The Department of Philosophy at the College of Arts / University of Basrah organized a lecture entitled “The Relationship of Greek Philosophy to What Preceded It” as part of the department’s scientific activities for the 2025–2026 academic year.
The lecture, delivered by Professor Dr. Maha Issa Fattah, aimed to explore the major fields of knowledge that preceded the emergence of philosophical thought and dominated life as a whole. It also shed light on the rise of philosophical thinking and its confrontation with both mythological and religious thought in a serious attempt to assert the independence of reason and elevate its status.
The lecture addressed the topic through an analytical presentation of the position of mythological and religious thought in Greek society, as well as an examination of the reasons that led humans to resort to and adhere to myth and religion.
It also discussed several intellectual issues raised by the emergence of philosophical thinking with Thales, including:
1. The declaration of the independence of reason and its elevation.
2. Belief in the new method of thinking represented by the emergence of philosophy, and the willingness to endure everything, even sacrifice, for its continuation as a new model of human thought.
3. Defining the subject, purpose, and methodology of philosophy in achieving its goals, in comparison with earlier Greek thought.
The lecture concluded with an open discussion session involving faculty members and guests, adding an interactive and scholarly dimension to the event.
