2009 Fall PHIL 100-01
Bulletin Course Description The pre-Socratics, Socrates, Plato, Aristotle, and post-Aristotelian systems. Not open to students who have taken Classical Studies 93 or Philosophy 93. Instructor: Ferejohn or staff
(Instructor named in bulletin description above may not be current. For current instructor, see listing below.)
Title HST ANCIENT PHILOSOPHY Department PHIL Course Number 2009 Fall 100 Section Number 01 Primary Instructor Miller,David M Prerequisites Course Homepage blackboard site in progress
Synopsis of course content
This course provides an introduction to the philosophical traditions of the ancient Greeks. We will focus on the works of Plato and Aristotle. However, we will also discuss the pre-Socratic philosophers who came before, and the several philosophical “schools” that came after. Our discussion will be organized around four major thematic questions: The question of Being (what exists?); the question of Becoming (how do things change?); the question of Knowledge (what is the source of certainty?); and the question of Value (what should be sought?). Though it is impossible to provide an in-depth exposition of ancient thought in a one-semester course, students should gain factual knowledge about the positions of the thinkers discussed, as well as a broader understanding of the issues that concerned them and the methods they employed to address philosophical questions. This should prepare them for further study, both within philosophy and beyond. All readings are primary sources.
Textbooks
Cooper and Hutchinson, eds. Plato Complete Works. (Hackett, 1997)
Ackrill, ed. A New Aristotle Reader. (Princeton, 1988)
Epictetus. The Handbook. White, trans. (Hackett, 1983)
Additional material will be made available via the Duke Blackboard web service.
Exams
4 (3 in class, 1 final.)
Term Papers
None
