SCHEDULE
Note: This syllabus is intended to give the student guidance in what may be covered during the semester and will be followed as closely as possible. However, the professor reserves the right to modify, supplement and make changes as the course needs arise.
WEEK 1
Tuesday, 9/3: Introduction to the course, to philosophical arguments, and to each other
I. THE INTELLECTUAL WORLD OF THE PRE-SOCRATIC THINKERS
Thursday, 9/5: Greek thought in the Sixth Century BCE
WEEK 2
II. THE PRE-SOCRATIC THINKERS AND THE NATURAL WORLD
Tuesday, 9/10: The basis of the natural world and the inner workings of nature; sharply new conception of the gods: The Milesians - Thales
Required Reading: Ch. 1 "The Sources of Early Greek Philosophy," Ch. 2 "Hesiod and the Beginnings of Greek Philosophy and Science," and Ch. 3 “Miletus in the Sixth Century: The Cultural Setting for the Beginnings of Philosophy” and Ch. 4 “Thales of Miletus” (in Philosophy Before Socrates).
Thursday, 9/12: The Milesians, continued - Anaximander & Anaximenes
Required Reading: Ch. 5, “Anaximander of Miletus” (in Philosophy Before Socrates)
Optional Reading: Ch. 6, “Anaximenes of Miletus” (in Philosophy Before Socrates)
WEEK 3
Tuesday, 9/17: The nature of human understanding; conception of the gods; ideas that would later contribute to Plato’s Theory of Forms: Xenophanes
Required Reading: Ch. 7, Xenophanes of Colophon (in Philosophy Before Socrates)
Thursday, 9/19: All things change, always: the doctrine of flux; the concept of universal law: Heraclitus of Ephesus
Required Reading: Ch. 10, “Heraclitus of Ephesus” (in Philosophy Before Socrates)
Friday, 9/20: Heraclitus, continued
Thanksgiving make-up day
Required Reading: [To be announced]
WEEK 4
Tuesday, 9/24: Using the John Cabot University library services
Required Reading: None
Thursday, 9/26: A rejection of the possibility of change; a rejection of natural philosophy (incl. contra-Milesians): Parmenides of Elea
Required Reading: Ch.11, “Parmenides of Elea” (in Philosophy Before Socrates)
WEEK 5
Tuesday, 10/1: The nature and constitution of the world; A rejection of the possibility of change (incl. contra-Heraclitus); Responses to Parmenides: Anaxagoras of Clazomenae & Empedocles of Acragas
Required Reading: Ch. 13 “Anaxagoras of Clazomenae” and Ch.14 “Empedocles of Acragas” (in Philosophy Before Socrates)
Thursday, 10/3: Discussion of how to write a philosophy paper; discussion of paper topics
WEEK 6
Tuesday, 10/8: Against the possibility of change and an illustration of the power of logic: Zeno of Elea
Required Reading: Ch. 12, Zeno of Elea (in Philosophy Before Socrates)
Thursday, 10/10: Mathematics and the world, the immortality of the soul: Pythagoras of Samos and the Pythagoreans
Required Reading: Ch. 9 “Pythagoras of Samos and the Pythagoreans” (in Philosophy Before Socrates)
First writing assignment topics distributed
WEEK 7
Tuesday, 10/15: Presentations
Thursday 10/17: Presentations
III. THE PRE-SOCRATIC THINKERS AND ETHICS
WEEK 8
Tuesday, 10/22: Overview of Pre-Socratic thoughts on the status of morality and its underlying character: Various Pre-Socratics (including Pythagoras, Parmenides, Empodocles, Hercletus)
Required Reading: [To be announced]
Thursday, 10/24: Overview of Pre-Socratic thoughts on the status of morality and its underlying character: Various Pre-Socratics (including Pythagoras, Parmenides, Empodocles, Hercletus)
