Philosophy 317Dr. Max Maloney

Philosophy 317Dr. Max Maloney

Office: Barry 215x3368/606-6792

Office Hours: MWF: 1-3, TR

facstaff.cbu.edu/pmaloney

Ancient Philosophy:

What is Philosophy, Who is the Philosopher?

Course Description

This course serves as an introduction to some of the most important texts and figures from that period of the history of philosophy commonly characterized as Ancient Philosophy. When you are introducing or being introduced to something new, it makes sense to think about how the introduction should take place. This is a course in the history of philosophy, but it is not a history course. To approach philosophy historically is much more than merely placing thinkers in their historical context, learning dates, or tracing out the historical development of specific concepts. It is to think with these thinkers, to retrieve their thinking in order to understand its possibilities for us. We are all, westerners, children of the ancients. We share their accomplishments and limits. As important and substantial as this heritage is, it is wise to limit the scope of our attempt at this retrieval. This semester our guiding theme will be one which the ancients themselves were only gradually becoming aware of: the question of the nature and character of philosophy and the philosopher.

Course Objectives

At minimum, I expect that by the end of the course you will have increased you knowledge and understanding of the philosophers we will consider, as well as of the roles that they have played in laying foundation for our contemporary understanding of ourselves and the world. Ideally, you will have become an active rather than merely passive participant in this foundational thinking, subject of it rather than to it.

More specifically, this course aims at the following:

1. Students will become knowledgeable of the historical context and significance of different philosophical concepts and figures.
2. Students will develop an informed personal perspective on course content.
3. Students will understand the broader context of course content through various interactive means.
4. Students will be encouraged and assisted in the development of skills in the analysis of concepts, arguments and texts through written and verbal articulation.

Course Requirements

Your grade for this course will be calculated according to the following scale:

90%-100% = AHighest level of accomplishment

80%-89% = BSignificant accomplishment

70%-79% = CAverage accomplishment

60%-69% = DInsufficient accomplishment

Below 60% = FInadequate accomplishment

Your final percentage will be determined by your performance in the following areas.

30%Critical Writing Exercises

40%Term Paper

20%Blog Posts

10%Attendance/Participation

Critical Writing Exercises

Three times throughout the semester I will ask you to respond to a question in the form of a short, 2-4 page paper. The aim of these papers will be to clearly and concisely explain the issue or position in question.

Term Paper

As a demonstration of your overall level of achievement with the course materials, you will produce a 10-12 page presentation and defense of an argumentative thesis related to course content. The form and direction of your efforts is yours to choose, though all such choices must be approved by me.Satisfactory completion of the various assignments leading up to the term paper is required and will make up one quarter of your grade for this assignment.

Blog Posts

Each week after the first week of the semester, students will be responsible for blogging a summary and discussion of an assigned section from one of the week’s reading assignments. On Fridays, I will pass around a sign-up sheet specifying the sections in question and the dates on which the posts are due. In addition to providing an original post, students are required to make a substantive comment in response to 2 of their classmates’ posts. The address of the blog we will be building together is .

Please note: These exercises are mandatory and make up a considerable portion of your final grade. There will be no late assignments accepted.

Attendance and Participation: In both its methods and its content, the study of philosophy requires the active engagement of the student. Obviously, you cannot be engaged if you are not in class, prepared to discuss the material. Minimally, it is your responsibility to be present, having read and reflected upon the material under discussion. Attendance is required and I expect you to be on time. If you are over five minutes late, you will be counted tardy. Two instances of tardiness count as an absence. For every absence over three, 5 points will be deducted from your final average.

Please Note: Academic dishonesty of any sort will not be tolerated. Any instance of cheating or plagiarism that is detected will be handled according to the policies outlined in the student handbook.

Texts

Philip Wheelwright, The Presocratics (P), Odyssey Press, 0672630915

Plato, Five Dialogues (D), Hackett Publishing, 0915145227

Republic (R), Hackett Publishing, 0872201368

Aristotle, Selections (S), Hackett Publishing, 0915145677

Handouts (available online)

8/22Class Policies, Setting the Context

8/24Greek PhilosophyHandout

8/26The MilesiansP 40-63

8/29HeraclitusP 64-89

8/31ParmenidesP 90-105

9/2

9/7The PluralistsP 120-138, 154-64

9/9The AtomistsP 175-199

9/12The PythagoreansP 200-226

9/14The SophistsP 235-260

Writing Exercise Due

9/19

9/21Socrates?EuthyphroD 5-22

9/23ApologyD 23-44

9/26Plato?MenoD 57-88

9/28PhaedoD 89-155

9/30PlatoRepublic 1 R

10/3Republic 2R

10/5Republic 3-4R

10/7Republic5R 157-212

10/10Republic 6R

10/12Republic 7R

10/14Republic 8R

10/17-10/21Fall Break

10/24Republic 9-10R

10/26

10/28

Term Paper Abstract Due

10/31AristotleCategoriesS 1-10

Writing Exercise Due

11/2Organon S 37-43, 47-52

11/4S 66-82

11/7PhysicsS 83-89

11/9S 95-105, 112-126

11/11S 137-145

Term Paper Bibliography Due

11/14De AnimaS 169-205

11/16

11/18

11/21MetaphysicsS 221-269

11/23

Term Paper Outline Due

11/28S 272-346

11/30

12/2Nichomachean EthicsS 347-398

Writing Exercise Due

12/5

12/7 S 398-449

12/9

Term Paper Due

Please Note: I reserve the right to alter the terms and conditions spelled out in this document whenever I deem it necessary.