Abstract
This thesis clarifies the concept of politics in Modern Greek theoretical and philosophical thought and explores the issues related to this concept. The political thought of the period of the Modern Greek Enlightenment is expressed through a number of philosophical, moral and pedagogical writings, which are inspired by the spirit of ancient Greek philosophy, while at the same time echoing and sometimes expressing the radicalism of the European Enlightenment. The creative study and assimilation of the ancient Greek intellect as well as the knowledge of the modern European philosophical currents are among the basic and fundamental features of the philosophical movement of this period and the coordinates within which the intellect of the intellectual fighters of the Greek Revolution developed. In other words, the Neo-Hellenic Enlightenment came into contact with the European and at the same time drew strength from the inexhaustible source of philosophical creation of the ancient Greek int ...
This thesis clarifies the concept of politics in Modern Greek theoretical and philosophical thought and explores the issues related to this concept. The political thought of the period of the Modern Greek Enlightenment is expressed through a number of philosophical, moral and pedagogical writings, which are inspired by the spirit of ancient Greek philosophy, while at the same time echoing and sometimes expressing the radicalism of the European Enlightenment. The creative study and assimilation of the ancient Greek intellect as well as the knowledge of the modern European philosophical currents are among the basic and fundamental features of the philosophical movement of this period and the coordinates within which the intellect of the intellectual fighters of the Greek Revolution developed. In other words, the Neo-Hellenic Enlightenment came into contact with the European and at the same time drew strength from the inexhaustible source of philosophical creation of the ancient Greek intellect. These two axes form the theoretical basis for the political renaissance of the nation. Besides, the philosophical creation of the Modern Greek intellectuals reveals that there can be a Modern Greek philosophy as a worthy continuation of the ancient and Byzantine, but also as a comparable to the European one. More specifically, during the pre-revolutionary years and during the first decades of the century of freedom, national independence and the reform of society dominated the political thinking of the Greeks. Of course, the vision of political freedom was the primary goal of the Modern Greek intellectuals. The agents of the Neo-Hellenic Enlightenment gave specific meaning and content to the concept of politics, precisely because they believed in the need for political reform and envisioned the political reconstruction of modern Greek society. Respect for the laws, the prevalence of justice, wisdom and virtue, the development of political consciousness are the main goals of the Neo-Hellenic thinkers, who fight and strive for the political uplift of the nation. Also, the coupling of theory with practice seems to be of particular concern to the Modern Greek thinkers, who form the Modern Greek philosophical intellect and with their views lead to the social and political reconstruction of Hellenism and to the further general development of Greek thought. At first sight, theory and practice seem to be two completely opposite situations. To avoid this confusion, it is worthwhile to be convinced that political activity presupposes or involves a philosophy or is sometimes dictated by a worldview. On the other hand, philosophy itself is intertwined with the city and citizenship, that is, participation in political life or even the governance of the city. Philosophy and politics therefore not only influence each other, but together they direct the entire course of human society. In other words, they are related concepts. This fact allows us to characterize philosophy as theoretical politics and, correspondingly, politics as practical philosophy or the practice of philosophy. From what has been said above, it can be concluded that the art of cybernetics is a political art and at the same time an art closely linked to philosophy, which requires skills and above all the highest possible and humanly attainable knowledge, the perpetual and painstaking search for the truth about socio-political things. After all, the responsibility is very great, as it concerns the whole of society. This responsibility falls on politicians and those involved in any way in the exercise of politics (in modern times this includes not only politicians, but also economic and administrative agents, etc.) who must have and support a certain political theory or be aware of the theoretical foundations and consequences of their daily actions and activities. It is undoubtedly a fact that politicians can never be certain in advance what the results of their work will be and whether their actions will be successful and with good or bad results. This does not, of course, mean the devaluation of politics per se, but its very nature. Politicians have to be particularly careful about what they plan, decide and do in order to avoid the possible negative consequences of their actions. After all, however difficult it may be for politicians to make the right decisions and take the right political actions, it is just as easy for them to harm themselves and others, for the reason that politics concerns all citizens of a society. It could be noted that the practice of politics is rather a form of developing certain skills that one already possesses. That is, the politician possesses particular gifts and abilities. But politics involves proper glory and presupposes one's education and advancement throughout one's life. This is the main reason why the art of politics or the qualities of a true politician can neither be inherited nor acquired only through learning and study and research in general. In view of the problems of the modern age, but also in recognition of the progress being made in all areas (and especially in the field of technology, which is expanding the possibilities of communication and rapprochement between states, nations and peoples and, in general, between different cultural entities), the emergence of multi-disciplinary and integrated personalities in the political arena and a proper understanding of the relationship between philosophy and politics is more urgent than ever before, as the realities of the world are becoming more and more complex.
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