CNE/PHL 370: History of Classical Greek Philosophy

Spring 2009       MWF 12:30 – 1:20 pm       Prof. Stephens       Humanities Center (Dowling Hall) 212

office hours: MWF 10–10:20 am and 12 noon–12:15 pm, MW 4:20–4:45 pm, and by appointment

office: HC 116       phone (with voicemail): 280-2632       stphns at creighton.dot edu

Socrates’ death scene in the Phaedo

Description

Through the close and careful examination of the original texts we will study the richness and complexities of ancient Greek philosophy during the “Classical” period (7th to 4th century BCE).  Beginning with the Presocratics, whose extant texts are sadly fragmentary, we will trace the development of recognizably philosophical, that is, rational, non-superstitious, scientific thinking about the world-order (kosmos), nature (physis), soul (psychē), and reason (logos) through the Sophists of the Greek Enlightenment period and Socrates, as he is portrayed in Plato’s dialogues.  The central figures of the course will be Plato and Aristotle.  We will read three of the earlier Platonic dialogues, students will elect one additional dialogue for us to study, and we will study all of the Republic, which is arguably the greatest, most influential philosophical masterpiece of Western civilization.  We will then investigate Aristotle’s ingenious and extensive system of thought.  Aristotelian ideas profoundly shaped Medieval philosophy, theology, logic, and the natural sciences for centuries.  Consequently, any decent understanding of our cultural heritage, the history of ideas, of science, of religion, and, of course, the history of Western philosophy, must necessarily begin with a study of the history of Classical Greek philosophy.  It is wise for philosophy majors to take this course before they attempt any serious study of philosophers who were born after Aristotle (e.g. Epicurus, the Stoics, Plotinus, Augustine, Anselm, Abelard, Aquinas, Descartes, Spinoza, Leibniz, Kant, Hegel, Marx, Kierkegaard, Nietzsche, Wittgenstein, Heidegger, Sartre, Foucault, Derrida, any other French or German philosopher, any British philosopher, any American philosopher – you get the idea).

Required Texts

• Readings in Ancient Greek Philosophy from Thales to Aristotle, edited by Cohen, Curd & Reeve (Hackett, 3rd ed. 2005) ISBN 0-87220-769-2
• William O. Stephens, How to Write Philosophy Papers ($4 at the Philosophy Dept.)

Course Requirements and Percentage of Final Grade

Standards of Evaluation for Letter Grades

F    “Failure – no credit” (< 60% average)

• Extreme lack of clarity or lack of coherence of argument or expression of thought.
• Disregard for the requirements of the assignment.
• Irrelevant use or failure to use relevant course readings.
• Submission of another’s words or thoughts as if they were your own, whether in the form of plagiarism or failure to acknowledge the source of an idea.
• Extremely infrequent class attendance with no participation in discussions.

D    “Work of inferior quality, but passing” (60 to < 70%)

• Unclarity or incoherence of argument or expression of thought.
• Failure to satisfy the requirements of the assignment.
• Poor or inadequate understanding or use of relevant course readings.
• Improper acknowledgment or citation of the sources of your ideas.
• Infrequent class attendance with little participation in discussions.

C    “Satisfactory work”

• Basic clarity and coherence of argument and expression of thought.
• Satisfaction of the assignment’s basic requirements.
• Fair or adequate understanding of the major views and theories in the relevant course readings and the arguments presented in support of those views and theories.
• Minimally clear and coherent evaluation of the views and arguments in the relevant course readings.
• Minimally proper acknowledgment and citation of the sources of your ideas.
• Generally consistent class attendance with occasional participation in discussions.
• 77% to < 80% average for a C+; 70% to < 77% average for a C.

B    “Noteworthy level of performance”   Demonstrates all of the qualities of satisfactory work plus:

• Good, above average clarity and coherence of argument and expression of thought.
• Clear, logical organization of the essay's introduction, body, and conclusion.
• Clear, detailed, and accurate understanding of the major views and theories in the relevant course readings and of the arguments in support of those views and theories.
• Good attempt to provide argumentative support for your evaluation of the views, theories, and arguments presented in the relevant course readings.
• Regular, consistent class attendance with regular, good participation in discussions.
• 87% to < 90% average for a B+; 80% to < 87% average for a B.

A    “Outstanding achievement and an unusual degree of intellectual initiative”   Demonstrates all of the qualities of noteworthy performance plus:

• Excellent, superior clarity and coherence of argument and expression of thought.
• Clear, rigorous, and cogent argumentative support for your evaluation of the views, theories, and arguments presented in the relevant course readings.
• Originality and creativity of interpretation, explanation, argumentation, or criticism.
• Superior class attendance with excellent, thoughtful, and insightful participation in discussions.
• 90% and >.

