking is also a requirement. Socrates said that mathematical studies help us to find the pure reason.[30]
· The use of the scientific method in all areas of study, not just science.
· High ethical standards and pursuit of virtues – For Socrates and Plato, a high ethical standard played a central role in their scientific and philosophical research.[31]
In Origenes’[32] “First Principles” he recommends starting with an observation of nature to form a basis for all areas of research. He particularly recommended that everyone use logic and reason to understand the vast differences; in character, fate, and even body structure; between individuals and groups.
It would be a very noble goal for a school to attempt to provide its students with a framework in which they are able to understand and analyze every situation that await them in life. It may be too much to ask that all children achieve this goal, but it would be infinity satisfying to be able to see one child approach the level reached by Socrates or Plato.
[1] The Goth’s and the Celt’s shared this ethic, but they did not leave the literary wealth of the Ionian’s.
[2] It was common knowledge at the height of the Ionian culture (7th to 5th Century BC) that the Earth is round and that the Sun is at the center of the Solar System, which was in conflict with the Aristotelian view adopted by the church 700 years after Aristotle’s death.
[3] Galileo Galilee (1564 to 1642) founded the modern scientific method. In order to do so, he had to leave the university, which was teaching Aristotle’s dogmatic view of the world, and go back to the teachings of Euclid and Archimedes. While being a devout believer, he was still brought before the “holy inquisition” for his rediscovery of the sun’s central position in the solar system. His work was built on the foundations created by Nicolas Copernicus, to whom this revolution is named after.
[4] Through the writings of Plato, we are able to get a taste of the high ethical level reached by the likes of Socrates. His dialogs do not give the typical one-sided view, but rather he allows his enemies the ability to voice their entire opinion. They allow the deep thinking reader the ability to see each of the speaker’s true spirit.
[5] Philosophy: 1. the branch of knowledge or academic study devoted to the systematic examination of basic concepts such as truth, existence, reality, causality, and freedom; 2. a particular system of thought or doctrine; 3. a set of basic principles or concepts underlying a particular sphere of knowledge; 4. a precept, or set of precepts, beliefs, principles, or aims, underlying somebody’s practice or conduct; 5.restraint, resignation, or calmness and rationality in a person’s behavior or response to events; 6.the branch of learning that includes the liberal arts and sciences and excludes medicine, law, and theology (archaic). (Encarta® World English Dictionary © 1999 Microsoft Corporation.)
[6] Science has rapidly developed after the dark ages, but medical, emotional, spiritual and ethical development has not kept pace.
[7] The Ionian culture was a democracy built on equal rights for all. They valued the high virtues of modesty, generosity, patience, and charity and their philosophy teaches the requirement for only pursing them. Art and music were a part of everyday life, where the laws were sung to the people so that they went deep into their hearts.
[8] Abstract of “Updated Model for Human Behavior”: The current model used in research for all walks of medicine has only two independent factors: genetics and environment. This simple model breaks down quickly when looking at identical twin studies, especially the study of infant twins since both variables are equal. We have been analyzing the data collected from various identical twin studies in order to find a more robust causality model for both non-hereditary disease and behavior in humans. The model that we are currently testing has three additional independent factors. These have been hypothesized in order to describe the pattern found in all behavioral research data. Non-hereditary disease occurrence data fits well into this more robust model, and study of this data may also bring with a better understanding of a possible sixth factor needed to fully explain human behavior and disease.
[9] See also Heal Thyself, Dr. Edward Bach
[10] How can it be that people who, with no personal motives, provided a great service to mankind? A study of the case of Ludwig von Beethoven exemplifies the mechanism used to turn a truly great person into a highly questionable eccentric. But, since we still have access to so much information about Beethoven, it is possible today for the careful researcher to rediscover the true genius and soul of the man who left mankind with his timeless works. Jeanne d’Arc is another such case whose truly heroic efforts have been overshadowed the personal opinion of individual writers. Taking a close look of what their contemporaries had to say about them quickly erases these false personal opinions.
[11] Museion 2000, 3/1999 page 39
[12] Journalists carried with them wax sheets on which they could quickly write every word of the discussion in their own shorthand.
[13] Dorians: A Greek people who took their name from Dorus, son of Hellen. They came from north or northwest and invaded
[14] The most prominent Ionians were: Homer, Socrates, Pythagoras, Euripides, Euclid, Archimedes, Hesoid, Origenes, Didymos
[15] Examples of Dorians: Pausanias, Aristotle
[16] For the Ionians, the Earth was not the real home of man, but rather a testing and learning ground enabling him to relearn the Olympian laws, making Olympian virtues his own again after having lost them during his fall into Hades. They believed that they would continue to return to Earth until they had fully achieved this goal. Therefore, the Ionians followed the teachings of nine daughters of Zeus and especially the Olympian Eros; next to Zeus the most good and beautiful of all the gods of
[17] Pausanias was a Dorian aristocrat from
[18] As Professor John Nash has recently shown, a competitive environment, in which everyone does what is best for themselves and simultaneously the best for others, is far more efficient and stable than the Friedman model. This model implies that justice is superior to chaos, matching the Ionian Ideal, which is reflected both in history and nature.
[19] Johann Heinrich Pestalozzi, born in 1746, said: “The most important basis required for his future development a child’s emotional support.” This was recently confirmed by modern research and published by Daniel Goleman in “Emotional Intelligence” in 1997.
[20] It is amazing today how many parents and teachers violate this basic rule. Once the child finds out if one thing they were taught was false, they begin to question everything taught to them by that person.
[21] These include Max Planck, Albert Einstein, Niels Bohr, Werner Heisenberg, and Wolfgang Pauli. Erwin Schoedinger (Nobel Prize for Physics) wrote “Nature and the Greeks”.
[22] Emotional Intelligence, Daniel Goleman 1997
[23] Einstein said that radioactive decay is deterministic, just like all other physical events defined since Galileo, but that we are presently unable to calculate it. The scientific community was not ready to recognize a currently immeasurable form of energy required to explain the deterministic model.
[24] From Friedrich Schiller’s exceptional academic speech at the
[25] Florence Nightingale (founder of nursing), Johann Heinrich Pestalozzi (social reformer), Berthe Morisot (co-founder of impressionism), Maria Sibylla Merian (natural researcher and artist), Ellen Key (author of “Century of the Child”), Henry Dunant (founder of the Red Cross), John Boyd Orr (founder of FAO and recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize), Albert Schweitzer (humanitarian and doctor) Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm (linguistics and fairytales)
[26] Constantine the Great, Justinian, Julius Caesar, Napoleon Bonaparte, Richard Wagner
[27] While the Ionians mourned the deaths of their enemies,
[29] The Ionians did also create fine structures, but the photo below exemplifies the materialistic view of the Dorians. They thought that Ionian temple (small building to the far left) was not big enough for their god Athena, so they built one that they thought was fitting of their god. (Picture source: ABZ Verlag
[30] The Republic 521-541, Plato
[31] The Republic 485, Plato
[32] Origenes was one of the last great teachers of the Ionian culture at the school in
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Citable publication date: 28 October, 2002
Page last updated on 10 January, 2005