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

Instructor: Z Quanbeck. This course meets MTWRF 11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. via remote synchronous (RS) instruction.

This course provides an introduction to ancient Greek philosophy. We will focus on issues in ethics (especially on virtue, happiness, and the relationship between the two) but will also cover relevant issues in metaphysics, epistemology, and political philosophy. The course will be split into three units: 1) Socrates and Plato, 2) Aristotle, and 3) Hellenistic and late antique philosophy (including Epicureanism, Stoicism, Skepticism, and Neoplatonism).

In this course, you will be encouraged to approach the ancient Greek philosophers we will read as a) members of a significant historical intellectual tradition who develop a variety of systematic approaches to making sense of the world, b) interlocutors with whom you will engage in developing your own philosophical views, and c) practitioners of philosophy as a way of life. Correspondingly, this course will emphasize a) interpreting historical philosophical texts, b) evaluating philosophical arguments, and c) applying philosophical ideas to your own life.