Hippocrates (460-377 BC): Recommended curing body of ailments with rest, proper diet, exercise, fresh air, massage, and baths.

Socrates (469-399 BC): Know thyself. “The life which is unexamined is not worth living.” Sought the essence of such things as beauty, justice, and truth.

Plato (427-347 BC): Was a student of Socrates. Divided mind (pure knowledge) and body (imperfect). Sensory experience interferes with attainment of knowledge and should be avoided.

Allegory of cave: Prisoners live life in a cave chained so they can only look forward. Behind them individuals pass causing shadows from a fire. Reality to the prisoners are shadows. One prisoner escapes and after hi eyes adjust to the fire he sees the real people and objects. He then leaves the cave and goes to a world of true reality. When he goes back to the prisoners in the cave, he finds is hard to convince them of the reality that exists. The prisoners won’t listen. If he tried to lead anyone out they would be killed. People who find true knowledge find it hard to steer others away from the chains of ignorance.

Aristotle (384-322 BC): Plato’s student. The way to find principles is to examine nature. All things have a purpose. Humans have appetites like animals. Human rationality should be used to control appetites. The best life is lived in accordance with the golden mean (a life of moderation). He had a great influence on Christianity. Believed the unmoved mover caused everything in the world but was not itself caused.