The “Axial Age” and the seven sages in Ancient Greece

During the 8th to 4th centuries B.C., the world experienced what the German philosopher Karl Jaspers called the “Axial age” or axial time, which was characterized by a profound change in the thinking of human beings at a global level, as if the different centers of civilization existing at that time had come into agreement.

The interesting thing about this is that this change in the ways of thinking and seeing reality, apparently occurred almost simultaneously in different regions of the earth without direct connections or mutual knowledge between the peoples who lived this transcendental change in human thought.

These peoples were the Greeks, Persians, Jews, Chinese and Hindus, with thinkers of the stature of Siddhartha Gautama (Buddha) in India, Zoroaster or Zarathustra in Persia (Iran); Confucius and Lao Tse, Lao Zi or Laozien in China; Elijah, Isaiah and Jeremiah in Israel, the seven sages in ancient Greece and others that escape us.

Wherever they appeared, these thinkers posed human dilemmas and established schools of thought that are still being studied or even followed today.

They raised self-awareness, the need to transcend and find a meaning to life or a way to understand it.

In this post we will talk a little about the seven wise men of Greece, who they were, their context, their contributions, and the importance they have in thought, philosophy, and other disciplines.

Ancient Greece is undoubtedly the cradle of Western civilization, its development since its early appearance is divided by some scholars into five periods:

Mycenaean civilization (ca. 1600–1100 BC): This is the earliest period of Greek history and is considered the first advanced civilization of mainland Greece. This period is characterized by its palace system, art and writing, and it is speculated that the Troy recounted by Homer existed during this period.

Dark Ages (ca. 1100–800 B.C.): This is a transitional period characterized by a decline in cultural activity and a lack of written records. It is believed that there was a decline of urban settlements and a collapse of the political system of the Mycenaean civilization.

Archaic Period (ca. 800–500 BC): A time of renaissance and development in which the first Greek polis or city-states were formed. There were advances in politics, legislation, philosophy, literature, and art.

Classical period (ca. 500–323 B.C.): This is considered the heyday of Greek culture and democracy. During this time, Greece experienced a flourishing in various fields, such as philosophy, literature, art, architecture and politics.

Hellenistic Period (ca. 323–31 B.C.): This refers to the period after the death of Alexander the Great and is characterized by the spread of Greek culture in the vast Hellenistic Empire. There were Eastern influences and there was a mixture of cultures and artistic styles.

The period of the Seven Sages of Ancient Greece is situated before the classical period of Ancient Greece. These sages lived approximately in the 7th and 6th centuries B.C., which corresponds to the archaic period of Greek history. Therefore, their activity and legacy precedes the classical period of the 5th and 4th centuries BC.

The Seven Sages of Ancient Greece were a group of outstanding philosophers, statesmen and legislators who lived in the 7th and 6th centuries BC. These sages were renowned for their wisdom and contributions to ethics, politics, and philosophy. Although the list of the seven sages may vary in different sources, the names most associated with this group are as follows:

Thales of Miletus: Considered the first philosopher in Western history, Thales excelled in astronomy, geometry, and politics.

Solon of Athens: He was an Athenian legislator and poet known for his political and social reforms, including the abolition of debt slavery and the promotion of equality before the law.

Chilon of Sparta: He was a Spartan legislator renowned for his equitable and just laws. He is credited with the famous phrase “Know thyself”.

Periander of Corinth: He was a Corinthian tyrant and statesman. Although his government was authoritarian, he is credited with legal reforms and the promotion of trade.

Bias of Priene: He was a judge and statesman known for his impartiality and wisdom. He is credited with the phrase “The most difficult thing is to know oneself”.

Cleobulus of Lindos: He was a poet and legislator known for his concise sentences and his ability to resolve conflicts. He is credited with the phrase “Measure is best”.

Pythecus of Mytilene: He was a ruler and legislator of Lesbos. He is known for his political reforms and leadership during a time of conflict and turmoil on the island.

This list I have shown you is the one proposed by the Greek historian Diogenes Laertius, because according to Plato, in his list does not appear Periander but Mison of Quene, but the one of Diogenes is one of the most accepted.

The archaic period was a time of important changes and development in Ancient Greece, marked by the transition from tribalist societies to a greater political and social organization. During this period, the first city-states (polis) were established, and advances were made in areas such as politics, legislation, philosophy, poetry and science. The Seven Sages are considered outstanding figures of this early period.

During the post-Archaic period, which is referred to as the classical period of Ancient Greece, spanning approximately the 5th and 4th centuries BC, was a time of great philosophical activity and gave rise to numerous philosophers as influential and important as the Seven Sages of Ancient Greece and these are some examples.

Socrates (469–399 B.C.): Although he left no writings, Socrates is a seminal figure in Western philosophy. He was known for his method of philosophical inquiry, maieutic, and his focus on self-knowledge and ethics. When questioned, he always maintained that he knew nothing.

Plato (427–347 BC): A disciple of Socrates, Plato founded the Academy and wrote a wide range of philosophical dialogues. He explored topics such as the theory of Ideas, justice, politics and epistemology. He is not Fernando Ubiergo’s partner.

Aristotle (384–322 BC): A student of Plato, Aristotle founded the Lyceum and made important contributions in various areas of knowledge, such as logic, metaphysics, ethics, politics, and biology. He always thought more than he said.

Diogenes of Sinope (412–323 BC): Famous for his ascetic lifestyle and his search for virtue in simplicity. He is considered one of the founders of the Cynic philosophy. He preferred to sunbathe than to continue talking with Alexander the Great.

Zeno of Citium (336–264 BC): Founder of Stoicism, a philosophical school that emphasized the importance of living in accord with nature and cultivating virtue. He preferred hearing to speaking because he had two ears and only one mouth.

Epicurus (341–270 BC): Founder of Epicureanism, a philosophical school that advocated the pursuit of quiet pleasure and the absence of mental pain. He was killed by some calculations, but not mathematical but renal, despite that he died teaching and happy.

These are just a few examples of the most outstanding philosophers of the classical period of Ancient Greece. Each of them made significant contributions to philosophy and left a legacy on Western thought.

Classical Greek thinkers have had an enormous influence on the world today and their legacy is still relevant in multiple aspects, such as philosophy, science, politics, art, literature, ethics, and morality, etc. and their influence continues in today’s world.

Their ideas and methods of critical thinking have helped shape our understanding of the world and have laid the foundation for many academic disciplines and areas of knowledge.