Participation & Attendance

Class participation includes comments and questions in class discussions and talking with me about course material outside of class. Daily, punctual attendance is expected.   Three tardies count as one absence.  Eight or more absences will earn an AF (F due to excessive absence). Each absence fewer than eight will incrementally lower one’s class participation grade.  On the other hand, actively, orally contributing comments and questions in class discussions raises one’s class participation grade.  Both quality and quantity of oral remarks are recorded.  Since we will be closely attending to the readings in our class discussions, it is important that everyday you bring to class your book.  All students are expected to model academic honesty and integrity in all their work for this course.

Papers and Submission Policies

Papers should be submitted on time.  By a “paper” I mean thin sheets made from wood pulp, stapled together, with printing on them, NOT an electronic file on a storage device or an email attachment.  Include the word count of the paper (not including the words on the cover sheet) on the cover page.  Early submissions are much appreciated.  Requests for extensions must be made at least three (3) class days  (i.e. weekdays) prior to the due date.  Papers submitted after the due date (or granted extension date) will be penalized  5 points (= half a letter grade) per weekday late (not counting holidays recognized by the University).  If the paper has not been received by the instructor within a week after its due date, then the student must withdraw from or take an F for, the course.  Be sure to discuss your paper topic with me so I can approve your topic and approach before your begin serious writing.  Follow closely the guidelines in How to Write Philosophy Papers.  You can get additional help at the Writing Center.  Print your NAME, the COURSE number and name, the name (properly spelled) of your PROFESSOR, the TITLE of your paper, and the WORD COUNT on the cover page.

Academic Honesty Statement

Keep in Contact with the Instructor throughout the Course

If you have any problem that hinders you from attending class, doing the assigned reading, studying for the exams, or writing your papers, please come see me or call me or send me e-mail or leave me a note in my mailbox or under my office door.  Whatever happens, it is your responsibility to keep in contact with me.  Failure to do so can have unhappy consequences.

Selected Websites

• Hemlock Available in the Faculty Lounge (amusing teaching evaluations of Socrates).
• Michael Lahanas’ “Who is who?” puzzle of Raphael’s The School of Athens painting.  [He misnumbered – Aristotle is 1, Plato is 2.]
• “The Origins of Mathemathical Physics,” Physics Today, June 2000: an article on how a recently discovered 10th century manuscript (the Archimedes Palimpsest) shows that the ancient Greek inventor Archimedes made more ingenious mathematical discoveries than were originally believed.
• A review of an interesting book on Anaximander.
• A review of a provocative book on Parmenides and Empedocles.
• Bernard Suzanne’s interesting website on Plato and his dialogues.  Suzanne’s terrific MAPS of the ancient Greek world.
• A review of Matthew R. Christ, The Bad Citizen in Classical Athens (Cambridge University Press, 2006).

Schedule of Assignments

The Presocratics and the Sophists

Plato

W Feb. 4	Introduction (89–96) and Apology up to 30b (115–129); also read the oracle of Delphi story in Nature 17 July 2001
F Feb. 6	Apology 30b to end (129–140)
M Feb. 9	Crito (141–153)
W Feb. 11	Meno, up to 86d (203–217)
F Feb. 13	CLASS CANCELED DUE TO UNIVERSITY CLOSING DUE TO SNOW
M Feb. 16	Meno, 86d to end (217–228)
W Feb. 18	Symposium 172a–201c (282–309)
F Feb. 20	Symposium 201d to end (309–330)
M Feb. 23	Plato Exam #1                    Review Guide for Plato Exam #1
W Feb. 25	Republic I (331–359)
F Feb. 27	Republic II (360–385)
M March 2	Republic III (386–417)
W March 4	Republic IV (418–444)
F March 6	Republic V (445–476)
	Spring Recess
M March 16	Republic VI (477–503); Plato Paper DUE
W March 18	Republic VII (504–528)
F March 20	Republic VIII (529–555)
M March 23	Republic IX (556–577)
W March 25	Republic X (578–603)              Review Guide for Plato Exam #2
F March 27	Plato Exam #2

Aristotle

Wednesday, May 6, 8:00–9:40 am  Aristotle Exam #2                 

*The instructor reserves the right, at his discretion and as needed, to make minor changes to this syllabus during the course of the semester (and the semester of the course) including due dates, assignments, and requirements.

last updated 28 April 2009
Copyright © 2009 William O. Stephens