Required Reading: [To be announced]
First writing assignment due
IV. SOCRATES/PLATO
WEEK 9
Tuesday, 10/29: The wisdom of Socrates; a focus on ethics: Plato/Socrates
Required Reading: Plato, Apology (in Five Dialogues)
Thursday, 10/31:
Required Reading: [To be announced]
WEEK 10
Tuesday, 11/5: Definition and Elenchus: Plato/Socrates
Required Reading: Plato, Euthyphro (in Five Dialogues)
Thursday, 11/7: The Euthyphro Problem
Required Reading: The Euthyphro, continued
WEEK 11
Tuesday, 11/12: What is the nature of our obligation to obey the law? Are there limits to this obligation? Plato/Socrates
Required Reading: Plato, Crito (in Five Dialogues)
Thursday, 11/14: What is virtue? Can it be taught? Plato/Socrates
Required Reading: Plato, Meno (in Five Dialogues)
WEEK 12
Tuesday, 11/19: Socrates’ critique of Anaxagoras (Pre-Socratic thinker): Plato/Socrates
Required Reading: Plato, Phaedo (in Five Dialogues)
Thursday, 11/21: Required Reading: [To be announced]
WEEK 13
Tuesday, 11/26: The theory of forms: Plato/Socrates
Required Reading: Plato, Phaedo (in Five Dialogues)
Second writing assignment topics distributed
Final exam topics distributed
NO CLASS on Thursday, 11/28 (Thanksgiving)
WEEK 14
Tuesday, 12/3: Discussion of paper topics and final exam review
Thursday, 12/5: Wrapping Up
Presentation of Reflection Papers: Bring reflection paper to class!
OVERVIEW OF KEY BIBLIOGRAPHIC WORKS FOR THE COURSE
I. Background to the Pre-Socratic Thinkers
Hesiod. Theogony/Works and Days. Translated by M. L. West. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1988.
Homer. The Iliad. Translated by Robert Fagles. New York: Penguin Books, 1990.
McKirahan, Richard. “Hesiod and the Beginnings of Greek Philosophy and Science.” In Philosophy Before Socrates, by Richard McKirahan, 7-17. Indianapolis, IN: Hackett Publishing Company, 2011.
McKirahan, Richard.“Miletus in the Sixth Century: The Cultural Settings for the Beginnings of Philosophy.”In Philosophy Before Socrates, by Richard McKirahan, 18-20. Indianapolis, IN: Hackett Publishing Company, 2011.
II. Thales
“Thales of Miletus.” In Philosophy Before Socrates, by Richard McKirahan,27-31. Indianapolis: Hackett Publishing Company, 2011.
“Thales.” In Early Greek Philosophy, by Jonathan Barnes, 9-17. London: Penguin Books, 2001.
“The Springs of Reason.” In The Presocratic Philosophers, by Jonathan Barnes, 2-13. London: Routledge, 1982.
III. Anaximander
“Anaximander of Miletus.” In Philosophy Before Socrates, by Richard McKirahan,32-47. Indianapolis: Hackett Publishing Company, 2011.
“Anaximander on Nature.” In The Presocratic Philosophers, by Jonathan Barnes, 14-28. London: Routledge, 1982.
IV. Anaximenes
“Anaximenes of Miletus.” In Philosophy Before Socrates, by Richard McKirahan,48-57. Indianapolis: Hackett Publishing Company, 2011.
“Anaximenes.” In Early Greek Philosophy, by Jonathan Barnes, 24-27. London: Penguin Books, 2001.
V. Xenophanes
“Xenophanes of Colophon.” In Philosophy Before Socrates, by Richard McKirahan,58-69. Indianapolis: Hackett Publishing Company, 2011.
“The Divine Philosophy of Xenophane.” In The Presocratic Philosophers, by Jonathan Barnes, 63-76. London: Routledge, 1982.
“The Moral Law.” In The Presocratic Philosophers, by Jonathan Barnes, 95-106. London: Routledge, 1982.
“Xenophanes.” In Early Greek Philosophy, by Jonathan Barnes, 40-47. London: Penguin Books, 2001.
