Panta Sophika

Heptasophism

Heptasophism is the study of the teachings of the Heptasophoi who are the Seven Sophoi Ekkritoi or Distinguished Clever Ones.

The Heptasophoi according to current Zartian doctrine are: Zartus (Zoroaster), Heraclitus, Plato, Aristotle, Hegel, Nietzsche and Carl Jung.

We believe that the study of the Heptasophoi provides a good foundation of philosophical knowledge for modern Zartians. We don't claim that these seven say everything that needs to be said, or that everything that they say is correct. But rather if we want to pick just seven philosophers to pay attention to, then these seven are as good a selection as any.

1. Zartus

Zoroaster demonstrates to us how to make sense of the good and evil in the world in the language of philosophy.

2. Heraclitus

Heraclitus teaches about the importance of process. The world is not made up of static things, but is something constantly in motion.

3. Plato

Plato saw the world as an imperfect manifestation of an Ideal Good realm. Our job in life is to try and make this earthly realm as close to the divine realm as we can. He believed that most people were not suitable to this task and that only the most educated and able should rule.

4. Aristotle

Aristotle took a different approach to Plato. He focussed on the everyday world , rather than the Ideal one. He argued the good life came from better customs and laws shaping everybody's behaviour, and not from the rule of a technocrat seeking to implement a Utopian vision.

5. Hegel

Hegel was interested in the process of social life. He famously argued that the ongoing evolution of society came about as one movement was encountered by its opposite leading to a synthesis of the two which became the new starting point. His work was influential to later social thinkers such as Karl Marx.

6. Nietzsche

Nietzsche challenged what he saw as traditional Christian morality because of its emphasis on service to others, rather than becoming strong and mighty. He blamed Zoroaster as the father of Christian morality and argued that his teaching was incomplete in not paying sufficient attention to the value of 'mightiness'.

7. Carl Jung

Jung studied the human soul and taught that much of the nature of our soul is unconcious , i.e. that we are not aware of the nature of our own minds. Our unconscious minds still have an impact on our behaviour, but in ways that we are not aware of and are not able to check. If we wish to be fully in control of ourselves and our actions then we need to bring this shadow side of our personality into the light.

Updated Aug 4026 ZHE