Note: This PDF syllabus is for informational purposes only. The final authority lies with the printed syllabus distributed in class, and any changes made thereto. This document was created on 8/26/2007 Course Syllabus Ancient Greek Philosophy Instructor: Office: Office Hrs: Telephone: C. E. M. Dunlop 544 French Hall T-Th 10:00-11:30, and by appointment 762-3380 (direct to Philosophy) 1-800-942-5636 (toll-free; ask for the UM-Flint Philosophy Department) E-mail: Web Pages: C. E. M. Dunlop s Photos of Greece: < http://www.umich.edu/~cdunlop/greece> C. E. M. Dunlop s Personal Web Page: <http://www.umich.edu/~cdunlop/> UM-Flint Philosophy Department: <http://www.umflint/departments/phl/> T his course will survey the beginnings of Western philosophy, starting with the sixth century B.C.E. scientists, and tracing the development of their ideas for approximately 200 years through the philosophy of Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle. In studying this period, you will discover how philosophy first arose, and how the ancient thinkers posed many of the questions that still occupy the attention of philosophers and scientists today. The material for this course is fascinating, but often challenging. Before committing yourself to PHL 340, therefore, please make sure that you have sufficient time to devote to class preparation. There will be two examinations, a major term paper, and three short writing assignments. The readings can be demanding: most assignments are not overly long, but they will need to be read and often re-read; in most cases several hours of class preparation will be necessary for each class. Although you will not be held responsible for minute details, it is essential that you read the assignments prior to class in order to gain an understanding of the course material. Lectures are intended to supplement, not supplant, course preparation. TEXTS (all in paperback) Cohen, Curd, and Reeve, Readings in Ancient Greek Philosophy, 3 rd edition [RAGP] Guthrie, The Greek Philosophers: From Thales to Aristotle [Guthrie] Harvey, Writing with Sources: A Guide for Students COURSE REQUIREMENTS 25% In-class mid-term examination (essay format) 25% Take-home final examination (essay format) 25% 3 short papers (one mandatory + choose one from Option 1 & one from Option 2) 1 25% Term Paper (due December 6) 1 As is indicated under Course Policies (page 2 of this syllabus), you may elect to write more than three papers.
Philosophy 340 Course Syllabus / Fall, 2007 Page 2 COURSE POLICIES No extra credit is available for this course; however, you may choose to write more than one paper for Option 1 and Option 2, in which case you will be credited with the higher of your two scores for the given option. Exams may not be made up except in very serious situations, and only when (a) prior arrangements have been made with the instructor, or (b) an acceptable written medical excuse is presented. Assigned papers will be accepted only as printed copies submitted in class on the dates due (no e-mail attachments). Late papers will not be accepted. The University s policy on Academic Integrity applies to all work submitted in this course; plagiarism is a serious infraction and will be dealt with accordingly. TERM PAPER OVERVIEW The term paper is intended to be a major research paper (15-20 pages in length). A substantial list of possible term paper topics will be distributed in class, so you should have no difficulty finding a topic that suits your interests (you are free also to suggest additional topics). Since the term paper will be a formal project, it should conform to basic scholarly canons. Gordon Harvey s short book Writing with Sources is a required text for this course, and your term paper will be held to the scholarly standards outlined by Harvey. Make sure that you read that book early in the semester, and let me know if it raises any questions that you would like to have addressed. Please note that a term paper proposal is due on November 6. Jacques Louis David, The Death of Socrates (1787)
Philosophy 340 Course Syllabus / Fall, 2007 Page 3 ASSIGNMENT SCHEDULE Shaded dates indicate that exams or papers are due 8/30 Introduction to the Course (no reading assignment) 9/4 The Religious Background and Greek Modes of Thought Guthrie, pp. 1-21 RAGP, pp. 1-7 9/6 The Milesians: Thales, Anaximander, Anaximenes RAGP, pp. 8-14 Guthrie, pp. 22-33 (up to final ) Option 1 paper due (2-3 pages suggested length): Write a short essay in which you (a) identify and explain the basic principle of reality postulated by each of the three Milesian thinkers, and (b) suggest how Anaximander s theory may be regarded as an advance over Thales, and how Anaximenes theory may be regarded as an advance over Anaximander s. Justify your claims with references to specific passages in RAGP. 9/11 The Pythagoreans RAGP, pp. 15-20 Review Guthrie, pp. 12 (line 3) - 16 (up to new ) Guthrie, pp. 33 (final ) - 42. Thales 9/13 Heraclitus RAGP, pp. 24-34 Guthrie, pp. 43-46 (final ) 9/18 Parmenides and Zeno RAGP, pp. 35-41; also pp. 59-63 Guthrie, pp. 46 (final ) - 50 (up to final ) Pythagoras
