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 Posted - 10/12/2009 : 16:12:53
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ANCIENT GREECE'S CONTRIBUTIONS TO PSYCHIATRY
This lecture will explore some amazing psychological insights that the Ancient Greeks made centuries before the birth of Christ.
For example, modern Cognitive Behavioral Therapy is almost identical to Stoicism, a school of philosophy founded in Athens by Zeno of Citium in the early 3rd century BC.
However, before we discuss Stoicism, I would like to go back to the very first ideas that the Ancient Greeks had about the creation of the universe.
Phil Long MD
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Posted - 10/12/2009 : 16:36:19
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CREATION OF THE UNIVERSE
Before Creation, There Was Chaos
Chaos, God Of Nothingness And Destruction
The Ancient Greeks were the first civilization to believe in the "Big Bang" theory of the creation of the universe.
They believed that originally the universe was totally without form, and was in a state of complete choas. At this stage, the universe was Nothing, Nowhere, and Timeless.
The Beginning Of Time
The Ancient Greeks believed that there was a moment of creation (like our "Big Bang" theory) that marked the beginning of Time.
The Ancient Greeks believed that Time was much more than a physical dimension. The Ancient Greeks personified Time and believed him to be a god called Chronos, or Father Time. Chronos was the god of Creation; he brought order out of chaos. The Ancient Greeks developed a deep respect for Father Time, and they believed that Chronos was a god that directed their lives.
Chronos, God Of Creation, Father Time
Time As A Personal God
The Ancient Greeks literally saw "Father Time" as their Heavenly Father; The Creator; the source of peace, order and social harmony. They believed that:
- Time was merciful ("Time heals")
- Time was wise ("Time teaches all things ... Time will tell")
- Time was honest ("Time trusted")
- Time was determined ("Time marches on")
However, The Ancient Greeks were very aware of the negative aspects of Time:
- Life is short ("Time flies") [hence Father Time was shown as having wings]
- Time eventually kills us ("His time has come") [hence Father Time was shown as having a scythe to harvest/terminate life]
Chronos vs. Chaos
God Of Destruction (Chaos) Vs. The God Of Creation (Chronos)
The Ancient Greeks viewed Chronos as the main creative force in the universe. Chronos constantly caused less complicated entities to evolve into more complicated and advanced entities.
In Christianity, the world is portrayed as being in a constant struggle between the forces of Good vs. Evil. The Ancient Greeks had a different world view.
They portrayed the world as being in a constant struggle between the forces of the god Chronos (creation, order), vs. the forces of another god, Chaos (destruction, disorder).
Thus, they believed that the forces of Chronos constantly strove to synthesize more complex entities from simpler ones. The forces of Chronos were opposed by the forces of Chaos which constantly strove to break down complex entities into simpler ones.
The Ancient Greeks saw this epic struggle everywhere they looked. They saw it in the natural cycle of birth (creation) and death (destruction), and in the seasonal cycle of spring (creation) and winter (destruction).
All the things that the Ancient Greeks most prized (architecture, science, philosophy, mathematics, commerce, law) were due to the forces of Chronos elevating humans to a higher level of civilization.
All the things that the Ancient Greeks despised (ignorance, injustice, brutality) were due to the forces of Chaos degrading humans to a lower level of civilization.
Chronos and Ananke (Fate or Inevitability)
Goddess of Fate, Ananke
The Ancient Greeks thought that Chronos had a constant companion, Ananke (the goddess of Fate or Inevitability). Early in their history, the Ancient Greeks were very fatalistic. They believed that the Goddess Ananke carried a spindle of thread. This thread was a measure of how long a person's life would be. The length of each person's life thread was determined at birth. A person's life balanced on this thread, and when a person reached the end of his life thread, "his time had come" and the person died.
Although the Ancient Greeks believed that Fate determined when a person died; they thought other things were not inevitable.
Thus they believed that life was divided into:
- The things that we have power over (that we can change). For example, we have power over how we treat other people.
- The things that we have no power over (that we can't change). For example, we have no control over how others treat us.
Courage, they thought, involved bravely facing our Fate; knowing what can be changed, and what can't.
Chronos (Beauty/Creation) vs. Chaos (Ugliness/Destruction)
The Ancient Greeks sought to define what was good or evil. For them, "good" was synonymous with "beauty". In fact, in Greek the word "good" is the same word as "beauty".
They looked at the wonderful complexity of nature and deduced that everything good in nature was also beautiful and complex (e.g., flowers). Likewise, everything bad in nature was ugly and disorganized (e.g., decay).
Thus Chronos was the god of creation and beauty and Chaos was the god of destruction and ugliness.
The Ancient Greeks then applied this principle to their own lives. They believed that a good life was creative and beautiful; whereas a bad life was destructive and ugly. Thus a good life was life-enhancing, and a bad life was life-destroying.
Promethesus and Epimetheus
The Ancient Greeks believed that the first two humans created by Father Time were two brothers. The first was named Prometheus ("Foresight"), and his brother was named Epimetheus ("Hindsight").
Initially these first two humans lived in a paradise where the gods provided for all their needs, and they were never ill. However, this all changed the day that Prometheus stole fire from the gods to give to mankind.
This act so enraged the gods that they set out to punish mankind. To do this, the gods created the first woman Pandora, and sent her and a box as a gift to Prometheus and Epimetheus. Prometheus warned his brother Epimetheus not to accept any gifts from the gods, but Epimetheus did not listen, and married Pandora.
Pandora had been given a large box and instruction by the gods to keep it closed, but she had also been given the gift of curiosity, and ultimately opened it. When she opened it, all of the evils, ills, diseases, and burdensome labor that mankind had not known previously, escaped from the box. However, Pandora was able to quickly shut the box before it was totally emptied. Fortunately for mankind, Hope remained in the box.
The gods had planned it that way. They knew that Pandora's curiosity would get the better of her, and that she would eventually open the box. But the gods took pity on humans, and ensured that mankind would retain Hope, and thus be able to endure all the evils that escaped from Pandora's box.
Once Pandora opened the box; mankind stopped living in paradise.
