Greek Humanism

Greek  Humanism:

The study of history shows that a systematic study of humanism as a movement started

 from ancient Greek  for about 6^th century B.C. The first notable humanists in ancient

Greek civilization were Sophsists. They raised the voices against the religious authority

of Athenian. Sophists began to think from a rational ground. In the book Western

Civilization Marrin Perry et al. observes about the humanistic role played by sophists in

ancient Greek in these words, “the western humanistic traditions owes much to the

 sophists, who examined political and ethical problems. Cultivated the minds of their

students and invented formal secular education”(71). Perry further writes,  “Sophist

 asserted that slavery was based on force or chance, the people were neither slaves nor

master by nature, and they also held that all people were fundamentally alike “(71). So,

 sophists had played a signification role in starting the humanism tradition in ancient

Greek. Protagoras (481-411 B.C.) was another person , who is known as a notable

 humanist of ancient Greek. He challenged the traditional belief of Athenians. He boldly

declared that man is the measure of all things(Perry,71). Protagoras wanted to assert

 that good and evils, truth and falsehood, were the mater of individual judgment. He

 again proclaimed that there was no universal standards that apply to all people at all

time. Protagoras attacked the traditional religions and moral values of Athenian society.

Unfortunately he was banished and his works were burnt down. Another great

 humanist of Greek time was  Socrates (469-399 B.C.). He emphasized on self

knowledge. He believed that reason was the only proper guide to the most crucial

problem of human existence. He taught that rational inquiry was a priceless tool, which

allowed  to test opinion, weigh the merits of ideas and alter belief on the base of

knowledge. Perry mention, “Socrates wanted to subject all human belief and behavior

 to the clear light of reason, and , in this way to remove ethics from the realm of

 authority, tradition, dogma superstition and myth”(73). These are just a few examples

 of the western humanists of ancient period. Individual freedom and personal dignity

 were the fundamental question raised by the ancient Greek humanists. Not only in the

 western countries but also in the eastern, there were many humanists in ancient period

 . Gautam Buddha in Nepal (563-483 B.C.). Mahavir in India (500 B.C) and  Confucius in

 China were great championists of ancient humanism. Love  and compassion for Buddha,

 external world or matter for Mahavir and morals , man and state Confucius was the

main things in their humanism.