Academy: Difference between revisions
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"""Academy""" is a term with multiple meanings. In its original meaning (as in The Academy section below) reference was to the Athenian philosophical school associated with [[Plato]]. The term is also variously applied to contemporary schools, colleges and universities, both individually and collectively: Academe, the academy, academic (e.g., academic vs. athletic scholarships), academics, as applied to teachers and students as a group, and many other such references. Some private schools (e.g., Brookline Academy) and even organizations (e.g., [[The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences]]) incorporate the term into their names or titles. 'Academe' as a literary reference is used by Shakespeare in ''Love's Labour Lost''. | |||
==Philology== | |||
The word academy is of Greek origin, dating at least to the fourth century BCE and is a reference to the Goddess Athena, the goddess of wisdom. | |||
==The Academy== | ==The Academy== | ||
Plato's dialogues, and to a lesser extent Aristotle's writings, have conveyed to later generations an impression that the Academy was the physical location of the 'golden age' of Greek philosophy. | Plato's dialogues, and to a lesser extent Aristotle's writings, have conveyed to later generations an impression that the Academy was the physical location of the 'golden age' of Greek philosophy. While there is debate among scholars whether this notion is misleading, it is none the less influential. | ||
Physically, the Academy was a garden open to the public, six stadia outside the walls of Athens, by the side of the river Cephissus. It is supposed to have contained a sacred grove of olive trees dedicated to Athena | Physically, the Academy in Athens was a garden open to the public, six stadia outside the walls of Athens, by the side of the river Cephissus. It is supposed to have contained a sacred grove of olive trees dedicated to Athena. [[Plato]] is thought to have acquired property there around 387 BCE<ref> see, for example, http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/2615/Academy </ref> and to have taught there, together with other philosophers and aristocrats. | ||
An alternative explanation is that the term is from its being part of an estate said to have belonged to Academus. The inspiration behind the Academy however, was the school established by [[Pythagoras]] at Croton. When Plato died, leadership of the Academy was passed to his nephew Speusippus, who was later followed by Sceptics such as Arcesilaus and Carneades. With the fall of Athens in AD 88, all the buildings were destroyed. <ref> 'Essentials of Philosophy and Ethics', edited by Martin Cohen, Hodder Arnold 2006 </ref> | |||
===Heads of 'The Academy=== | |||
Plato's immediate successors as Head (or ''Diadochus'') of the Academy were [[Speusippus]] (347-339 BC - and hence ''not'' [[Aristotle]]), followed by [[Xenocrates]] (339-314 BC), Polemon (314-269 BC), Crates (ca. 269-266 BC), and Arcesilaus (ca. 266-240 BC). | Plato's immediate successors as Head (or ''Diadochus'') of the Academy were [[Speusippus]] (347-339 BC - and hence ''not'' [[Aristotle]]), followed by [[Xenocrates]] (339-314 BC), Polemon (314-269 BC), Crates (ca. 269-266 BC), and Arcesilaus (ca. 266-240 BC). | ||
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Later heads include Lacydes of Cyrene, Carneades, Clitomachus, and Philo of Larissa, considered to be the 'last undisputed head of the Academy'.<ref>The Cambridge History of Hellenistic Philosophy (Cambridge University Press, 1999), pp. 53-54</ref> | Later heads include Lacydes of Cyrene, Carneades, Clitomachus, and Philo of Larissa, considered to be the 'last undisputed head of the Academy'.<ref>The Cambridge History of Hellenistic Philosophy (Cambridge University Press, 1999), pp. 53-54</ref> | ||
In the early 5th century (c. 410) the Academy was revived by various 'Neoplatonists' | In the early 5th century (c. 410) the Academy was revived by various 'Neoplatonists' at a different location in a large house which [[Proclus]] eventually inherited from [[Plutarch]] and Syrianus. | ||
==References== | ==References== | ||
{{reflist}} | {{reflist}} | ||
Revision as of 07:29, 3 May 2021
"""Academy""" is a term with multiple meanings. In its original meaning (as in The Academy section below) reference was to the Athenian philosophical school associated with Plato. The term is also variously applied to contemporary schools, colleges and universities, both individually and collectively: Academe, the academy, academic (e.g., academic vs. athletic scholarships), academics, as applied to teachers and students as a group, and many other such references. Some private schools (e.g., Brookline Academy) and even organizations (e.g., The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences) incorporate the term into their names or titles. 'Academe' as a literary reference is used by Shakespeare in Love's Labour Lost.
Philology
The word academy is of Greek origin, dating at least to the fourth century BCE and is a reference to the Goddess Athena, the goddess of wisdom.
The Academy
Plato's dialogues, and to a lesser extent Aristotle's writings, have conveyed to later generations an impression that the Academy was the physical location of the 'golden age' of Greek philosophy. While there is debate among scholars whether this notion is misleading, it is none the less influential.
Physically, the Academy in Athens was a garden open to the public, six stadia outside the walls of Athens, by the side of the river Cephissus. It is supposed to have contained a sacred grove of olive trees dedicated to Athena. Plato is thought to have acquired property there around 387 BCE[1] and to have taught there, together with other philosophers and aristocrats.
An alternative explanation is that the term is from its being part of an estate said to have belonged to Academus. The inspiration behind the Academy however, was the school established by Pythagoras at Croton. When Plato died, leadership of the Academy was passed to his nephew Speusippus, who was later followed by Sceptics such as Arcesilaus and Carneades. With the fall of Athens in AD 88, all the buildings were destroyed. [2]
Heads of 'The Academy
Plato's immediate successors as Head (or Diadochus) of the Academy were Speusippus (347-339 BC - and hence not Aristotle), followed by Xenocrates (339-314 BC), Polemon (314-269 BC), Crates (ca. 269-266 BC), and Arcesilaus (ca. 266-240 BC).
Later heads include Lacydes of Cyrene, Carneades, Clitomachus, and Philo of Larissa, considered to be the 'last undisputed head of the Academy'.[3]
In the early 5th century (c. 410) the Academy was revived by various 'Neoplatonists' at a different location in a large house which Proclus eventually inherited from Plutarch and Syrianus.
References
- ↑ see, for example, http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/2615/Academy
- ↑ 'Essentials of Philosophy and Ethics', edited by Martin Cohen, Hodder Arnold 2006
- ↑ The Cambridge History of Hellenistic Philosophy (Cambridge University Press, 1999), pp. 53-54