Philosophy 340 Course Syllabus / Fall, 2007 Page 4 9/20 Empedocles and Anaxagoras RAGP, pp. 42-58 Guthrie, pp. 50 (final ) - 56 (top ) 9/25 The Atomic Theory RAGP, pp. 64-71 Guthrie, pp 56 (final ) - 62 Option 1 paper due (2-3 pages suggested length): Parmenides declared that (a) nonbeing does not exist, and (b) what does exist must be eternal, unchanging, indivisible, etc. Write a paper in which you indicate ways in which Parmenides two principles are accepted by the Atomists, and ways in which they are rejected. Support your claims with references to specific passages in RAGP (and appropriate quotations, if necessary). 9/27 The Sophists RAGP, pp. 80-88 2 Guthrie, pp. 63-71 (up to middle ) 10/2 Introduction to Socrates RAGP, pp. 89-92 Guthrie, pp. 71 (last two s) - 80 10/4 Socrates Trial, Imprisonment, and Death RAGP, pp. 115-153; 278 (114d1 3 )- 281 4 10/9 An Early Socratic Dialogue: Euthyphro RAGP, pp. 97-114 10/11 Mid-term Examination 10/16 Plato: Introduction and Meno RAGP, pp. 93-96; also pp. 203-212 Review Guthrie, pp. 8 (2 nd ) - 10 (up to new ) Socrates 2 In this assignment, there are two selections by Gorgias (pp. 81-85). The first (selection #6) is a parody of Parmenides; however, it can become a bit tedious, so concentrate on the flavor rather than the details. The second selection (#7 on pp. 84-85) is more interesting. Here, Gorgias is defending the famously beautiful Helen, who left her husband (Menelaus of Sparta) for another man (Paris of Troy). Historically, it s not clear whether she left voluntarily or was abducted, but in any case, her leaving Menelaus was the cause of the Trojan War. Gorgias defense is a demonstration of his rhetorical skills, but it might be the envy of any contemporary divorce lawyer. 3 The number 114d1 is an example of what is called a Stephanus number a system used by most editions of Plato s works. This system allows readers of different editions to locate the same passage in Plato. In the present instance, as should be fairly obvious, the line 114d1 references the sentence beginning with the words No sensible man would insist.... 4 The Death Scene passage inspired Jacques Louis David s painting, reproduced on page 2 of this syllabus. For a nice full-color version, check out the Internet site <http://mexplaza.udg.mx/wm/paint/auth/david/socrates.jpg>.
Philosophy 340 Course Syllabus / Fall, 2007 Page 5 10/18 Plato: Meno (concluded) RAGP, pp. 213-228 10/23 Plato: Phaedo 5 RAGP, pp. 229-264 (96a5) 10/25 Plato: Phaedo (concluded) RAGP, pp. 264-281 (pp. 278-281 are a review) Guthrie, pp. 81-100 10/30 Plato s Republic: The Problem of Justice and the Ideal City 6 RAGP, p. 331 (italicized introduction only) RAGP, pp. 360-385; 413 (line8) - 444 Review Guthrie, pp. 6 (line 4) - 8 (up to new ) Guthrie, pp. 108 (middle) - 115 (up to final ) Plato 11/1 Plato s Republic: The Three Waves RAGP, pp. 445-464 (line 3); also pp. 467 (final ) - 476 Mandatory paper due (5 pages suggested length): In these reading selections, Socrates makes three revolutionary proposals concerning (1) the role of women; (2) procreation and the raising of children; (3) the philosopher-king. Describe the details of each proposal, indicating also how Socrates defends each of them. Support your claims with references to appropriate specific passages in the Republic. 11/6 Plato s Republic: The Sun, the Line, and the Cave 7 RAGP, pp. 477-482 (489c6); also pp. 494 (503b3) - 509 (520d4) Term paper proposal due 11/8 Plato s Republic: Forms & the Arts; Final Myth; Critique 8 RAGP, pp. 578-613 11/13 Aristotle: Introduction and Critique of Plato RAGP, pp. 645-654; also pp. 767 (Ch. 6) - 770 (991b9) 9 5 Both of the reading assignments from the Phaedo (today and next time) introduce and elaborate an absolutely essential feature of Plato s philosophy. Please give them some extra time and attention. Multiple readings would be helpful. 6 Due to time constraints, only selected parts of Plato s Republic are assigned. If you are serious about Plato, however, you should at some point read the entire work. 7 These sections contain the most famous passages in the Republic. Please give them special attention, and note the role of the Theory of Forms throughout. 8 The critique is excerpted from the Parmenides, in which Plato famously criticized his own Theory of Forms. 9 The number 991b9 is called a Bekker number ; it works just like the Stephanus numbering in Plato.
