ARETE :)

            Arete, weird word right? Well the Greeks defined it as excellence of any kind. It could also be known as the act of living up to one’s full potential.

     Arete involves all abilities and potentiality available to humans. Things such as cooking and dancing are all abilities potential for greatness. Although all of the abilities are great, the highest potential is knowledge. The highest possible human knowledge is knowledge itself.

Knowledge is simply superior. Knowledge is what separates humans from dogs. For example we know we will die, while they have no care in the world. They don’t know about injustice, they don’t question, they just live their love happy dog lives.

We also had to define a few things in class:

·        Agora- a gathering place/ assembly in ancient Greece

·        Polis- a tight knit small community

·        The importance of the year 508 BC to Ancient Greece- foundations of Athenian democracy was formed

·        Socrates- a classic Greek philosopher

·        The death of Socrates- he was sentenced to death for the corruption of the youth, he drank hemlock

·        The Socratic method- based on asking and answering questions to simulate critical thinking

·        What it meant to be called an idiot in ancient Greece- you did not care about politics