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JOHN CABOT UNIVERSITY

COURSE CODE: "PH 210"
COURSE NAME: "Ancient Greek and Roman Philosophy"
SEMESTER & YEAR: Fall Semester 2012
SYLLABUS

INSTRUCTOR: Antomarini Brunella
EMAIL: [email protected]
HOURS: MW 16:30-17:45
TOTAL NO. OF CONTACT HOURS: 45
CREDITS: 3
PREREQUISITES:
OFFICE HOURS: on appointment

COURSE DESCRIPTION:

The course is aimed at introducing students to the idea that philosophy is not only philosophia perennis but had a historical beginning and a geographical cradle.

It will be shown that early philosophical language simultaneously gave voice both to human doubts about the world and to the human need to make sense of it.

This general survey will serve to demonstrate 1, how the basics of Western philosophical traditions were posed in ancient times; 2. that philosophical language expresses neither an evolutionary nor a revolutionary sense of accomplishment, nor does it imply definitive answers about the human conditions; 3. that philosophy was born as the art of turning the seemingly absurd aspects of life into cosmological harmony.

AUTHORS (hand-outs):

Pre-Socratics (a short history of their re-evaluation)

Pythagoras, Parmenides, Heraclitus, Democritus

Gorgias and the Sophists

Socrates

Plato

Aristotle

Epicurus

Cynics, Sceptics, Stoics

Lucretius

Epictetus

Plotinus

Augustine 

Boethius

REFERENCE BOOKS ON RESERVE:

M.Nahm, Selections from early Greek philosophy 

C.Shields, Classical philosophy

D. Roochnik, Retrieving the Ancients

J.L.Saunders, ed., Greek and Roman Philosophy after Aristotle

FILMS

Oedipus Rex by Pier Paolo Pasolini 

Socrates, by Roberto Rossellini

SUMMARY OF COURSE CONTENT:

Classes will regard a general historical reconstruction of Ancient Greek and Roman Western philosophical traditions, with a special focus on Plato and Aristotle. Some of the most influential philosophers will be read in the English translation of their original texts. One or more films are envisaged, depending on time schedule. Lectures and presentations imply a strong motivation and an active participation in class.


LEARNING OUTCOMES:

By the end of the semester students will be able to master and use basic philosophical concepts.  They will also be capable of understating the roots and the origin of our Western traditions in such fields as politics, logic, ethics, aesthetics, and of critically constructing their own perspective on these issues.

TEXTBOOK:
NONE
REQUIRED RESERVED READING:
NONE

RECOMMENDED RESERVED READING:
NONE
GRADING POLICY
-ASSESSMENT METHODS:
AssignmentGuidelinesWeight
mid term exam 25%
final exam 40%
two papers at home, participation in class, presentations 35%

-ASSESSMENT CRITERIA:
see University policy
-ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENTS:

Students should plan to regularly attend the class, since we will often broaden the topics contained in the texts to contemporary issues, and since this class is mainly intended to the rousing of students’ personal thoughts and ideas.

Please refer to the university catalog for the attendance and absence policy.

Academic honesty:

As stated in the university catalogue, 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. 


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