1 PHIL 260. ANCIENT GREEK PHILOSOPHY Fall 2017 Tuesday & Thursday: 9.30 10.45 (Oddfellows 106) Instructor: Dr. Steven Farrelly-Jackson Office: Oddfellows 115 Office hours: Mon & Wed: 12.15 1.30; Tues: 4.15 4.45; Thur: 11.00 11.30 & 4.15 4.45; Fri: 9.00 11.00. Telephone: 332-5323 E-mail: sfarrell@allegheny.edu Campus mail: Box 8 COURSE DESCRIPTION It has been said that the legacy of ancient Greece to western philosophy is western philosophy itself. This is no exaggeration. The discipline of philosophy as we know it comprising such fields as ethics, metaphysics, epistemology, logic, political philosophy was founded by the Greeks in an extraordinary period of intellectual creativity from around 600 to 300 BCE. Not only did the thinkers from this time articulate most of the important philosophical questions that still challenge us today, but they provided answers of lasting power and importance that continue to repay study and reflection. This course is a wide-ranging introduction to ancient Greek philosophy. It covers key inquiries and ideas of, first, the looseknit group of thinkers known as the Presocratics, the immense and intriguing figure of Socrates himself, and then two of the acknowledged geniuses in philosophy of any age: Plato and Aristotle. Given the wealth of material especially from Plato and Aristotle the approach is necessarily (and unfortunately) highly selective, and should be seen simply as providing a first inroad into this rich area. A word of warning. There is a good deal of reading in this course, some of it difficult, but to engage properly with the ideas of these philosophers it is essential to read these texts carefully and spend time thinking about them. This is no real hardship. Plato in particular was an outstanding literary stylist, and in general anyone interested in philosophy cannot but respond to the originality, freshness and vitality of these first forays into grappling with the great universal questions about life, the world, God, mind, and the Good. COURSE GOALS & LEARNING OBJECTIVES This course, as with most philosophy courses, has two mutually reinforcing aspects: one concerns (roughly) the history of philosophical ideas; the other concerns actually thinking about and trying to answer philosophical questions and problems. As such the goals for the course are twofold: (1) to gain some understanding of what philosophical questions ancient Greek philosophers raised, and how they tried to answer them; and (2) to think and argue with increasing sophistication about these questions for ourselves. In this particular course most emphasis will be placed on the first of these goals, but the second cannot be ignored, for the questions and ideas and ancient philosophers posed engage us as much today as ever. As such the course is organized around several specific learning objectives. The themes presented in class and the assigned texts correspond to these objectives. By the end of the course students will be able to: explain the importance of the classical Greek period in philosophy in respect both of pre-philosophical thinking before it, and of philosophical and scientific thinking since. explain the key ideas and arguments of the main Greek philosophers from the Presocratics to Aristotle, and how these ideas and arguments developed. explain and discuss some of the most important philosophical problems facing these ideas and theories. During the course of the semester students: read the central philosophical texts by the above-mentioned philosophers. engage in daily class discussion of philosophical questions. practice analytical skills by writing philosophical papers on topics related to the course.
2 COURSE MATERIALS S. Marc Cohen, P. Curd & C.D.C. Reeve (eds), Readings in Ancient Greek Philosophy from Thales to Aristotle. 5 th Edition. (Indianapolis/Cambridge: Hackett Publishing Company, 2016). [AGP] David Roochnik, Retrieving the Ancients: An Introduction to Greek Philosophy (Oxford: Blackwell Publishing, 2004). [RA] COURSE REQUIREMENTS Standard course requirements are: attendance at all classes, doing the assigned reading, and performance of assigned essays and examinations. Classes: Lectures and discussions in class will aim (a) to put philosophical figures and their works in an intellectual context, and (b) to set out the framework of the various philosophical issues raised in a way that (i) enables you to make better sense of the readings and their contained ideas, and (ii) gives some guidance to thinking further about the issues for yourselves. Reading: Reading philosophy is not done in the same way as reading, say, a scientific text for information. When you read a philosophical text you are following the process of someone else s thinking and reasoning on a philosophical question, and usually the main goal of the reading is ultimately to deepen your own understanding of the problem and to refine your own ability to think about it for yourself. This requires that you (a) first try to understand what the writer is saying (an especially challenging task in the case of ancient writers), (b) ask yourself whether you agree with these ideas, and why (or why not), and if not (c) try to think of alternative ideas you would argue for. Don t worry if you find this difficult. Philosophical questions are not easy for anyone (philosophy professors included!), and rarely do philosophers come up with definitive answers, but this intellectual challenge is part of