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JOHN CABOT UNIVERSITY

COURSE CODE: "PH 210-1"
COURSE NAME: "Ancient Philosophy"
SEMESTER & YEAR: Fall 2023
SYLLABUS

INSTRUCTOR: Annette Merle Bryson
EMAIL: [email protected]
 HOURS: TTH 10:00 AM 11:15 AM
TOTAL NO. OF CONTACT HOURS: 45
CREDITS: 3
PREREQUISITES:
OFFICE HOURS:
COURSE DESCRIPTION:
The philosophers of ancient Greece and Rome debated fundamental questions with an imagination, subtlety, and daring that have captured the attention of thoughtful people in every epoch. For example, they considered the nature and origin of the universe, what changes and does not change, as well as what causes change, how perception and reasoning produce knowledge, the relation between the soul and the body, the meaning of justice and beauty, and the nature of the good life. Through a careful reading of selected texts – in the form of dialogues, poems, aphorisms, or treatises – the course will introduce you to the great questions and controversies of ancient philosophy.
SUMMARY OF COURSE CONTENT:

In this course, we will explore some of the ideas of the so-called Presocratic thinkers, Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle. Throughout we will join these ancient philosophers in asking some of the questions that are still among the most fundamental questions being asked by philosophers: What is? How ought we to live our lives? How can we know? 

During the first half of this course, we will focus on the Presocratic thinkers—revolutionary thinkers who beginning in the Sixth Century BCE proposed bold ideas about how to make sense of the world and the place of humans in it. They offered accounts of events in nature, not as the result of the actions of angry or satisfied gods and goddesses, but rather as what we might characterize as natural phenomena. They also explored human understanding and the nature of morality, asking how we ought to live our lives and to think of relationships with each other. In their proposals, we find a type of inquiry and type of explanation that blossoms in the philosophy of Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle, and runs through to today. 

In the second part of the course, we will focus on some of the ideas of Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle. With them, we will explore topics including: the natural world, the nature and limits of our obligations to obey the law; how we can conduct inquiry into goodness or virtue; how to explain the human condition; what sort of life is worth living; moral psychology; and the nature of justice. Throughout, we will compare and contrast answers given by Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle to those of some of their predecessors.
LEARNING OUTCOMES:

By the end of this course, you will have gained:  

·         a deeper understanding of some of the fundamental philosophical problems in ancient Greek philosophy; 

·         an enhanced recognition of the connection between the questions philosophers ask today and the questions asked by ancient Greek thinkers; 

·         a better understanding of the strengths and shortcomings of various approaches to answering these questions; 

·         an enhanced ability to engage with historical texts in a philosophically rigorous way; 

·         a refinement of your own critical reasoning and argumentative skills;

·         a refinement of your capacities to recognize and assess philosophical arguments; 

·         a refinement of your abilities to critic, defend, and express philosophical positions in a clear, well-reasoning way through both writing and conversation; 

·         the (re)discovery of the joy of philosophical inquiry in dialogue with the ancient Greeks!
TEXTBOOK:
Book TitleAuthorPublisherISBN numberLibrary Call NumberCommentsFormatLocal BookstoreOnline Purchase
Philosophy Before Socrates: An Introduction with Texts and CommentaryRichard McKirahanHackett978-1603841825 You are not required to have the textbook before our first week of classes! (I'll explain to you how to get the text.)   
REQUIRED RESERVED READING:
NONE

RECOMMENDED RESERVED READING:
NONE
GRADING POLICY
-ASSESSMENT METHODS:
AssignmentGuidelinesWeight
Class Engagement 20%
Quizzes  20%
Writing Assignments 15%
Final Exam  25%
Mid-Term Exam 20%

-ASSESSMENT CRITERIA:
AWork of this quality directly addresses the question or problem raised and provides a coherent argument displaying an extensive knowledge of relevant information or content. This type of work demonstrates the ability to critically evaluate concepts and theory and has an element of novelty and originality. There is clear evidence of a significant amount of reading beyond that required for the course.
BThis is highly competent level of performance and directly addresses the question or problem raised.There is a demonstration of some ability to critically evaluatetheory and concepts and relate them to practice. Discussions reflect the student’s own arguments and are not simply a repetition of standard lecture andreference material. The work does not suffer from any major errors or omissions and provides evidence of reading beyond the required assignments.
CThis is an acceptable level of performance and provides answers that are clear but limited, reflecting the information offered in the lectures and reference readings.
DThis level of performances demonstrates that the student lacks a coherent grasp of the material.Important information is omitted and irrelevant points included.In effect, the student has barely done enough to persuade the instructor that s/he should not fail.
FThis work fails to show any knowledge or understanding of the issues raised in the question. Most of the material in the answer is irrelevant.
-ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENTS:
The philosophers of ancient Greece and Rome debated fundamental questions with an imagination, subtlety, and daring that have captured the attention of thoughtful people in every epoch. For example, they considered the nature and origin of the universe, what changes and does not change, as well as what causes change, how perception and reasoning produce knowledge, the relation between the soul and the body, the meaning of justice and beauty, and the nature of the good life. Through a careful reading of selected texts – in the form of dialogues, poems, aphorisms, or treatises – the course will introduce you to the great questions and controversies of ancient philosophy.
ACADEMIC HONESTY
As stated in the university catalog, any student who commits an act of academic dishonesty will receive a failing grade on the work in which the dishonesty occurred. In addition, acts of academic dishonesty, irrespective of the weight of the assignment, may result in the student receiving a failing grade in the course. Instances of academic dishonesty will be reported to the Dean of Academic Affairs. A student who is reported twice for academic dishonesty is subject to summary dismissal from the University. In such a case, the Academic Council will then make a recommendation to the President, who will make the final decision.
STUDENTS WITH LEARNING OR OTHER DISABILITIES
John Cabot University does not discriminate on the basis of disability or handicap. Students with approved accommodations must inform their professors at the beginning of the term. Please see the website for the complete policy.
SCHEDULE

Note: This syllabus is intended to give you guidance in what may be covered during the semester and will be followed as closely as possible. The professor reserves the right, however, to modify, supplement, and make changes as the course needs arise. 

WEEK 1

Introduction to the course and to each other

The intellectual world of the Presocratic thinkers

WEEK 2

The Milesians: Thales, Anaximander, and Anaximenes

WEEK 3

Xenophanes of Colophon

The early Ionian achievement

WEEK 4

Pythagoras of Samos & Theano of Crotona

 Later Pythagoreans: Including Aesara of Lucania

WEEK 5

Heraclitus & Parmenides of Elea

WEEK 6

Parmenides of Elea & Zeno of Elea

WEEK 7

Empedocles of Acragas & Anaxagoras of Clazomenae

Fifth Century Atomism: Leucippus and Democritus  

WEEK 8

Plato’s Timaeus (excerpts) & Plato’s Parmenides (excerpts)

WEEK 9

Socrates: Plato’s Apology & Plato’s Republic (excerpts)

WEEK 10

Plato’s Euthyphro & Plato’s Republic (excerpts)

WEEK 11

Plato's Republic (excerpts)

WEEK 12

Aristotle’s Physics (excerpts), Aristotle’s Categories (excerpts), & Aristotle’s Metaphysics (excerpts)

WEEK 13

Aristotle’s Nicomachean Ethics (excerpts)

WEEK 14

Aristotle’s Nicomachean Ethics (excerpts)