ABSTRACT
The authentic philosopher can be distinguished from his "homonyms", then, in the light of the history of Hellenic philosophia, one can specify as such criteria the two kinds of philosophic excellence, the intellectual and the ethical aretai. According to this delineation of genuine Hellenic philosophy, one can say that a genuine philosopher is a person who is both noetically enlightened and an ethically self-sufficient and autonomous human being. This means that they have accomplished the following two important philosophical tasks. First, the genuine philosopher has thoroughly examined himself or herself. Secondly, the genuine philosophers do not only teach the acquired wisdom, but also and more importantly are able to practice the teaching in their own daily life. It is true that some intellectually awakened people have remained skeptical on the applicability of the appellation "Western" to Hellenic philosophy and culture, and about the truthfulness of the European claim of an exclusive right to classical inheritance.
