Lost and Found or the Neglected Heritage

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Philosophy, as seen by the ancient Greek philosophers, was an attempt to understand our world and the cosmos in a rational manner, without reference to gods or to religion in general. They had recognized from the outset, that faith based systems of religion were irreconcilable with philosophical thinking. This approach to living contrasted with everything preceding it in the world. The philosopher encouraged discussion of his theories and of their pertinence their ideas, are still today worthy of our closest attention. After putting the ancient Greeks in a fl eeting historical context, by considering the period called the "Age of Pericles and Alexander" and its monumental flowering in philosophy, architecture, literature, democracy, etc, we look briefl y at the progression and teaching of the founders of the main schools of philosophy. We fi nd that their teachings had also a practical orientation in that they provided a basis for a "way of living", aiming at social harmony. It is high time that this be re-discovered.