|
PHL202 H5S Ancient Philosophy |
|
(Click here to expand, or click on each unit independently) |
|
Introduction |
|
Plato and Socrates |
|
Aristotle |
|
Warning: This page does not correspond to any actual course. I've only built it as a proposal for my instructorship application. |
|
Warning: This page does not correspond to any actual course. I've only built it as a proposal for my instructorship application. |
|
Week 1 |
1. Introduction. Ancient conceptions of philosophy and modern approaches to ancient philosophy. |
|
|
2. The Examined Life. First approach to the question about the good life: How should I live? ( Apology) |
|
Week 2 |
3. Know Thyself. Second approach to the question about the good life: What am I? (Apology, Alcibiades) |
|
|
4. Love of Wisdom. Third approach to the question about the good life: How do I become good? (Meno) |
|
Week 3 |
5. Is Wisdom Attainable? Paradox of inquiry and doctrine of recollection. (Meno, Phaedo) |
|
|
6. Is Self-Knowledge Possible? The self as the soul and the body as obstacle. (68c-69c) (Phaedo) |
|
Week 4 |
7. Love of Wisdom (II). Competing views about wisdom. The art of measurement. (Protagoras) |
|
|
8. Is Wisdom so Desirable? Callicles’ challenge against wisdom and defense of the political life. (Gorgias) |
|
Week 5 |
9. Challenge against Justice. Why be just? City-soul analogy. (Republic 1-3) |
|
|
10. Moral Psychology and the Virtues. Parts of soul. Akrasia. (Republic 4) |
|
Week 6 |
11. Philosopher Kings. The ideal education of the rulers. The Form of the Good. (Republic 5-7) |
|
|
12. Mid-term exam, in class. (Click here to get the review questions) |
|
Week 7 |
13. Aristotle on Wisdom. Aristotle’s own history of philosophy. Criticism of previous thinkers, including Socrates and Plato. (Metaph. 1-3, 6, Physics 2.1-9) |
|
|
14. Arguments against Plato’s Forms. (Metaph. 1.9, NE 1.6) |
|
Week 8 |
15. Substance. What is being? Study of substance. Subject, matter and form. Essence. (Metaph. 7.1-4,7-9) |
|
|
16. Potentiality and Actuality. (Metaph. 9.1-2, 5-7) |
|
Week 9 |
17. On the soul (I). The nature of the soul. Perception. (De Anima 1.1, 2.1-6, 11-12) |
|
|
18. On the soul (II). Imagination. Thought. Movement. (De Anima3.3-5, 10-11) |
|
Week 10 |
19. Aristotle on the acquisition of knowledge. (Post An. 1.1-4, 2.8-10, 19) |
|
|
20. Aristotle on the human good. The good, virtue and the human function. (NE 1.1-5, 7) |
|
Week 11 |
21. Virtues of character. On habituation. Relation between aretę and phronęsis. (NE 2.1-7, 6.13) |
|
|
22. Voluntariness. Issues about intention and motive. Praise and blame. Responsibility. (NE 3.1-5) |
|
Week 12 |
23. Practical vs. theoretical wisdom. Aristotle on the best life. (NE 6, 10.6-8) |
|
|
24. Final considerations. |
|
|
Final exam (Review questions) |