Philosophy 251 History of Western
Philosophy I: Ancient Greek Philosophy
Rex Gilliland
Office: Norton 265
Phone: 226-7718
Home Phone: 930-0754
Email: rgillila@bsc.edu
Phil-Science 313 MWF
8:
Office Hours: TTh
TTh
and by appointment
Syllabus Writing Center Information
Schedule Click on dates for reading questions. All changes in red.
8/29 Introduction to philosophy: Belief vs. knowledge, argumentation, practical and theoretical philosophy.
8/31 Introduction to philosophy cont.: Greek mythology and religion.
The emergence of philosophy from a mythico-religious worldview. Different modes of explanation.
Introduction 1-4; Mythology and Religion photocopies; Xenophanes 21-22
9/3 Labor Day
9/5 Teleology vs. Mechanism: Teleology in Greek tragedy
Oedipus Tyrannus (in its entirety)
9/7 Teleology vs. Mechanism: What distinguishes Greek science and ethics from the modern period?
Teleology and Mechanism photocopies; Virtue Ethics photocopy
Practical Philosophy: What is Virtue?
9/10 Socrates Introduction 89-92; Euthyphro 97-105
Themes: The nature of piety, the Socratic method
9/12 Euthyphro cont. 105-111
9/14 Apology 112-120
Themes: Sophistry vs. philosophy, Socratic wisdom, Socrates as an exemplar of virtue.
9/17 Apology cont. 120-130
9/19 Republic I, 263-283
Themes: The nature of justice, Is justice is more advantageous than injustice?
9/21 Republic I cont. 283-291
9/24 Quiz Study Guide
9/26 Plato Introduction 89-96; Republic IV, 357-365
Themes: The parts and virtues of the city and the soul.
9/28 Republic IV cont. 365-376
10/1 Aristotle Introduction 577-579; 584-586, Nicomachean Ethics I, 764-772; Lear photocopy
Themes: The highest good, happiness, the function argument
10/3 Nicomachean Ethics I-II, 772-778
Themes: Parts of the soul, virtues of character and virtues of thought
10/5 No
Class
10/8 Nicomachean Ethics II, 778-784; Robinson photocopy
Themes: Doctrine of the mean, the nature of virtue, specific virtues.
10/10 Epicureanism Photocopies
Themes: Free will, pleasure
10/12 Stoicism Photocopies
Themes: Impulse and reason, indifference, virtue
10/15 Midterm
Exam Study
Guide
10/17 Wrap-up the first half of the semester, Discuss paper assignment
10/19 Fall Break
Theoretical Philosophy: Origin and Change
10/22 Presocratics Introduction 1-7; Thales 8-9
Themes: Material monism, change
10/24 Anaximander 10-12
Themes:
Material monism, change
10/26 Anaximenes 12-14
Themes: Material monism, change
10/29 Pythagorianism and Xenophanes 15-23
Themes: Number and the underlying intelligible nature of reality, the nature of the divine, change
10/31 Heraclitus 24-34
Themes: Change, identity of opposites
11/2 Registration – No Class
11/5 Parmenides 35-41
Themes: Change, the nature of the one, Parmenides’ arguments
11/7 Zeno 59-63
Theme: Paradoxes in support of Parmenides’ position
11/9 Pluralism 42-58; Deadline for approval of paper topics
Themes: Material pluralism, change
11/12 Atomism 64-71
Themes: Material dualism, change, properties of matter, Epicurean and Stoic metaphysics
11/14 Atomism
cont.
11/16 Paper Due Paper Guidelines Essay Exam Study Guide
11/19 Plato
Introduction 89-96; Symposium 252-262
Themes: What is beauty, and what distinguishes it from beautiful things?
11/21, 23 Thanksgiving
11/26 Republic VI, 428-432
Themes: Theory of the forms, the good, sun analogy
11/28 Republic VI-VII, 433-439
Themes: Twice-divided line, cave allegory
11/30 Aristotle Introduction 579-584; Categories IV-V, 590-591; Physics II.1, 634-636; II.3, 639-640; II.7, 647
Themes: Primary and secondary substance, the four causes
12/3 Physics II.7, 647; III.1, 652-653; VIII.6, 657-658; Metaphysics XII.9, 739-740; Lear photocopy
Themes: Actuality and potentiality, the unmoved mover
12/5 Physics II.8, 648-650; Parts of Animals I.1, 682, 686; Parts of Animals II.1 photocopy; Generation of Animals IV.4 photocopy
Themes: Norms and accidents in biology
Wed. 12/12 Final Exam 1 - 4pm Study Guide