Lessons Learned From Pandora's Box
The Ancient Greeks believed that Father Time (Chronos) specifically created mankind with foresight to see the Future, and hindsight to learn from the Past. The legend of Pandora's box, teaches that:
- Foresight is only of value if you act on it.
Prometheus had the foresight to warn his brother not to let Pandora open the box. However, Prometheus was "all talk and no action". He had the foresight to correctly predict the danger, but he lacked the courage of his convictions, and didn't take the box away from Pandora. Thus foresight is useless unless acted upon.
- If you lack foresight, you must learn from hindsight.
In this legend, Epimetheus lacked foresight, and refused to heed the warning of Prometheus. However, in hindsight, Epimetheus learned how wrong he was.
The Ancient Greeks stressed that it was essential to learn from our past mistakes. They believed if we fail to learn from our mistakes; these mistakes will be endlessly repeated.
- Life is filled with adversity, but if you have Hope, you will survive.
Life was very hard for the Ancient Greeks. Their rocky lands were not fertile, and their harsh lives were cut short by war, disease, and famine. Thus they knew that their lives would be filled with adversity.
In this legend, the Ancient Greeks stressed that, no matter how bad the adversity, the gods had given humans all they needed to survive - the gift of Hope. It was this positive, future orientation of the Ancient Greeks that directly led to their success in civilization and science.
Mismanaging Time
The Ancient Greeks deeply revered Father Time. They believed that there was a proper time for everything. They would actually suspend a war if it was time for an important religious festival (e.g., the Olympic Games).
The Ancient Greeks observed that, when people became dysfunctional, they lost contact with Father Time. Their normal rhythms (e.g., sleep, eating) would break down. Their work and social life would become disorganized. The more unmanageable their lives became; the more impulsive and disorganized they became. It seemed like they let Chaos rule their lives.
To avoid life becoming chaotic and disorganized, the Ancient Greeks taught:
- Respect Time; have patience.
All the great military successes in Ancient Greece took time (e.g., the 8 years it took to finally gain victory over Troy; the decades of military preparation that eventually led to Alexander The Great's defeat of Persia).
All the great military defeats in Ancient Greece resulted from impulsive, poorly planned campaigns (e.g., Athens' crushing defeat on invading Sicily).
The Ancient Greeks taught that you had to organize your life so that you made time for all the important things in life (e.g., sleep, eating, work, family, athletics, civil service, and religion).
- Plan for the Future; learn from the Past.
The Ancient Greeks taught that "timing is everything". Success comes to those that carefully plan for the future, and learn from their past mistakes.
- Avoid Chaos; practice moderation in all things.
The Ancient Greeks remembered how Alexander the Great's extreme ambition and alcoholism eventually killed him at the height of his success. This tragic example reinforced the Ancient Greeks' belief in the importance of having moderation in all things. They noted that extreme behavior (e.g., extreme ambition, promiscuity, addiction) eventually led to Chaos.
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Posted - 10/12/2009 : 20:04:37
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SOME CULTURES HAVE A POORLY DEVELOPED SENSE OF TIME
The Tragedy of African Poverty
I have two friends that worked this year as volunteers in Africa for nonprofit organizations. They both volunteered in Tanzania which, by African standards, is a relatively prosperous nation. Four years ago, my daughter volunteered to work in Ghana in an AIDS community education (and reforestation) program.
I asked them all why was sub-Saharan Africa so under-developed?
Their answers were surprising.
All three of them told me the problem primarily was with how these Africans saw Time:
- These Africans were very Present oriented, and had little Future orientation.
For example, one friend in Tanzania had personally paid to have the forest replanted around the hospital where she worked. Her hope was that, with proper management, when this forest matured, it would supply the nearby village with a perpetual supply of fire wood. Unfortunately, the villagers completely cut down the immature forest before it could be self-perpetuating. The villagers just couldn't master the idea of conservation for the Future.
Another friend told of her aid agency giving African farmers bags of seed grain for the next planting season. Unfortunately, the farmers immediately ate the seed grain (even though they were not starving). The farmers couldn't postpone today's pleasure for tomorrow's reward.
My daughter gave another example from her volunteer work in AIDS prevention in Ghana. She reported that the main problem in the prevention of AIDS in Ghana was the "live for today, don't worry about tomorrow" philosophy of the Ghanaian young people. The men refused to use a condom because it decreased their sexual pleasure. Likewise, the culture was promiscuous in that the father of the child usually did not stay to raise his child. Instead, in this matriarchal society, the child was raised by its mother and uncle. Thus there was no economic pressure on a male to limit the number of children he fathered. So, males were promiscuous and "lived just for today". This guaranteed that the population, poverty, and AIDS all exploded.
- These Africans had great difficulty learning from their Past.
My friends reported that sub-Saharan Africans were intensely loyal to their tribe and its traditions. Unfortunately, their tribal traditions taught mistrust of other tribes. Thus their biggest problem was learning how to cooperate with the other tribes to build their nation.
Another major problem was their acceptance of dictatorships.
These Africans did not question why their dictators or chiefs monopolized their nation's wealth while most of their citizens lived in poverty. These Africans seemed unable to question their past traditions, and to break free of the beliefs that so handicapped them.
The Ancient Greeks Were Very Different
Greek settlements around 500 BCE
The mainland of Ancient Greece had limited farmland. Ancient Greeks thrived primarily because of their Time orientation:
- The Ancient Greeks were very Future oriented.
Ancient Greece had limited farmland; thus the Ancient Greeks knew that the only way they would thrive was to send their excess population to form new colonies across the Mediterranean. It was the civic duty of every Ancient Greek family to send at least one son to work in the establishment of a new colonial city. The Ancient Greeks believed that their painful labors in the Present would result in rewards in the Future. This future-orientation of the Ancient Greeks, and their strong sense of civic duty, resulted in the rapid spread and enrichment of their culture.
- The Ancient Greeks broke with their Past.
Ancient Greek philosophers constantly questioned their traditional beliefs. They pioneered science and invented democracy. These ancient philosophers stressed the importance of civic duty, wisdom, courage, justice and moderation in all things. The Ancient Greeks established the world's first universities. They questioned everything in their pursuit of knowledge.