the pleasure of the subject. The important thing is to do the thinking and try to make some progress towards answers. IMPORTANT NOTE: this course will move quickly, the readings are often long and demanding, and it will be easy to get lost if one falls behind. It is essential to keep up with the reading as we go along, first, so that class discussion will be meaningful, and second, because reading philosophy always takes time and can never (successfully) be crammed at the last minute. I would also advise you to take careful notes in class, which will be important memory/revision aids when it comes to doing exams and essays. Please also check the class Sakai site on a regular basis for announcements, assignments, and so on. USEFUL BOOKS FOR FURTHER RESEARCH (all in Pelletier Library) The following works vary considerably in the degree of depth and detail into which they go. Several go well beyond the level of treatment needed for this course, but I include them for your information and interest. Be judicious in any further reading you do, and don t hesitate to ask me for advice. In each section, works are listed in alphabetical order not order of priority; those marked with an asterisk (*) are the most accessible for beginning students in philosophy. General References *Paul Edwards (ed.), The Encyclopedia of Philosophy (in eight volumes) Reference section. W.K.C. Guthrie, A History of Greek Philosophy. *T. Irwin, Classical Thought. *Luce, J.V., An Introduction to Greek Philosophy. *D. Sedley (ed.), The Cambridge Companion to Greek and Roman Philosophy. The PreSocratics D.J. Furley & R.E. Allen (eds), Studies in Presocratic Philosophy, Vols 1 & 2. G.S. Kirk, J.E. Raven and M. Schofield, eds., The Presocratic Philosophers, 2nd edition.
3 *A.A. Long (ed.), The Cambridge Companion to Early Greek Philosophy. Plato and Socrates *J. Annas, An Introduction to Plato s Republic. I.M. Crombie, An Examination of Plato s Doctrines (2 volumes) *G.M. Grube, Plato s Thought. G. Vlastos, Platonic Studies. G. Vlastos (ed.), The Philosophy of Socrates: A Collection of Critical Essays. *R. Kraut (ed.), The Cambridge Companion to Plato. Aristotle *J. Ackrill, Aristotle the Philosopher. *J. Barnes (ed.), The Cambridge Companion to Aristotle. J. Lear, Aristotle: The Desire to Understand. W.D. Ross, Aristotle. The following on-line resources are also worth consulting: Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy at: http://www.iep.utm.edu. [Useful for beginning students.] Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy at: http://plato.stanford.edu. [Also useful, but the entries are generally much more advanced and detailed. Only for philosophy specialists.] COURSE ASSESSMENT 2 in-semester essay assignments [due 26 Sep & 9 Nov] @ 15% and 20% = 35% Mid-term Examination [take-home; due 20 Oct] = 20% Reading responses = 5% Class participation = 10% Class attendance = 5% Final exam essay [due Mon 18 Dec, 12.00 noon] = 25% Detailed information about essay topics, exams, readings, class participation, research advice and preparation of the writing assignments will be provided in due course. POLICIES, GUIDELINES AND GRADING CRITERIA Full information about the writing, delivery and grading of essays, avoidance of plagiarism, mid-term and final exams, and so on, may be found on the class Sakai site. FINAL NOTE I will be proceeding on the assumption that you are genuinely interested in this subject, that you aim to learn as much as possible, and that you are prepared to put the necessary time and effort into achieving true learning. I want to help you as much as possible in your endeavors, so please let me know if there is anything more I can be doing in this regard. In particular, if at any time you feel you are losing ground, losing your way, or experiencing any undue problems related to the course, please don t hesitate to come and see me, and as early as possible. I am always glad to try and help, and the sooner we address problems the better. * * *
4 SCHEDULE OF TOPICS The following schedule provides both class topics and full details of the reading to be done in connection with these (normally before the class session itself). Where readings on Plato are concerned, I have tried in most cases to identify key sections of the (often long) dialogues which relate directly to particular topics, but it is essential that you try to read each dialogue as a whole if you are to gain a proper appreciation and understanding of what Plato is saying. DATE CLASS TOPIC CORE READING WEEK ONE Tues 29 Aug PART I: THE PRESOCRATICS Introduction. The birth of ancient Greek philosophy in Miletus, Ionia. Thales. AGP: Introduction (1-6); 7-8. RA: 1-21. Thur 31 Aug The Milesians continued (Anaximander & Anaximenes). AGP: 8-11. RA: 21-25. WEEK TWO Tues 5 Sep Thur 7 Sep Pythagoras and Pythagoreanism. Xenophanes. Heraclitus. AGP: 12-15 (see also Philolaus: 61-63); 15-19. RA: 25-31. AGP: 19-25. RA: 31-41. WEEK THREE Tues 12 Sep The Eleatics: Parmenides and Zeno. AGP: 26-30; 31-33. (See also Melissus: 59-61.) RA: 41-48. Thur 14 Sep 5 th Century Pluralists and Atomists: Empedocles, Anaxagoras, and Democritus. AGP: 33-47; 47-50; 51-59. RA: 49-64. WEEK FOUR Tues 19 Sep Thur 21 Sep The Sophistic movement: Protagoras and Gorgias. PART II: SOCRATES AND PLATO Introduction to Plato s dialogues. Socrates. The Socratic method of elenkhos: the search for definitions and essences. AGP: 63-73. RA: 66-80. Apology Crito RA: 80-93; 101-115.
