How Did The Ancient Greeks Influenced Today?

Humans are curious beings that want to know the why and how of something. Humans challenge authority and strive to be better by asking questions such as what is right and wrong? Should some rule over everything? Do people decide their own fate? What is beauty? Many other questions have been asked and are still being asked today, but probably the most important question is how did all these questions start? The Ancient Greeks are the foundation of philosophical thoughts, they were the first; all that is pondered today can be traced back to them. Through drama and philosophy the Greeks started asking big questions that began to change the world around them and influence the world to come.

Movies and plays of today are designed to entertain.

One goes to the movies to be thrilled or inspired, but underneath everything one initially sees is a complex idea that challenges a particular view. Every form of entertainment today has an underlying meaning; a theme, which was started by Greek drama. The ancient Greeks plays were not created for entertainment they were “…used to educate citizen…” and challenge people to think (Spielvogel 77). The plays were usually about myths so everyone already knew what was going on and the stage and actors were humbly designed. Greek plays were not extravagant; they were simple in design so the audience could focus on the important parts. Sadly, out of the many plays that were written only thirty three plays are still in existence, but those have provided plenty of information. Some of the important tragedy playwrights were Aeschylus, Sophocles, and Euripides; these men directed their tragedies so they could challenge problems of the day. They brought up issues of “…the nature of good and evil, the conflict between spiritual values and the demands of state or family, the rights of the individual…” and many more were addressed in their plays (Spielvogel 78). Through the simplicity of the Greek’s drama productions the audience could ponder issues and start asking questions of their own, proving that humans are free thinking individuals.
Philosophy was a different matter, instead of thinking about one thing and its opposite, like the plays, philosophy thought of the complex matters that did not really have a direct answer. Philosophy means the “love of wisdom” and the three famous philosophers, Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle, definitely lived up to this motto. During the beginning of philosophy, the Greeks focused on understanding “… the nature of the universe…” but as time went on philosophers thought it would be more important to think on how “…individuals (can) improve themselves…” (Spielvogel 80). Socrates’ Socratic Method was used by philosophers to come to answers which led to new questions and answers, this shows how the Greek philosophers sought to improve humanity. Plato, a student of Socrates, focused on ideas which to him were truth. Many of his thoughts and findings are written down for people to still ponder on today. Through Socrates and Plato ancient Greeks could have a better understanding of the world they lived in.
Greek drama and philosophy has showed me how people began to understand the world. Thoughts began to form, questions arose, and movements were made by Greeks challenging a traditional viewpoint. The actions of the Greeks gives me hope that I can make a difference in the world by saying the things no one wants to and daring to make points that go against the status quo. If three Greek philosophers and playwrights can change the world by merely speaking their minds, then so can I.
Overtime, people have made innovations that have completely changed human life because as humans we are constantly seeking to improve ourselves. The idea of improvement started with the Greeks, they asked the big questions that got us where we are today. The birthplace of ideas was in Greece, they started thinking things that people still struggle with today. Drama and Philosophy allowed the Greeks to start thinking outside of the cave and it set the stage for people and thoughts to come.