Philosophy 340 Course Syllabus / Fall, 2007 Page 6 11/15 Aristotle: Nature and Causation 10 Nature vs. Artifacts: RAGP, pp. 702 (Book II) - 707 (up to Ch. 3) The Four Causes: RAGP, pp. 707 (Ch. 3) - 708 (195a28); 762 (Ch. 3) - 768 (up to Ch. 9) Luck and Chance: RAGP, pp. 709 (Ch. 4) - 713 (up to Ch. 6) Teleology 11 in Nature: RAGP, pp. 716 (Ch. 8) - 718 (up to Ch. 9) Guthrie, pp. 125 (3 rd ) - 136 (middle of page) Option 2 paper due (3-5 pages suggested length): Explain each of Aristotle s four causes, and give an example of each. In addition, indicate which of the four causes were endorsed by Aristotle s predecessors (both the Presocratics and Plato). Be specific (name the earlier philosophers, and identify which predecessors accepted which causes), and justify your points with references to specific passages in RAGP. Caution: Use Aristotle s own account as your guide, but assess his presentation in terms of what you know about the earlier philosophers. 11/20 Aristotle s Psychology: Nutrition and Perception RAGP, pp. 809-812 (up to Ch. 4); 813-825 (skip Ch. 5, pp. 821-823) Guthrie, pp. 142-149 (up to final ) 11/27 Aristotle s Psychology: The Nature of Mind RAGP, pp. 827 (Ch. 4) - 829 (up to Ch. 10) 12 11/29 Aristotle s Ethics Subject Matter and Method: RAGP, pp. 832-845 (up to Book II) The Nature of Virtue: RAGP, pp. 845-852 (up to Book III) Guthrie, pp. 149 (final ) - 156 (up to final ) Aristotle Option 2 paper due (3-5 pages suggested length): According to Aristotle, happiness consists of the soul s expressing virtue. Explain what this means, 13 and then describe how Aristotle develops his account of virtue (it unfolds as it goes along). Support your description by making reference to specific passages in Book II from RAGP, using Bekker numbers where appropriate. 10 Note that the text contains a glossary of terms in Aristotle (see pp. 871-890). If you come across an unfamiliar term in Aristotle, the glossary is the first place to look. 11 Teleology (pronounced tee-lee-ah-luh-jee ) means purpose-oriented. Thus, a teleological explanation of something would emphasize its goals or purposes. Biological explanations are often teleological. Example: The heart s function is to circulate blood in the body. 12 Note how the view of mind outlined in this reading is at odds with much of what Aristotle said in the previous assignment. 13 It may help to consult the glossary entries on the terms happiness and virtue.
Philosophy 340 Course Syllabus / Fall, 2007 12/4 Page 7 Aristotle s Ethics (concluded) Voluntary Acts, Choice, and Deliberation: RAGP, pp. 852 (Book III) - 863 (Book V) Ultimate Happiness: RAGP, pp. 881 (Book X) - 887 (Ch. 9) Limits of Argument and the Importance of Politics: RAGP, pp 887 (Ch. 9) - 891 Guthrie, pp. 156 (final ) - 161 12/6 Final Course Business Transacted (no reading assignment) Term Papers Due.14 No exceptions! Take-home Final Examinations Distributed Course Evaluations 12/18 Final Examinations Due in the Philosophy Department by 4:00 pm. No Exceptions! Rembrandt, Aristotle Contemplating a Bust of Homer (1653)15 14 You must also include your original term paper proposal with my comments on it. Term paper submissions that do not include the original commented proposal will not be accepted until that deficiency is remedied. 15 The Internet site <http://mexplaza.udg.mx/wm/paint/auth/rembrandt/1650/aristotle-homer.jpg> has a nice fullcolor version of this famous painting.