5 WEEK FIVE Tues 26 Sep Socratic ethics I. Piety. Euthyphro FIRST ESSAY DUE Thur 28 Sep Socratic ethics II. Aretē (virtue, or human excellence). Aretē and knowledge. The problem of akrasia. Meno: 70a-80c. Gorgias: 466d-479e. Protagoras: 351b-358d. WEEK SIX Tues 3 Oct Plato on Knowledge I. Meno s paradox. Recollection in the Meno and Phaedo. Meno: 80d-86c; 97a-98b. Phaedo: 72e-76e. Timaeus: 41d-e. RA: 115-126. Thur 5 Oct Plato on the immortality of the soul. Arguments in the Phaedo. Phaedo: 76d-94d. RA: 93 ff. WEEK SEVEN Tues 10 Oct FALL BREAK Thur 12 Oct Plato on Knowledge II. Knowledge and Belief. Republic: 475e-480. Meno: 97a-98b. WEEK EIGHT Tues 17 Oct Plato on Knowledge III. The Divided Line. Republic: 507b-511e; 514a-518d; 533b-535a. Phaedo: 99b-100. RA: 126-132. Thur 19 Oct Plato s theory of Forms I. MID-TERM EXAM DUE (Fri 20 Oct) Phaedo: 65d; 72e-76e; 78c-79a; 95e-107b. Symposium: 210a-211b. Timaeus: 27d-29d; 51d-52a. WEEK NINE Tues 24 Oct GATOR DAY NO CLASS
6 Thur 26 Oct Plato s theory of Forms II. The Form of the Good. Republic: 507b-511e; 514a-518d; 523a-525b; 533b-535a; 596b. RA: 132-134. WEEK TEN Tues 31 Oct Love and Beauty in the Symposium. Symposium: esp. 199c-212c. RA: 134-146. Thur 2 Nov Critical discussion of the theory of Forms in the Parmenides. Parmenides: 127d-136e. Symposium: 210a-211b. Phaedo: 100c. Republic: 596a; 597b-c. WEEK ELEVEN Tues 7 Nov PART III: ARISTOTLE Introduction to Aristotle. The Categories. Categories Thur 9 Nov Aristotle on Nature. SECOND ESSAY DUE Physics: II.1. RA: 164-173. WEEK TWELVE Tues 14 Nov Aristotle on Form and Matter. Physics: II.5-7. RA: 173-177. Thur 16 Nov Aristotle: The Four Causes. Physics: II.3-6, 8-9. Parts of Animals: I.1. RA: 177-185. WEEK THIRTEEN Tues 21 Nov Aristotle s Four Causes applied: Soul and Body. De Anima: I.1.4; II.1-4. RA: 185-190. Thur 23 Nov THANKSGIVING BREAK
7 WEEK FOURTEEN Tues 28 Nov Soul and Knowledge. De Anima: II.5-6, 11-12; III.3-5. RA: 190-198. Thur 30 Nov Aristotelian ethics I. Eudaimonia (happiness) and aretē (virtue) Nicomachean Ethics: I, II, V. RA: 199-210. WEEK FIFTEEN Tues 5 Dec Aristotelian ethics II. Phronesis (practical wisdom) Nicomachean Ethics: VI. RA: 210-214. Thur 7 Dec Aristotelian ethics III. Happiness and Intellectual virtue. Nicomachean Ethics: X. RA: 210-214. WEEK SIXTEEN Tues 12 Dec Conclusion: the legacy of Greek Philosophy. EXAM PERIOD Mon 18 Dec, noon FINAL ESSAY DUE * * * * *