Deductive method is the process of reasoning by which we draw conclusions by logical inference from given premises. If we begin by accepting the propositions that "All Greeks have beards" and that "Zeno is a Greek," we may validly conclude that "Zeno has a beard." We refer to the conclusions of deductive reasoning as valid, rather than true, because we must distinguish clearly between that which follows logically from other statements and that which is the case.
Starting premises may be articles of faith, assumptions, or conclusions based on earlier reasoning. To draw valid conclusions, the deductive method uses a special set of rules. These rules are based on the structures of premises and conclusions. Mathematics and logic make extensive use of the deductive method. The scientific method requires a combination of induction and deduction.
HOMER
Homer is traditionally considered the ancient Greek poet who composed the great epics the Iliad and the Odyssey. Scholars know almost nothing about Homer. Some believe that he may have lived in a Greek-speaking city on the eastern shore of the Aegean Sea or on the island of Khios. Other scholars deny that he ever existed. According to tradition, Homer was blind.
Homer's poems. The events in the Iliad and the Odyssey occur during and after the Trojan War. The legend of the war may be based on an actual war fought between Greece and the city of Troy in the mid-1200's B.C. Many scholars believe the poems were composed between 800 and 700 B.C. because the poems refer to social conditions at that time.
Archaeologists have discovered evidence in the ruins of Troy and ancient Greece that confirms the historical basis for some things described in the poems. But the poems' characters and events--even if partly based on real people and historical incidents--were altered over the centuries in the retelling of folk tales and in the poems of singing poets called bards. The bards created a series of poems that told the entire story of the Trojan War. The Iliad and the Odyssey are the only ones that survive, probably because of their long and sophisticated form.
ILIAD
Iliad is one of the oldest surviving Greek poems. According to tradition, it was composed by the ancient Greek poet Homer, probably in the 700's B.C. The Iliad describes certain events in the final year of the Trojan War, which was fought between Greece and the city of Troy. According to legend, the Trojan War lasted 10 years, until Greece defeated Troy. Many scholars believe the legend is based on a real war of the mid-1200's B.C. For information on the historical background and authorship of the Iliad.
According to the Iliad, the Trojan War was fought over Helen, the beautiful wife of King Menelaus of Sparta. Helen had been taken from Sparta to the city of Troy by Paris, a son of the Trojan king, Priam. Menelaus's brother, Agamemnon, led an army of Greek heroes to bring Helen back to Sparta.
The Iliad is divided into 24 books (sections). The story covers 54 days. Most of the action takes place in the Greek camp, inside the walls of Troy, and in nearby areas. A quarrel develops between Agamemnon and Achilles, the greatest of the young Greek heroes. Achilles feels he is not being adequately rewarded for his services to the Greeks. Agamemnon, in turn, feels that Achilles does not have enough respect for his position as commander of the army. Achilles withdraws into his tent and refuses to fight. Without Achilles, the Greeks are driven back to their ships by Trojan forces led by Hector, another of Priam's sons. Achilles's closest friend, Patroclus, goes to fight in Achilles's armor to help the Greeks. Hector kills Patroclus, which arouses Achilles to seek revenge. Achilles then kills Hector outside Troy. He keeps Hector's body, until Priam comes to plead with him. Achilles takes pity on Priam and gives him the body for proper burial. The story ends with Hector's funeral.
For nearly 3,000 years, readers have found the Iliad a moving expression of the heroism, idealism, and tragedy of war. In addition to the battle scenes, the Iliad tells about life within Troy. It describes the emotional farewell between Hector and his wife, Andromache, who foresees his death. Hector is a great soldier. But he basically represents the family man who is called on to defend his country and, in so doing, loses his life. The poem also deals with issues of honor and social obligation.
SYNAGOGUE
Synagogue is the Jewish house of worship and the center of Jewish education and social life. The word synagogue usually refers to the place where worship and other activities take place. The synagogue has become one of the most important centers for the transmission and preservation of Judaism.
A synagogue has many functions. People gather there for worship services every morning and evening, as well as on the Sabbath and on holy days. Synagogues have schools where children and adults study the scriptures, the Hebrew language, and Jewish history. Such important events as a wedding or a bar mitzvah are celebrated in the synagogue. In the United States, many synagogues also serve as meeting places for Jewish organizations in the community.
Jews began to gather for formal prayer in Biblical times at the Temple in Jerusalem when it was the center of Jewish life. The Temple was destroyed in 587 or 586 B.C. Later, buildings called synagogues were built. They served as places of prayer and study, and as centers of Jewish life worldwide.