Course Syllabus

JOHN CABOT UNIVERSITY

COURSE CODE: "PH 210"
COURSE NAME: "Ancient Philosophy"
SEMESTER & YEAR: Summer Session II 2024

SYLLABUS

INSTRUCTOR: Thomas Govero
EMAIL: [email protected]
HOURS: MTWTH 11:10 AM 1:00 PM
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:

The course will consider the following topics.

· Before Philosophy: Shamanism, mantic pronouncements, oracles, prophesy, the poet-vates.

· Orality, the alphabet in the Middle East and in Greece. The influence of the alphabetic writing (800 BCE+)

· What is Philosophy? Metaphysics, Epistemology, Ethics, Logic, "Greek Ways of Thinking". (Guthrie)

· The Arché, "It is all in the stars". Myth, divinities and philosophy.

· Presocratics: Ionian thought/Eleatic thought: matter, form, movement. Anaximander, Thales, Anaximenes

· Eleatic: Pythagoras, Xenophanes, Heraclitus, Anaxagoras, Parmenides

· The Sophists: Protagoras, Gorgias

· Empedocles

· Socrates-Plato, “Meno", "Phaedo" and other selections from the "Republic".

· Aristotle: Ethical theories and practices.

· Post-Aristotelean moralist "schools": Stoicism, Epicureanism, Skepticism, Cynicism. Development and spread of Hellenism.

· Roman thinkers: Cicero, Seneca, Marcus Aurelius, Plotinus, Augustine, Boethius. Christianized philosophy.

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LEARNING OUTCOMES:

Learning Outcomes:

· Insights and understanding of the major issues and ethical concerns of Greek and Roman thinkers.

· The ability to articulate clearly and correctly these issues and concerns.

· A thorough grasp of the development and evolution of Greek and Roman thought.

· Approaches to the hermeneutic understanding of the Greek and Roman thinkers.

· Appreciation to metaphysical and materialistic views of the world and beyond.

· Ability to recognize the elements and inspiration of ancient philosophy in subsequent thinkers.

· A motivation to continue studying and considering the insights and ethical concerns of ancient philosophy.

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TEXTBOOK:

Book Title	Author	Publisher	ISBN number	Library Call Number	Comments	Format	Local Bookstore	Online Purchase
xxx	xxxx	xxxxx	xxxx				Almost Corner

REQUIRED RESERVED READING:

NONE

RECOMMENDED RESERVED READING:

NONE

GRADING POLICY
-ASSESSMENT METHODS:

Assignment	Guidelines	Weight
Blue Book entries	Paragraph-long responses to prompts based on lectures, discussions, presentations, and readings written in blue books or in a file	20%
Presentations	Oral presentations on a topic selected by student relating to ancient philosophy and approved by instructor. They may include slides, video clips, visuals or other media elements. 15- 20 minutes in length. Two presentations one of which can be a paper.	50%
Quizzes: 3/4 scheduled quizzes on readings, lectures or articles		Average of quizzes = 30%

-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

Session	Session Focus	Reading Assignment	Other Assignment	Meeting Place/Exam Dates
3	Philosophical terms Matter and Form. Review of Guthrie Thales, Anaxamander, Anaximines	Guthrie, pp. 23 - 43 Articles	Quiz on Thursday (Note: all quizzes will be scheduled or rescheduled to accommodate review of materials.
2	Motion: Heraclitus and Parmenides	Articles		Quiz: Final day of classses in the week
1	Preliminaries: What is philosophy? Why philosophy? What is ancient philosophy? Goals of the course. Origins and development in context of the growth of the alphabet and literacy. Phases of ancient philosophy: Presocratics, (Ionians and Eleatics), Classical, Hellenistic, Roman, Late Roman. Concerns of ancient philosophy: Matter, Form, Movement, Origins, Ethics, Theological questions.	Guthrie, pp. 1- 22 Articles	Presentations, quizzes and résumé entries.	Quiz on last day of week 2
4	Anaxagoras, Empedocles	Guthrie, pp. 23 - 48		Last day of week 4
5	Parmenides, Zeno, Democritus	Articles.
6	Phase II: Classical Era: Sophists, Hippias, Protagoras Socrates: "From Heaven to Earth" Concern: Man	Guthrie, pp. 43 - 63 Articles
7	Plato: Meno, Republic (selections)	Guthrie, pp. 64 -101 Articles	Presentations can be scheduled from this week.	Last day of week
8	Plato: Republic (selections)			Quiz on last day of week
9	Plato: Phaedo, Symposium	Articles
10	Catch-up class. Aristotle: overview
11	Aristotle: Metaphysics and Ethics (selections)	Guthrie: pp. 102-164 Articles
12	Phase 3: Hellenistic and Roman Aristotle: Ethics	E. Behier tba Articles
13	Hellenistic Schools: Stoicism, Epicureanism, Skepticism, Cynicism	E. Behier		Quiz: Aristotle (last day of week)
14	Overview of Roman philosophy: Cicero, Lucretius, Seneca, Boethius, Augustine	E. Behier Articles
15				Final Exam