The Ancient Greek world of commerce thrived primarily because of the Greek's insistence on fair trade.
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Posted - 10/13/2009 : 00:41:20
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Emotionally Unstable (Borderline) Personality Disorder
SOME PERSONALITIES HAVE A POORLY DEVELOPED SENSE OF TIME
The Chaos of Emotionally Unstable (Borderline) Personality Disorder
The most common personality disorder is termed "Emotionally Unstable" or "Borderline Personality Disorder". This personality disorder most closely approximates the Ancient Greek concept of Chaos. The most characteristic features of Borderline Personality Disorder are:
- Emotional Instability:
Mood is unstable and unpredictable; the individual often has emotional outbursts of anger or crying.
- Social Instability:
Social life is unstable and stormy; usually goes from crisis to crisis.
- Life Lacking Purpose:
Lacks realistic, long-term goals; lacks having a meaning and purpose to life.
Many adolescents go through a chaotic period in their lives filled with these Borderline Personality traits. Fortunately, in a few years, the majority of these adolescents mature, and lose all of their Borderline Personality traits.
The Immature vs. Mature Personality
Many psychiatrists believe that Borderline Personality Disorder simply represents neurological immaturity. As adolescents mature, they develop better control over their emotions, and they discover that their life has purpose and meaning. As a result, their social functioning becomes less unstable and stormy.
Unfortunately, some people take much longer to neurologically mature than others. Thus some adults may have the emotional maturity of a 12 year-old. Therefore they find themselves overwhelmed with the demands of adult life.
Individuals with Borderline Personality Disorder have a problem with their Time orientation:
[list] They are very Present oriented, and have very little Future orientation.
Individuals with Borderline Personality Disorder live just for the moment, and don't worry about tomorrow. Their behavior is very impulsive. Since they lack direction and control over their life; they go from one emotional crisis to another. Their poorly organized life leaves them feeling empty and devoid of purpose.
What is most striking is their lack of realistic goals for their Future. They seem to not know who they are, or where they are going in life.
They have great difficulty learning from their Past.
Individuals with Borderline Personality Disorder appear to go from crisis to crisis, repeating their old mistakes. They find it very hard to determine the "cause" and "effect" relationships in their life. It is easier for them to simply blame others for their misfortunes. Thus they often become angry or paranoid towards others.
Their lives become progressively more chaotic, ugly and destructive.
The lives of individuals with Borderline Personality Disorder appear to self-destruct. As they lose control over their emotions; their social life goes from crisis to crisis.
Finally, their frustration and anger triggers suicide attempts and other self-destructive behaviors. Chaos rules their life.[/list |
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Posted - 11/15/2009 : 13:07:13
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Nemesis, The Goddess Of Rebalance
ANCIENT GREEKS THOUGHT LIFE WAS KEPT IN A DYNAMIC EQUILIBRIUM
The Predictable Circle of Life
The Ancient Greeks realized that life was not governed merely by the laws of chance. Instead, they saw life as a predictable cause-and-effect system.
They were keen observers of nature. The Ancient Greeks observed that there were predictable planetary cycles: for example, day-night, the month, the seasons, and the year.
The Ancient Greeks were farmers and they also observed that there was a predictable circle of life in which the forces of creation and growth (Chronos) were eventually opposed by the forces of decay and destruction (Chaos). They observed that all living things followed the cycle of birth, growth, decay, and death.
Yet the Ancient Greeks observed that the circle of life continued because of the miracle of rebirth. Living species survived, even though each individual member eventually died. The circle of life convinced the Ancient Greeks to have faith that the powers of creation (Chronos) would always overcome the powers of destruction (Chaos).
This leap of faith allowed the Ancient Greeks to become a very optimistic, productive people who constantly worked to bring order, beauty and purpose to their lives. In that way, they believed, they were allied with the forces that maintained life (Chronos) against the forces that would destroy life (Chaos). The Unpredictable Wheel of Fortune
The Ancient Greeks were also sailors. The sudden storms that caught them out at sea taught them that the forces of chance were also controlling their lives.
Ancient Greeks personified luck or fortune as the goddess Tyche (pronounced "to-kay").
The goddess Tyche was often depicted with a rudder, guiding the affairs of the world, or with a ball to represent the fact that she was unpredictable and could "roll" in any direction at her whim. She managed things according to her own will without any regard to what an individual deserved or desired. The Goddess Nemesis (Rebalance or Retribution)
The Ancient Greeks observed that usually the actions of the goddess Tyche (good or bad luck) were reversed in time. It appeared that there was a wheel of fortune. When this wheel of fortune was spun, eventually good fortune was always followed by bad, and visa versa.
This observation so impressed the Ancient Greeks that they concluded that there must be another force in nature that opposed the imbalances caused by luck (Tyche). They personified this rebalancing force as the goddess Nemesis.
The Ancient Greeks believed that Tyche would favor certain individuals with wealth and power; then Nemesis would humble these individuals by taking away their wealth and power.
Thus Nemesis would eventually undo the good or bad luck that Tyche had given. In this way, Nemesis restored nature's balance that chance (Tyche) had disrupted.
The Ancient Greeks thought that Nemesis punished those who were too proud or too selfish to share their good fortune with others. Since Nemesis acted to reverse extremes in human affairs, the Ancient Greeks taught that the best way to avoid Nemesis was to encourage moderation in all things.
The Ancient Greeks also taught that individuals must also have courage to endure adversity until it is reversed by Nemesis. Thus they taught that individuals should never lose hope.
(Two thousand years later, in statistics, the phenomenon of "regression towards the mean" was discovered. This mathematical principle exactly corresponds to the Ancient Greek concept of Nemesis.) The Ancient Greeks Saw Life As A Self-Regulating System
Two thousand, five hundred years ago, the Ancient Greeks were describing life as a self-regulating system:
- Predictable Cycles:
They believed that predictable constructive forces (Chronos) were opposed by predictable destructive forces (Chaos).
For example, their crops would grow (constructive force) until winter (destructive force).
- Unpredictable Cycles:
They believed that random destabilizing chance forces (Tyche or Luck) were opposed by random restabilizing forces (Nemesis).
