PHIL 210.001 – Wonder, Myth, and Reason: Introduction to Ancient Greek Science and Philosophy

Instructor: Nathan L. Smith. This course meets MWF 1:25 – 2:15 p.m. in CW 105.

This course serves as an introduction to philosophy through the ancient Greek perspective, with special focus on Platonic thought. Topics include virtue, happiness and the good life, beauty, love, art, perception, knowledge, the soul, and God. The majority of our texts are dialogues from Plato including the Meno, Phaedo, Phaedrus, Symposium, and Republic. We will also read selections from Aristotle’s Physics and Metaphysics and spend time on a number of treatises from Plotinus including On Beauty and On Happiness.

There are no prerequisites, and the course is open to students of all majors. No background in philosophy is presumed, although students of philosophy will find their experience a valuable and welcome contribution.