ANCIENT PHILOSOPHY

Proposed Course
Syllabus
Instructor: Brian Robinson
Email: prof.brobinson@gmail.com
Website: www.brobinson.info
Textbook:
Required:
Readings in Ancient Greek Philosophy: From Thales to Aristotle, 3rd ed., edited by S. Marc
Cohen, Patricia Curd, C.D.C. Reeve. Hackett Publishing: 2005. ISBN: 0-87220-769-2
Course packet readings available online at www.brobinson.info or blackboard.
Course Description:
Philosophy begins with the Greeks. The word philosophy itself comes from them. Beginning
with the musings of the Milesians, a love of wisdom and a quest for truth took root with
Heraclitus, Zeno, and the Sophists. Socrates was wise for knowing he knew nothing, and still
managed to teach Plato. It has been said that all Western philosophy is but a series of footnotes
to Plato. This would be correct were it not for Aristotle, Platos student, but perhaps even
greater than his teacher. These thinkers developed philosophy, gave it its language and focus,
and set the backdrop to which generations of philosophers have responded. To understand
where philosophy has subsequently gone, we must understand where it began.
Textbooks:
Readings in Ancient Greek Philosophy: From Thales to Aristotle, 4th ed., edited by S. Marc
Cohen, Patricia Curd, C.D.C. Reeve. Hackett Publishing: 2005. ISBN: 0-87220-769-2
Course packet
Objectives:

Develop an understanding of the pre-Socratics, Plato, and Aristotle.

Be able to explain the development of the thoughts and views and how each thinker was
responding to those who came before.
Analyze and critique the arguments and positions of the philosophers we study.
Engage in debate with classmates on various positions we examine.
Understand the influence of ancient philosophy both on the subsequent philosophy and
modern culture.
Be able to explain the major positions of the philosophers we examine and articulate the
contrasts between them.

Schedule:
The schedule will be revised and updated throughout the semester. Announcements or handouts
will always be given in class and on course web page.

Week 1
Week 2

Week 3
Week 4
Week 5
Week 6
Week 7
Week 8

Week 9
Week 10
Week 11
Week 12

Week 13

Week 14

Topic & Assignment

Pre-Socratics
Introduction
The Milesians AND Xenophanes
Pythagoras and Pythagoreanism
Heraclitus
Plato
Apology
Euthyphro
Meno
Gail Fine - Inquiry in the Meno
Symposium
Republic, bk. II-V
Republic, bk. VI-IV
Parmenides
Vlastos - The Third Man Argument in Parmenides (online)
Aristotle
Categories 1-5
Categories 6-15 (course packet)
Metaphysics, bk I
Metaphysics, bk IV
Nicomachean Ethics, bk I
Nicomachean Ethics, bk II & III
Nicomachean Ethics, bk V & VI
Nicomachean Ethics, bk VII & IX
Epicureans (all online)
The Life of Epicurus, "Letter to Herodotus," & "Letter to
Pythocles"
Letter to Menoeceus, "The Principle Doctrines," & "The
Vatican Collection of Epicurean Sayings"
Stoics (all online)
Lives of the Stoics, On Philosophy
Ethics
Physics & On Fate