For example, in farming, sometimes by chance locus would arrive to eat the crops (bad luck). Soon thereafter, birds would arrive to eat the locus (rebalance or Nemesis).
- Luck vs. Fate (Inevitability):
The Ancient Greeks made a distinction between Luck and Fate.
Luck concerned random events of low probability. Fate concerned predictable events that were inevitable.
The Ancient Greeks started looking for predictable trends in nature. When they looked at the night sky, seeing a shooting star would be considered due to Luck; whereas seeing the predicable movements of the heavenly Zodiac would be considered due to Fate (Inevitability).
The first step in scientific enquiry is to separate random events due to luck from the predictable phenomena being studied. Thus, in order to develop scientifically, it was essential that the Ancient Greeks differentiated Luck from Fate.
The Dynamic Equilibrium of the Body
Modern medicine discovered that opposing forces in our body establish a self-regulating, stable state called homeostasis. An example of homeostasis is our stable body temperature.
For example, in the body's metabolism:
- Predictable Cycles:
There are anabolic forces that create more complex entities; which are opposed by catabolic forces that destroy complex entities. (This is very similar to the Ancient Greek concept of Chronos vs. Chaos.)
The Pulse: A Predictable Biological Cycle
- Unpredictable Cycles:
There are destabilizing chance forces (stressors); which are opposed by restabilizing forces. (This is very similar to the Ancient Greek concept of Luck vs. Nemesis.)
- Dynamic Equilibrium:
Science has discovered that opposing forces within a system usually come into balance. This balance can be static (unchanging), or dynamic (changing).
Steady Body Temperature: A Dynamic Equilibrium
Science tries to understand dynamic or changing balances ("dynamic equilibria") in order to better predict their trends. (This is very similar to the Ancient Greek idea of Fate.)
The Dynamic Equilibrium of Economics
Modern economists discovered that opposing forces in our economy establish a self-regulating, dynamic equilibrium.
For example, in the economy:
- Predictable Cycles:
There are bull markets which create economic growth; which are opposed by bear markets which cause economic decline or recession. In the stock market, recessions regularly occur every 7-8 years. (This is very similar to the Ancient Greek concept of Chronos vs. Chaos and the Circle of Life.)
Predictable Cycles of Economic Growth Alternating With Recession
- Unpredictable Cycles:
There are chance events which are economically destabilizing; which are opposed by corrections which are economically restabilizing. (This is very similar to the Ancient Greek concept of Luck vs. Nemesis and the Wheel of Fortune.)
- Dynamic Equilibrium:
Economists have discovered that opposing forces within our economy usually come into balance. However this economic balance is dynamically changing.
Dynamic Equibrium in U.S. Unemployment Rate
Economists try to understand the economic dynamic equilibrium in order to better predict its trends. For investment purposes, economists say that "the trend is your friend", implying that it is not good to bet against a well-established trend. (This is very similar to the Ancient Greek idea of Fate.)
Thus the Ancient Greeks had insights into nature's balance that were 2,500 years in advance of modern science and economics.
The Ancient Greeks used their concept of nature's balance to discover what was, for them, the "good life". Their psychological description of the "good life" is as relevant today as it was 2,500 years ago. |
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Posted - 07/31/2010 : 14:05:49
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Athena, Goddess of Justice And Wisdom
JUSTICE IS ESSENTIAL FOR A GOOD LIFE
Good Vs. Bad People
The Ancient Greeks believed that there were only two types of people:
- Good people who helpled others.
- Bad people who harmed others.
Thus skin color, religion, status or nationality did not define who was good or bad. Only a person's deeds defined who was good or bad.
Justice, they believed, was based on mutual agreement "neither to harm nor be harmed."
Good people:
- Treated people fairly.
- Created peace, order and good government that united people.
- Created beauty and were constructive.
Bad people:
- Treated people unfairly.
- Created discord, chaos, and bad government that divided people.
- Created ugliness and were destructive.
Tyrants In Ancient Greece
The Ancient Greeks believed that justice was essential for a "good life". For centuries, the Ancient Greeks struggled against their tyrannical rulers. These struggles taught the Ancient Greeks the importance of "rule by law", rather than "rule by force of arms". The Personality of a Tyrant
The Ancient Greeks observed that their unjust tyrants always had the same personality. This personality was a mixture of three main traits:
Antisocial Traits:
- Disrespect For The Law
Disrespect for normal law-abiding behavior
- Dishonesty
Disposed to lie, cheat, or steal
- Disrespect For Others
Treated others with disrespect, or made them feel unappreciated
- Irresponsibility
Untrustworthy; ignored correction; lacked remorse of guilt; didn’t make amends
- Physical Violence
Physical violence towards others (e.g., physical assault or property damage)
- Reckless Thrill-Seeking Behavior
Recklessly disregards danger thrill-seeking (dangerous gambling, sports, driving, or sex)
Narcissistic Traits:
- Arrogance
Was arrogant with a highly inflated sense of self worth and superiority
- Exploitation of Others
Sought self-benefit at the expense of others; conned or manipulated others
- Entitlement
Unreasonably expected especially favorable treatment or automatic obedience
Paranoid Traits
- Mistrust
Was overly suspicious and didn’t trust people
- Bearing Grudges
Bore a grudge, did not forgive someone’s mistake, or sought revenge
- Feeling Victimized
Felt exploited or abused by someone, or felt very envious or jealous
Tyrants Lacked A Sense Of Justice
The Ancient Greeks found that their tyrannical rulers had a total lack of a sense of justice. Tyrants simply didn't believe that their unjust behavior was wrong. It was if tyrants were blind to the injustices they caused.
The Ancient Greek philosopher, Plato, said:
"When the tyrant has disposed of foreign enemies by conquest or treaty, and there is nothing more to fear from them, then he is always stirring up some war or other, in order that the people may require a leader."
