Philosophy 21

History of Philosophy: Ancient

Fall, 2004



Lecture: 226 Wellman, TR 3:10-4:30

Sections: A01: F 12-1, A02: F 1-2

Instructor: Dr. G. J. Mattey

Teaching Assistant: Jonathan Feagle

Office: 2298 Social Science and Humanities

Office: 1233 SSH

Phone: 752-0609

E-mail: jffeagle@ucdavis.edu

Office Hours: M 10-11:45, T 2-3

Office Hours:


Print Texts: Five Dialogues, Plato

Introductory Readings, Aristotle


Web Page: http://philosophy.ucdavis.edu/mattey/phi021/index.html


Topic: A survey of the origins of Western philosophy in the writings of the ancient Greeks. The first part of the course will cover philosophers preceding and contemporaneous with Socrates, including Heraclitus, Parmenides and others. The second part will examine the philosophy of Socrates and Plato. The third part will provide an introduction to Aristotle. The last part will survey developments after Aristotle, including Epicureanism, Stoicism, skepticism, and neo-Platonism.


Schedule



October

November

December

5

Thales, Anaximander, Anaximines

2

Plato, Phaedo

2

Stoics

7

Pythagoreans

4

Aristotle, Categories, De Interpretatione

7

Skeptics

12

Heraclitus

9

Aristotle, Posterior Analytics, Topics

9

Neo-Platonists

14

Parmenides, Zeno, Melissus

11

No Class



19

Sophists

16

Aristotle, Physics

15

Final Examination

8:00-10:00 A.M.

21

Plato, Euthyphro

18

Aristotle, Metaphysics



26

Plato, Crito, Apology

23

Aristotle, Nichomachean Ethics



28

Plato, Meno

25

No Class





30

Epicurus




Grades will be based on the following: a final examination (30%), two short papers (30% each), and discussion-section participation (10%). The final will be in-class, with essay questions. Papers will involve textual analysis on assigned topics. Examinations must be taken, and papers turned in, at the scheduled time, unless prior authorization is given. Late papers will be penalized one grade quantum per two working days late. Both the final and the two papers must be completed in order for the course to be passed.