24:200: Ancient Philosophy
MIT Department of Linguistics and Philosophy
Fall Term 1998
Prof. Sally Haslanger
Class Meetings: T-Th 11-12:30, 38-136
Office Hours: W 1-3
E39-349 (mailbox: E39-245)
Office Phone: 253-4458
Email: shaslang@mit.edu
Description: This course will acquaint the student with some of the ancient Greek contributions to the Western philosophical and scientific tradition. We will examine a broad range of central philosophical themes concerning: nature, law, justice, knowledge, virtue, happiness, and death. There will be a strong emphasis on analyses of arguments found in the texts.
Prerequisites: none.
Texts:
Readings in Ancient Greek Philosophy from Thales to Aristotle, ed., S. Marc Cohen, Patricia Curd, and C.D.C. Reeve (Indianapolis: Hackett, 1995). [RAGP]
Hellenistic Philosophy: Introductory Readings, second edition, ed., Brad Inwood and L. P. Gerson. [HP]
Both texts are available at the MIT COOP. The course will be focused on primary sources. Secondary sources will be recommended in class when appropriate, but will not be required.
Course Requirements:
Weekly reading assignments will range from about 30-100 pages per week. It is essential that students complete these assignments in preparation for class meetings.
There will be three short papers (roughly 1500-2100 words) due during the term. Paper topics will be distributed in advance. Students must write on one of the listed topics.
There will one in-class examination. Details concerning the format of the exam will be provided in class.
Evaluation:
The student's final grade will be based on written work, class participation, and improvement over the term. Each essay and exam will count approximately 25% of the final grade. Late papers will be graded down unless an extension is granted in advance of the due date (except, of course, in case of medical emergency).
Course Schedule
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9/15 |
Introduction to RAGP; Apology |
Socrates & Sophists |
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9/17 |
Crito |
Socrates and the Law |
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9/22 |
Euthyphro |
Socrates' method |
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9/24 |
Meno |
Knowledge and learning |
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9/29 |
Phaedo |
Moral/Prudential Paradox |
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10/1 |
FIRST PAPER DUE |
Plato on the Soul |
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10/6 |
Republic I-IV |
Why be moral? |
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esp: Bk II, Bk III: 412c-417b |
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10/8 |
Bk IV: 427d-445e |
Justice in the City |
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10/13 |
no class |
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10/15 |
Republic V-VII; esp: Bk V: 449a- 468, 471c-480a |
Justice in the Soul |
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10/20 |
Bk VI: 502d-511; Bk VII: 514a-525 |
Theory of Forms |
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10/22 |
Republic VIII-X; esp: Bk X: 596-7 |
More on Forms |
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10/27 |
SECOND PAPER DUE |
Aristotle on Plato |
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10/29 |
Categories 1-5; Physics I: 7-9 |
Substance |
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11/3 |
Physics II |
Matter and Form |
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11/5 |
Posterior Analytics I: 1-2, 4; II: 8-9 |
Aristotelian Science |
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11/10 |
Metaphysics IV: 1-3, |
Form and Essence |
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VII: 1-4, 10, 13, 15, 17 |
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11/12 |
De Anima II: 1-3, III: 4-5 |
Aristotle on the Soul |
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11/17 |
Nich. Ethics I-III: 5 |
Happiness |
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11/19 |
Nich. Ethics VII: 2-3. |
Virtue |
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11/24 |
IN-CLASS EXAM |
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11/26 |
Thanksgiving break |
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12/1 |
Nich. Ethics X |
Contemplation |
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12/3 |
Biography of Epicurus, pp. 3-5 [HP]; Letter to Herodotus, pp. 5-19; Letter to Pythocles, pp. 19-28; Testimony of Lucretius, pp. 63-65 |
Atomism |
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12/5 |
Letter to Menoeceus, pp. 28-31; Principal Doctrines, pp. 32-36; Vatican Sayings, pp. 36-40 |
Epicurean Morality |
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12/8 |
Selection from Lucretius [TBP] |
Death [or optional topic] |
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12/10 |
THIRD PAPER DUE |
Final class |
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