The Ancient Greeks realized that only the rule of law would protect them against the unjust behavior of tyrants. Just Behavior
The Ancient Greeks believed that social harmony would only be attained if individuals confronted the injustices of the world with justice. To the Ancient Greeks, justice was the opposite of the behavior of the tyrants. Thus "just behavior" would involve:
Social Traits:
- Respect For The Law
Respect for normal law-abiding behavior
- Honesty
Not lying, cheating, or stealing
- Respect For Others
Treated others with respect, and making them feel appreciated
- Responsibility
Being trustworthy; heeding correction; showing remorse or guilt; making amends
- Non-violence
No physical violence towards others (e.g., no physical assault or property damage)
- No Reckless Thrill-Seeking Behavior
No dangerous thrill-seeking (dangerous gambling, sports, or sex)
Non-Narcissistic Traits:
- Humility
Not being arrogant or falsely feeling superior
- Cooperation
Cooperating with others; volunteering for civic duty
- Generosity
Helping others; being unselfish
Non-Paranoid Traits
- Trust
Trusting worthy people
- Forgiveness
Forgiving other's honest mistakes, or not seeking revenge
- Gratitude
Feeling thankful for what one has; not feeling envious or jealous
Trial By Jury
The Ancient Greeks made one of history's most important inventions: trial by a jury of peers.
In Ancient Greece, accused individuals had to be told beforehand of the accusations laid against them. Both the accuser and accused then had to appear in court to publicly argue their cases. A jury of their peers would then decide on the truth of the matter.
The first courts with juries of peers occurred in Athens, Greece, in approximately 500 BCE. Some juries had as many as 500 people on them, to make sure the jury could not be bribed. Jurors had to swear that they would be fair and would listen to both sides equally. The defendant was considered to be innocent until voted guilty by the jury.
The Ancient Greek system of trial by jury of peers was two thousand years ahead of the justice systems of Greece's neighboring civilizations. Justice In Domestic Matters
The Ancient Greeks devised an ingenious system for resolving serious domestic disputes that didn't require a formal Court appearance.
- Confrontation In Front Of Witnesses:
The Ancient Greeks stressed that the first step in finding justice was to confront the person, in front of witnesses, and tell the person the nature of the problem or injustice they caused. The witnesses were to be impartial, and served to prevent the confrontation from escalating. The purpose of the initial confrontation was to set the date for a conflict resolution meeting in front of a jury of peers.
- Cooling Off Period:
After the public confrontation, the Ancient Greeks stressed that it was important to have a cooling off period to allow both the accused and the accuser to prepare for the later conflict resolution meeting.
- Public Conflict Resolution:
The Ancient Greeks were vehemently opposed to secret trials. They insisted that all major conflicts be resolved in public, so that the accused knew who were their accusers, and what evidence was presented against them. They insisted that the accused should always be allowed to argue in their own defense
Such conflict resolution was always done in front of a jury of their peers. For smaller disputes that did not require going to Court, the accuser and accused would debate their problem in front of a jury of their relatives or peers.
- Presumption Of Innocence:
The jury would listen fairly, without making judgment, until both sides of the argument was heard.
- Jury Determination of Guilt and Amends:
When the jury finally reached their verdict, the guilty individuals were asked what they proposed to do to make amends. If the guilty party proposed inadequate amends; the jury would dictate proper amends.
Rather than focusing on punishment, the Ancient Greek system for domestic conflict resolution often focused on promoting reconciliation and rebuilding of relationships.
- Enforcement:
In Ancient Greece, very serious consequences would befall individuals if they didn't do their amends.
To Feel Good, You Have To Do Good
The Ancient Greek approach to domestic conflict resolution was a major step forward for civilization.
Previously, in ancient times, there were few ways to resolve major domestic conflicts:
- Prayer:
Individuals involved in the domestic conflict could go to their Temple and pray for divine intervention.
- Strong-Man Intervention:
These individuals could appeal (or bribe) the family patriarch or local strong man to intervene (or punish) on their behalf.
- Personal Revenge:
These individuals could take matters into their own hands, and physically punish the other individual (e.g., honor killings or other acts of revenge).
Until the Ancient Greeks developed their jury system, "justice" in the rest of the ancient world was synonymous with "punishment".
The Ancient Greek jury system for restorative justice (focusing on promoting reconciliation) was almost the opposite of this ancient punishment-oriented legal system.
The jury system of justice in Ancient Greece brought about an important religious change. Under this jury system of justice, the Ancient Greeks could no longer atone for their sins solely by religious means. The jury system of justice now required that they atone for their sins by doing the amends dictated by a jury of their peers.
Justice, to the Ancient Greeks, meant that if they wanted to feel good, they had to do good to others. They could not rely solely on divine intervention to correct injustices; they had to correct these injustices themselves using the rule of law. Chronos Vs. Chaos
The Ancient Greeks saw life as a struggle between the forces of Chronos (creation and order) vs. the forces of Chaos (destruction and disorder).
Ancient Greek society was divided into the very rich, and the poor. The Ancient Greeks were ruled by a land-owning, military elite. Thus a few rich families owned the majority of Ancient Greece's wealth.
The majority of the Ancient Greeks were poor farmers and craftsmen who just wanted peace, order and good government. They let Chronos rule their lives.
Unfortunately, the land-owning, military elite that ruled Ancient Greece were tyrants and their rule brought war, disorder, and bad government. They let Chaos rule their lives.
It seemed that all of Ancient Greek history was a struggle between the forces of Chronos and Chaos. The poor Greeks wanted democracy, and the rich Greeks wanted tyranny. Tragically, after endless wars, Chaos won.[/list] |
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Posted - 07/31/2010 : 14:46:51
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TEMPERANCE (SELF RESTRAINT) IS ESSENTIAL FOR A GOOD LIFE
Alexander The Great (356–323 BCE)
Alexander The Great
The Ancient Greek culture was spread by Alexander the Great's conquests. Alexander the Great died at age 32 before he could politically unify his conquests. Although both Alexander's reign and empire were short-lived, the cultural impact of his conquests lasted for centuries.
