Syllabus: Philosophy 281-01: Ancient Greek Philosophy
McCook 324: Phone 2426
Email: Drew.Hyland@Trincoll.edu
Website: http://www.trincoll.edu/~dhyland/
Grades, etc. posted on class Moodle site
Hyland: The Origins of
Philosophy
Sachs (trans.): Plato:
Theaetetus
Brann et al (trans.): Plato: Phaedo
McKeon (ed.): Introduction
to Aristotle
Mon., Sept. 13: Introduction
Mon., Sept. 20: Hyland, Origins, Introduction, Ch. 1-3; 1-144
Mon., Sept. 27: Hyland, Origins, Ch. 4; 145-178
Mon., Oct. 4: Hyland, Origins, Ch. 5, 6; 179-236
Mon., Oct. 11: Trinity Days
Mon., Oct.18: Hyland:
Origins, Ch. 7-10; 237-342
Mon., Oct. 25: Plato,
Theaetetus
Mon., Nov. 1: Plato,
Theaetetus
Mon., Nov. 8: Plato,
Phaedo
Mon., Nov. 15: Plato,
Phaedo
Mon., Nov. 22: Aristotle,
Metaphysics, Books I, XII
Mon., Nov. 29: Aristotle, De Anima, Bk. I, ch.1; Bk. II, ch. 1-4; Bk. III, ch. 4-9
Mon., Dec. 6: Aristotle, Nicomachean Ethics, Bk. I, II
Mon., Dec. 13: Aristotle, Nicomachean Ethics, Bk. III, ch. 1-5; Bk. VIII, ch. 1-8; Bk. IX,
ch. 4-12; Bk.X, ch. 6-9
1. Class Discussion: This is philosophy: no one has the “last word” on the issues we will discuss. We will all benefit from each other’s questions and insights. You therefore have an ethical responsibility to share your insights, questions, criticisms, etc. with the class. 16% of Final Grade.
2. Three 5-7 page typewritten papers, one on some aspect of the presocratic philosophers, one on some aspect of Plato, one on some aspect of Aristotle. You will be expected to consult secondary sources for your paper and include discussion of and reference to them in your paper. You should consult me about your topic before writing your paper. The first paper is due October 25, the second paper is due November 22, and the third on December 20. 60% of the final grade.
3. Protocols: Every other week, each student must come to class prepared with a 1-2 page discussion paper to present to the class. This protocol should address aspects of the previous week’s class that you find especially important, challenging, or problematic. They should not be summaries of the entire discussion. We will begin each class with the presentation of one or two protocols, whose purpose will be to orient the previous week’s material with the assignment for the present class. Protocols will be collected at the end of class. Every other week, each student must come to class prepared with a 1-2 page discussion paper to present to the class. This protocol should address aspects of the previous week’s class that you find especially important, challenging, or problematic. They should not be summaries of the entire discussion. We will begin each class with the presentation of one or two protocols, whose purpose will be to orient the previous week’s material with the assignment for the present class. Protocols will be collected at the end of class. 24% of Final Grade
N.B. No Late Papers. If you do not hand in a paper at the time it is due, you will receive a failing grade for that paper.
N.B. Attendance: If you have an utter contempt for learning and are here to waste large amounts of your parents’ money, you may miss class whenever you choose. Let me assure you, your grade will reflect those absences, as you cannot do well if you miss class. But of course, you also have a contempt for grades.