VI. Heraclitus
“Heraclitus of Ephesus.” In Philosophy Before Socrates, by Richard McKirahan,112-144. Indianapolis: Hackett Publishing Company, 2011.
“The Springs of Reason.” In The Presocratic Philosophers, by Jonathan Barnes, 2-13. London: Routledge, 1982.
“Heraclitus.” In Early Greek Philosophy, by Jonathan Barnes, 48-76. London: Penguin Books, 2001.
VII. Parmenides
“Parmenides of Elea.” In Philosophy Before Socrates, by Richard McKirahan,145-173. Indianapolis: Hackett Publishing Company, 2011.
“Parmenides and the Objects of Inquiry.” In The Presocratic Philosophers, by Jonathan Barnes, 122-138. London: Routledge, 1982.
“Being and Becoming.” In The Presocratic Philosophers, by Jonathan Barnes, 139-157. London: Routledge, 1982.
“Parmenides.” In Early Greek Philosophy, by Jonathan Barnes, 77-91. London: Penguin Books, 2001.
John Palmer. “Parmenides.” Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy. Winter 2016 Edition. https://plato.stanford.edu/archives/win2016/entries/parmenides/
VIII. Pythagoras
“Pythagoras of Samos and the Pythagoreans.” In Philosophy Before Socrates, by Richard McKirahan,79-111. Indianapolis: Hackett Publishing Company, 2011.
“Pythagoras and the Sould.” In The Presocratic Philosophers, by Jonathan Barnes, 78-94. London: Routledge, 1982.
“Pythagoras.” In Early Greek Philosophy, by Jonathan Barnes, 28-35. London: Penguin Books, 2001.
IX. Zeno
“Zeno of Elea.” In Philosophy Before Socrates, by Richard McKirahan,174-192. Indianapolis: Hackett Publishing Company, 2011.
“Zeno: Paradox and Plurality.” In The Presocratic Philosophers, by Jonathan Barnes, 182-204. London: Routledge, 1982.
“Zeno: Paradox and Progression.” In The Presocratic Philosophers, by Jonathan Barnes, 205-232. London: Routledge, 1982.
“Zeno.” In Early Greek Philosophy, by Jonathan Barnes, 99-110. London: Penguin Books, 2001.
X. Melissus
“Melissus of Samos.” In Philosophy Before Socrates, by Richard McKirahan,92-98. Indianapolis: Hackett Publishing Company, 2011.
XI. Anaxagoras
“Anaxagoras of Clazomenae.” In Philosophy Before Socrates, by Richard McKirahan,193-231. Indianapolis: Hackett Publishing Company, 2011.
“Anaxagoras and the Nature of Stuffs.” In The Presocratic Philosophers, by Jonathan Barnes, 249-267. London: Routledge, 1982.
“Anaxagoras.” In Early Greek Philosophy, by Jonathan Barnes, 185-197 London: Penguin Books, 2001.
XII. Empedocles
“Empedocles of Acragas.” In Philosophy Before Socrates, by Richard McKirahan,230-292. Indianapolis: Hackett Publishing Company, 2011.
“Empedocles.” In Early Greek Philosophy, by Jonathan Barnes, 110-161. London: Penguin Books, 2001.
XIII. Socrates/Plato
Five Dialogues: Euthyphro, Apology, Crito, Meno, Phaedo. Translated by G. M. A. Grube, rev. ed. by John M. Cooper. Indianapolis, IN: Hackett Publishing Company, 2002.
Paul Woodruff.“Plato’s Shorter Ethical Works.” Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy. Winter 2018 Edition. https://plato.stanford.edu/archives/win2018/entries/plato-ethics-shorter/
Plato. The Republic. Translated by G. M. A. Grube, rev. ed. by C. D. C. Reeve. Indianapolis, IN: Hackett Publishing Company, 1992.
Plato. Timaeus. Translated by Peter Kalkavage. Newburyport, MA: Focus Publishing, 2001.