Question

How did ancient egyptian and greek ideas about the human capacity for thought differ?

Answer 1

Ancient Egyptian scholarship profoundly affected Greek thought, with Greek philosophers like Plato and Pythagoras having studied in Egypt. The Egyptians had significant mathematical and metaphysical knowledge, such as the Pythagorean theorem, which likely influenced Greek advances. Greek philosophy, however, moved beyond mythology, favoring a rational approach to understanding reality, ethics, and politics.

Step-by-step explanation:

The Influence of Egyptian Scholarship on Greek Philosophy

The interactions between ancient Egyptian and Greek civilizations significantly influenced classical thought. Notably, Greek philosophers, including Plato and Pythagoras, spent time in Egypt, engaged in scholarly pursuits. Plato's lengthy stay in Heliopolis and Pythagoras's intensive studies of mathematics there suggest that key elements of Greek philosophy may have their roots in Egyptian intellectual traditions.

Distinct Philosophical Traditions

The ancient Egyptians developed sophisticated mathematical and metaphysical concepts, such as the Pythagorean theorem and Akhenaten's metaphysical ideas, long before they were expressed in Greek philosophy. While Egyptian thought was advanced in these areas, Greek philosophy marked a significant departure from mythological explanations of the world. Greek philosophers shifted the focus toward using reason to understand human behavior, establish ethical codes, and generate political theory.

Transformation of Greek Thought

Greek culture markedly evolved during the lifetimes of Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle. The transition from an oral to a literate society allowed Greek thinkers to rigorously examine and document philosophical ideas. This methodical approach led to a decline in the explanatory power of Greek mythology, which was superseded by more abstract and rational conceptions of divinity and the order of the universe.

Answer 2

One of the great differences between the Greeks and Egyptians is found in their religion and in their politics, and that defined everything about the capabilities or reaches of the people. While for the Egyptians the pharaoh and the gods were above all, and the will of the pharaoh was absolute, for the Greeks, the democracy and the opinion of the citizens was important in the Greek polis. Religion was also seen differently with respect to the human being: the Greeks believed in a dialogue or agreement with the gods, and were part of human tragedies or triumphs. For the Egyptians, the gods were omnipotent and their will could not change, and humans should always beg for their help or forgiveness. Thus the Greeks thought of the logic while for the Egyptians they always saw everything based on the magic or religion.