Phil 375 – Ancient GreekPhilosophy --Fall, 2009
Metropolitan Sate University
Syllabus (Note: this is the syllabus handed out on the first night of class. Check the schedule below for updates and corrections)
Marc Cohen's Lecture Notes on Ancient Philosophy
Paper writing guides:
Date |
Topic |
Reading (Note: CP = Classical Philosophy by Terence Irwin; AP = Ancient Philosophy by Anthony Kenny; TBA means To Be Announced later) |
Other stuff (Notes, study questions, links, etc.) |
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Aug. 24 |
Introductory Session |
None |
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Aug. 31 |
Pre-Socratic theories about the nature of things |
AP, through p.28; CP, Chapter 2. Optional: AP, pp.178-192; CP, Introduction |
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Sept. 7 |
Labor day – no class |
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Sept. 14 |
Socrates: The man and his method |
Euthyphro, Apology, Crito in Five Dialogues; AP, pp.28-45; CP, pp.84-95 |
Notes and study questions for Euthyphro, Apology, Crito |
Sept. 21 |
From Socrates to Plato |
Meno in Five Dialogues; CP, pp.112-122; AP, pp.45-49 |
Study questions for Meno |
Sept. 28 |
The theory of Forms |
Phaedo in Five Dialogues; AP, pp. 49-56, 199-216; CP, pp.122-144 |
Study questions for Phaedo |
Oct. 5 |
The immortality of the soul |
Phaedo again; AP, pp.229-241; CP, pp.197-215; First paper due (assignment instructions) |
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Oct. 12 |
Aristotle (and later thinkers) on form and matter, soul and body |
CP, pp. 145-178; AP, pp.216-228, 241-256 |
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Oct. 19 |
Knowledge: Skeptical challenges and responses |
CP, pp. 96-111, 178-196; AP, pp.145-177 |
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Oct. 26 |
Freedom and Determinism |
CP, pp.225-249; AP, pp.189-198, 251-256 |
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Nov 2 |
Pleasure |
CP. pp.250-277; AP, pp.257-268, 274-279 |
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Nov 9 |
Virtue |
CP. pp.278-297; AP, pp.268-274; Second paper due (assignment instructions) |
Chart of the virtues |
Nov 16 |
Justice and friendship |
CP. pp.298-326; Aristotle, Nichomachean Ethics, Books 5, 8, and 9 (online here: 5, 8, 9) |
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Nov 23 |
Virtue and Happiness |
CP. pp.327-343; AP, pp.280-288 |
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Nov 30 |
Ancient political theory |
CP, 344-374; AP, pp.56-62, 82-87; Aristotle on slavery and women (handout online here) |
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Dec. 7 |
Wrap up |
Third paper due (assignment instructions) |