2007-03-26 16:22:34 · 8 answers · asked by lukedog_bball4 1 in Arts & Humanities ➔ Philosophy
Isn't amazing how old and new philosophers compare much like inventions and advancements in technology?
Old philosophers made very general, but unique and totally new claims and discoveries that shook the world. Today, small, specific enhancements and realizations are more common then paradigm shifting, earth shattering revelations.
2007-03-26 16:33:49 · answer #1 · answered by Mike V 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
While both ancient and modern philosophers deal with many of the same issues, in many ways, science has replaced philosophy in dealing with issues of the nature of reality, existence and even being human. Psychology, too, has taken over some of the realm of philosophy. Now, it is rare to find philosophers...I believe the overlap between quantum physics and philosophy represents the new "modern" philosophers.
2007-03-26 23:47:31 · answer #2 · answered by Gretta 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
the difference to me seems more and more to be answered with one word (that holds a lot more than one word's information): christianity.
the notion of "doing wrong" or "blame" or "fault" in ethics is brand new to the christian world -- aristotle talks only of "how people normally do things" and "which way is best" but would never even think to ask "is it right to punish the innocent to set an example for the wicked" (as in Sidgewick and other utilitarians)... there is no "desert" of praise or blame in the same sense in Plato/Aristotle that there is in Kant's groundwork --
the difference, with ethics at least, between ancients and moderns, is the cause of philosophical thought --- with the former, "all philosophy begins with wonder" --- and with the latter, the question philosophy asks is "what ought I do?"
of course, the biggest difference that is difficult to see since it's so big is --
all of science and medicine and biology etc used to be called "philosophy"... soooo... lol
that's a big change.
even as late as the late 1700's and early 1800's what we call science was called "natural philosophy"
2007-03-26 23:29:16 · answer #3 · answered by Steve C 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well if by ancient philosophers you mean the presocratics, then there is quite a topic difference. The presocratics were interested primarily in explaining the natural world, what things are made of, are there many things, only one thing, is motion (change) possible or not. It was not till Socrates that philosophy really concerned itself with mankind and issues like learning, motivation and morality.
2007-03-26 23:54:30 · answer #4 · answered by K 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Actually I find that ancient and modern philosophers seek to answer the smae questions.
2007-03-26 23:29:00 · answer #5 · answered by anonymous 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
As our knowledge as a specie increases and our understanding deepens, we seek to re-answer the questions that plague us - more fully. We not only seek the answers to ancient questions, but learn to ask questions not previously asked.
2007-03-26 23:40:09 · answer #6 · answered by Sophist 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
All the same things are being asked and pondered.... sadly. We "modern" and supposedly "advanced" versions are still wallowing in the mire.
2007-03-30 22:31:59 · answer #7 · answered by Izen G 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
As far as general knowledge, quite inferior. As for ability to reason, about equal.
2007-03-26 23:26:32 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