Conquests of Alexander The Great
His conquests spread Hellenistic (Greek) culture into the Middle East, marking the beginning of Hellenistic civilization. This Hellenistic civilization formed the basis for the later Greek-Latin Byzantine Empire which lasted until the mid-15th Century. Alexander's Nemesis
Alexander The Great was a very heavy drinker, and was noted for his reckless lack of fear in battle. When he died at age 32, he was in poor health after years of heavy drinking and suffering severe wounds. Two weeks before his death, he had been up all night drinking, then became very ill. He may well of died from acute alcoholic pancreatitis, but his exact cause of death is unknown.
There seemed to have been three fatal flaws in Alexander The Great's character:
- Alcoholism:
Alexander The Great's years of heavy drinking destroyed both his body and mind.
- Histrionic Traits:
Alexander's dramatic, theatrical behaviors were legendary. He also had a violent temper and rash, impulsive nature. When his best friend, Hephaestion, died; he became so distraught he sacked a nearby town, and put all of its inhabitants to the sword, as a sacrifice to Hephaestion's ghost. He always had to be the center-of-attention, and in the forefront of battle. He was self-centered and self-indulgent.
- Emotionally Unstable (Borderline) Traits:
Alexander The Great went from one emotional crisis to the next. He became king when his father was murdered. The twelve years of his being king was spent in constant warfare. He frequently ordered the execution of those he mistrusted. During his final years, and especially after the death of Hephaestion, Alexander began to exhibit signs of megalomania. He believed himself to be a deity and his ambition became boundless. His erratic behavior in battle eventually led to his troops to mutiny against him.
In the brief period of his rule, he succeeded in destroying most of the Greek army in endless warfare, and plunging Greece into a bloody 40-year civil war after his death. Lack Of Moderation
Ancient Greek Orgy
Ancient Greece, at the time of Alexander The Great, was a time of great sexual excess. Pedophilia was widely practiced in Sparta, and large public drunken sexual orgies were commonplace throughout Greece.
Ancient Greek Man With Slave Boy
The Ancient Greeks eventually concluded that alcoholism, pedophilia and sexual orgies were destroying their culture. They were particularly alarmed by the increase in addicted, histrionic and megalomaniacal behavior in their leaders:
- Addiction:
- Alcohol Abuse
Alcohol use causing harm to self or others
- Drug or Medication Abuse
Drug use causing harm to self or others
- Histrionic Behavior:
- Impulsivity
Was too impulsive (did not think carefully before acting or speaking, or took undue risks)
- Attention-Seeking
Needed excessive attention (tried to be the center of attention and was overly dramatic)
- Promiscuity
Had casual sex OR had intense desire for illicit sex
- Borderline (Emotional Unstable) Behavior:
- Emotional Instability
Mood was unstable and unpredictable; often had emotional outbursts of anger or crying
- Life Lacking Purpose
Lacked realistic, long-term goals; lacked meaning and purpose to life
- Social Instability
Social life was unstable and stormy; went from crisis to crisis
Nemesis
The Ancient Greeks believed that great excesses led to great dissatisfaction. That is, extreme behavior eventually led to a painful correction by the Goddess of Rebalance, Nemesis.
The Ancient Greeks believed that, to avoid Nemesis, individuals had to live moderately in order to avoid the suffering incurred by overindulgence.
Thus the Ancient Greeks taught that addiction, histrionic behavior, and emotional instability must be controlled. A good life would be one of temperance, specifically:
- No Addiction:
- No Alcohol Abuse
No alcohol use that caused harm to self or others
- No Drug or Medication Abuse
No drug use that caused harm to self or others
- No Histrionic Behavior:
- Caution
Showing caution and thinking carefully before acting or speaking
- Genuineness
Being genuine (not overly dramatic or attention-seeking)
- Chasity
Not having casual sex (with someone who was not a permanent sex partner)
- Emotionally Stable Behavior:
- Emotional Stability
Having a stable and predictable mood
- Purpose In Life
Having realistic, long-term goals which gave meaning and purpose to life
- Social Stability
Having a stable and peaceful social life
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Posted - 08/02/2010 : 19:18:26
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Athena, Goddess of Justice And Wisdom
WISDOM IS ESSENTIAL FOR A GOOD LIFE
Beauty
To the Ancient Greeks, wise decisions led to good or beautiful outcomes (since the Ancient Greek word "good" also meant "beautiful").
They believed that wise individuals used their inborn sense of beauty to help them decide between good and bad. The Ancient Greeks believed that good decisions created beauty and proper functioning. Bad decisions created ugliness and dysfunction.
For example, the Ancient Greeks were sailors. Thus in their ship-building, a good decision would produce a beautiful ship that sailed well. A bad ship-building decision would produce an ugly ship that sailed poorly. Good decisions led to beautiful form and function. Bad decisions led to ugly form and dysfunction.
Unlike the Romans, the Ancient Greeks did not idolize war. Ancient Greece was frequently invaded by its neighbors, so the Ancient Greeks believed in the necessity of self-defense. However they viewed war as only causing destruction and slaughter; hence they did not glorify their god of war (Ares). They believed that wise decisions led to social harmony; whereas unwise decisions led to social discord. Chronos vs. Chaos
The Ancient Greeks worshiped Chronos (Father Time). Chronos was the god of creation and order. Chronos was constantly opposed by Chaos, the god of destruction and disorder. Thus the Ancient Greeks believed that wise individuals make decisions that assisted Chronos in his efforts to create order and beauty. Unwise individuals make decisions that assisted Chaos in his efforts to bring destruction and disorder. Respecting Time
Wisdom, to the Ancient Greeks, meant respecting Chronos (Father Time). Wisdom then meant trusting Father Time to heal life's wounds ("Time heals") and to teach life's lessons ("Time will tell"). Wisdom also meant knowing that life was short; hence not to be wasted. Mismanaging Time
The Ancient Greeks observed that, when people became dysfunctional, they lost contact with Father Time. Their normal rhythms (e.g., sleep, eating) would break down. Their work and social life would become disorganized. The more unmanageable their lives became; the more impulsive and disorganized they became. It seemed like they let Chaos rule their lives.
To avoid life becoming chaotic and disorganized, the Ancient Greeks taught:
- A wise individual must respect Time and have patience.
The Ancient Greeks taught that wise individuals organized their lives so that they made time for all the important things in life (e.g., sleep, eating, work, family, athletics, civil service, and religion). Wise individuals avoided making rash, impulsive decisions.
