PHIL 210.001 – Ancient Greek Philosophy

Instructor: James Lesher. This course meets TR 9:30 – 10:45 a.m. in CW 103.

In PHIL 210 we will explore the development of Greek philosophy from its beginnings in the 6th century BC down to the end of the classical period. We will explore such questions as “What factors may have sparked the onset of Western philosophy and science?”, “How did Greek thinkers before the time of Socrates advance the study of nature?”, “What were Socrates’ chief contributions to philosophy?”, “What was Plato’s Theory of Forms?”, and “What were the central ideas in Aristotle’s approach to science and ethical theory?” The course is intended to provide an introduction to ancient Greek philosophy, to shed light on the classical origins of modern thought, and to provide experience in discussing philosophical ideas and arguments.