320A ANCIENT PHILOSOPHY -- Cohen, MWF 2:00-3:20, 5 credits. [Priority to Majors]
A survey of the history of ancient Greek philosophy from the Milesians through
Aristotle. The course will focus on ancient Greek views of nature and our
knowledge of nature. We will trace the development of philosophical themes
among the Presocratics and proceed to their development at the hands of Plato
and Aristotle. The emphasis throughout will be on understanding, analyzing,
and evaluating the arguments of the philosophers. Minimal attention will
be given to cultural and historical setting. There will be two in-class exams,
a mid-term and a final, which will include both short-answer and essay questions.
Topics for the essay questions will be distributed in advance.
Suitable for nonmajors; no prerequisites, although a background in the problems
of philosophy as well as elementary logic would be very helpful. Meets
Individuals and Societies (I&S) Distribution Requirement.
TEXTS: Cohen, Curd, Reeve (eds.), Readings in Ancient Greek Philosophy (second edition); Ring, Beginning with the Pre-Socratics (second edition). Recommended: various chapters and articles on reserve at OUGL.
Copyright © 2000, S. Marc Cohen