- A wise individual must plan for the future and learn from the past.
The Ancient Greeks taught that "timing is everything". Success came to those wise individuals that carefully planned for their future, and learned from their past mistakes. They taught that wise individuals must not let fear of the future, or remorse over the past paralyze them.
- Wise individuals must do something meaningful with their lives.
The Ancient Greeks knew that life could be very short; hence stressed that every day was precious and not to be wasted. Thus they taught wise individuals must be industrious and make a meaningful contribution to their society. In this regard, it was the civic duty of every Ancient Greek family to send one son to a new colony to build a new city.
Luck Vs. Fate
The Ancient Greeks believed there was a goddess of Luck (Tyche) and a goddess of Fate or Inevitability (Anake). Low probability events were determined by Luck. High probability events were inevitable and determined by Fate.
The Ancient Greeks believed that wise individuals made decisions based on Fate or Inevitability (i.e., their decisions betted on high probability events). Unwise individuals made decisions based on Luck (i.e., their decisions betted on low probability events).
For example, the wise sailor would sail to a safe harbor once black clouds appeared because these inevitably predicted a storm. Thus the wise sailor's decision was betting on a high probability event (i.e., that black clouds usually predicted a storm). An unwise sailor would continue sailing despite the storm warnings in the hope that "he'd be lucky". Thus the unwise sailor's decision was betting on a low probability event (i.e., that, despite black clouds, there would be no storm). Not Fighting The Inevitable
The Ancient Greeks believed that wisdom involved knowing what can be changed and what can't.
For example, individuals can change their own behavior, but can't change other people's behavior.
Thus the Ancient Greeks taught that, rather than wasting time criticizing others, wise individuals should spend time correcting their own behavior. Folly
To the Ancient Greeks, folly was the opposite of wisdom.
They believed that unwise individuals had a problem with their Time orientation:
- Unwise individuals were very present oriented, and had very little future orientation.
The Ancient Greeks believed it was folly to live just for the moment, and to not plan for tomorrow. They believed unwise individuals lacked direction and control over their lives; hence they went from one crisis to another. To the Ancient Greeks, what was most striking about unwise individuals was their lack of realistic goals for their future. They seemed to not know who they were, or where they were going in life.
- Unwise individuals had great difficulty learning from their past.
The Ancient Greeks thought that unwise individuals went from crisis to crisis, repeating their old mistakes. Unwise individuals found it very hard to determine the "cause" and "effect" relationships in their life. It was easier for them to simply blame others for their misfortunes. Thus unwise individuals often became angry or paranoid towards others.
- Unwise individuals lacked purpose and meaning in their lives.
The Ancient Greeks believed that the lives of unwise individuals lacked direction or purpose. These individuals lacked activities that gave meaning to their lives. Their poorly organized lives left them feeling empty and devoid of purpose.
The Folly Of Mania
The Ancient Greeks lived in fear of Mania, a spirit personifying insanity, madness and crazed frenzy. However some religious cults worshiped Mania and attempted to induce crazed frenzy to better communicate with the gods.
As the Ancient Greeks tried to divorce themselves from their barbaric past, they had to confront the practice of manic ecstasy that was promoted by these Mania worshiping religious cults.
The playwright Aeschylus described one such cult:
"An occult company approaches following Cotyto's orgies and her divine ceremonies. Pipes (flutes) rounded from the turn sound slowly, deeply with deep cries of wild mania. Cymbals sound, shrieks and invisible voices are heard everywhere like mad bulls. The beating of the drum spread like underground echoes filling you with terror."
This manic ecstasy involved:
- Elated mood:
Feeling so happy or excited that it caused problems.
- Over-talkative or racing speech:
Overly talkative or speech racing from topic to topic.
- Hyperactivity or Agitation:
Excessive movement (e.g., can’t sit still; frantic hyperactive behavior).
The Ancient Greeks observed that this manic ecstasy was triggered by the excitement of being at a festival that promoted frenzied music and indiscriminate sex.
These orgies were often attended by women when their husbands were away on long voyages. However the resulting pregnancies often would destroy their marriages.
The wild sexual excesses of these cults threatened the stability of the Ancient Greek family; thus the Ancient Greeks saw such manic ecstasy as a dangerous folly that had to be suppressed. The Folly Of Psychosis
Ancient Greek literature abounds in descriptions of various forms of insanity. The most famous story was that of the ancient hero, Hercules, who went mad and killed his wife and children.
To the Ancient Greeks, the most dangerous folly was when a king went mad.
Alexander the Great went mad in the last year of his life, and thought that he was a god. His megalomania was probably due to his severe alcoholism. Nevertheless, his mind and body rapidly deteriorated causing his own ruin and that of his army invading Persia.
The Ancient Greeks clearly identified the characteristics of psychosis:
- Grandiosity:
Bizarrely inflated appraisal of one’s worth, power, knowledge, importance, or identity.
- Delusions or Hallucinations:
Bizarre false beliefs or perceptual distortions (e.g., imaginary voices, visions, or smells).
- Disorganized Speech or Bizarre Behavior:
Mixed up or incoherent speech; or bizarre behavior (e.g., odd mannerisms / posturing).
Two great physicians of Ancient Greece, Aretaeus of Cappadocia and Soranus, laid the foundations for the treatment and management of psychosis based on humanitarian principles. They emphasized gentleness, tact, and discretion in the interaction with the mentally-ill and the need for contact and supervision during convalescence. The Folly Of Dementia
The Ancient Greek physicians knew that head injuries could cause significant intellectual impairment. The famous Ancient Greek physician, Hippocrates, also described an intellectual impairment occurring in the elderly.
Today, this intellectual impairment would be diagnosed as dementia. Modern physicians have a clearer understanding of dementia, and its characteristic features:
- Impaired Memory:
Difficulty learning new things, loss of previous memories.
- Impaired Concentration:
Difficulty concentrating on things (e.g., short attention span; easily distracted).
- Marked Apathy:
Little interest or pleasure (e.g. lacks zest or motivation to do required daily activities).
