Hellenistic Philosophy:

The period of western philosophy that is developed in the Hellenistic civilization is known as Hellenistic philosophy. It has started with Aristotle and ended in the beginning of Neo-Platonism. The philosophy of Plato is known as Platonism. This philosophy is maintained and developed by the followers of Plato. The core concept of the Platonism was the theory of forms which is the archetypes and the transcendent of which the objects that are in everyday world becomes the imperfect copies. The form of the Good was considered as the highest form which can eventually be known by the reason. Skepticism was adopted by Arcesilaus which has become the central tenet till 90 BCE. Skepticism was adopted in the third century and it survived till Stoic elements which are added in Antiochus started rejecting skepticism.

Later Neo-Platonism emerged changing Platonism in the third century CE. The followers of Aristotle have given the name Peripatetics to the philosophy of Aristotle which was maintained and developed by his followers.

In the fourth century BCE emerged Cynics which got an ascetic sect of philosophers starting from Antisthenes in the fourth century. It continued till the 5^th century CE. The Cynics believed in Virtue. According to the Cynics one should live a life of virtue in the agreement with Nature. This emphasize on all other conventional desires like power, wealth, fame or health and living a free life that is free from all the possessions.

Hellenistic philosophy as a whole is the name which is given to the variety of philosophical options that has flourished starting from the period of Alexander the great up to the second century CE. Greek culture was spread throughout the Mediterranean region even before the conquest of Alexander. Alexander himself was a Hellenized person which is by the influence of Aristotle.

According to Alexander the great, Hellenization is an imperial policy. He formed this notion because he firstly believed in the Greek culture as the best culture available in the world and secondly built cohesion in the fast growing dominion. In his invasions, he established a number of Greek cities which were conquered by him throughout the world. These cities were meant to be the colonial settlement centers.

Religion in the Hellenistic philosophy was again a mix-and-match. During Christ’s birth, the Jewish culture has been reshaped by the Hellenization. Though the small groups like zealots resisted the concept of colonization violently, the Herodian kings preferred the Greek culture in to the Jewish Heritage. 

Questions:

• What is Hellenistic philosophy?
• What is Hellenization according to Alexander the great?