- Impaired Executive Functioning:
Impaired judgment, planning, or problem-solving; lack of creativity or curiosity.
- Impaired Communication With Words:
Loss of the ability to use or understand words; decreased spontaneous speech.
- Impaired Communication With Emotions:
Loss of the ability to express or understand emotions; decreased spontaneous emotion.
- Neglect of Personal Self-Care:
Difficulty with washing, dressing, toileting, feeding self, or body odor.
- Psychomotor Slowing:
Thinking, speaking, or moving so slowly that it was noticeable to others.
- Confusion:
Gets lost near home, doesn’t know the year, or can't stay awake.
The Ancient Greeks were well aware of the unwise decisions made by individuals with such global intellectual impairments and the serious folly that ensued. What Is Wisdom?
The Ancient Greeks taught that wisdom consisted of the following:
- Making wise decisions
- Planning for the future
- Learning from past mistakes
- Making amends for past mistakes
- Not letting excitement or elation distort your judgement
- Not letting psychosis distort your judgement
- Not letting poor memory or poor problem-solving ability distort your judgement
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Posted - 08/13/2010 : 17:33:50
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Ares, God Of War/Peace, Fear/Courage, Civil Disorder/Civil Order, And Rage/Anger-Control
COURAGE IS ESSENTIAL FOR A GOOD LIFE
Ares, the God of Rage, Fear, Civil Disorder, and War
The Ancient Greeks observed how their tyrannical leaders prepared their citizens for rebellion or war.
First the tyrant would create an event that would focus his follower's anger against an enemy. Then the tyrant would increase his follower's paranoia and fear towards that enemy. Finally, the tyrant would create enough fear and anger in his followers that they were easily led into civil rebellion or war.
The Ancient Greeks believed that the god Ares controlled rage, fear, civil rebellion and war. Ares, The God Of Anger-Control, Courage, Civil Order, And Peace
The Ancient Greeks observed that people could also be led into peace by their leaders.
First the leader would decrease his follower's anger towards an enemy. Then the leader would convince his followers not to fear the enemy, because of their own strength. Finally, the leader would courageously make a peace treaty with the enemy.
The Ancient Greeks believed that the god Ares, if placated, could keep away anger, fear, civil disorder or war.
Thus the god Ares was also the god of anger-control, courage, civil order and peace.
The Ancient Greeks had made a great discovery. The same process that leads to anger, fear, civil disorder and war can be reversed to bring about anger-control, courage, civil order and peace. They believed that the god Ares controlled the forces that determined whether there was war or peace.
This dual nature of Ares is best illustrated by this ancient hymn to this god:
"Ares ... hear me, helper of men, giver of dauntless youth! Shed down a kindly ray from above upon my life, and strength of war, that I may be able to drive away bitter cowardice from my head and crush down the deceitful impulses of my soul. Restrain also the keen fury of my heart which provokes me to tread the ways of blood-curdling strife. Rather, O blessed one, give me boldness to abide within the harmless laws of peace, avoiding strife and hatred and the violent fiends of death."
Homeric Hymn 8 to Ares (Greek epic C7th to 4th B.C.) Physical Courage
The Ancient Greeks believed that physical courage was the opposite of fear. It’s the ability to act when others of lesser courage will not. It’s the ability to act in spite of fear and overwhelming opposition.
The Ancient Greeks observed that individuals who lacked physical courage often showed three traits:
- Lack of Self-Confidence
Lacking self-confidence and not acting decisively
- Pessimism
Being pessimistic or defeatist (expecting to fail)
- Loneliness
Being lonely with nobody to talk to; not feeling part of a confident group
Thus, to increase physical courage, the Ancient Greeks strove to increase:
- Self-Confidence
Being self-confident and acting on own convictions (even if they are unpopular)
- Hope
Being optimistic and expecting to succeed
- Companionship
Having companions and not feeling lonely
To increase the courage of their soldiers, the Ancient Greeks fought in tightly massed, spear-armed, rectangular phalanx formations. These soldiers would camp, eat, and fight shoulder-to-shoulder together with the same companions for all their lives. Thus the Ancient Greeks emphasized that companionship was the key to giving their troops hope and courage. Psychological Courage
The Ancient Greeks also believed in psychological courage - the courage to be independent and a leader.
The Ancient Greeks observed that individuals who lacked psychological courage often showed three traits:
- Fear of Abandonment
Fear of being alone or separated from loved ones
- Submissiveness
Submissively following the leadership of others
- Difficulty Handling Conflict
Finding it hard to handle conflict with others (or actively avoiding conflict with others)
Thus, to increase psychological courage, the Ancient Greeks strove to increase:
- Independence
Not fearing being alone (or being temporarily separated from loved ones)
- Leadership
Acting as a leader to organize a group to get things done
- Peacemaking
Skillfully preventing (or handling) conflict within a group or family
To increase the psychological courage of their citizens, the Ancient Greek philosophers taught that one should question everything. Thus the Ancient Greeks emphasized that healthy debate and criticism were the keys to peace, order and good government.
Moral Courage
The Ancient Greeks also believed in moral courage - the courage to show empathy and compassion to others.
The Ancient Greeks observed that individuals who lacked moral courage often showed three traits:
- Lack of Empathy
Being callous or insensitive to other people’s feelings (not trying to understand how they feel)
- Lack of Emotion
Seldom showing compassion, kindness or affection (being distant or aloof)
- Social Withdrawal
Preferring to be alone and not enjoying the company of others
Thus, to increase moral courage, the Ancient Greeks strove to increase:
- Empathy
Being sensitive to (and understanding) other people’s feelings
- Love
Showing compassion, kindness or affection
- Friendship
Being with friends and enjoying their company
The Ancient Greek philosopher, Socrates (469 BC - 399 BC), taught about empathy stating:
"Do not do to others what angers you if done to you by others."
Greek philosophers were the first in the ancient world to question slavery. They were the first to advocate the brotherhood of humanity and the natural equality of all human beings.
To increase the moral courage of their citizens, the Ancient Greek philosophers taught that lasting peace was possible if all people were treated fairly, with empathy and compassion. |
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Ancient Greece's Contribution To Psychiatry (II)
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