Course: Ancient and Medieval Western Philosophy (PHIL 316/F09)
Instructor: Steve Naragon
Reading and Essay Schedule
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Required Texts
• Robert Solomon and Kathleen Higgins, A Short History of Philosophy (Oxford U.P., 1996). [ISBN: 0-19-510196-0]
• Cohen, Curd, and Reeve, eds., Readings in Ancient Greek Philosophy: From Thales to Aristotle, 2nd ed. (Hackett, 2000). [ISBN: 0-87220-538-X] (NB: The 1st edition is actually preferable — better paper — if you can find a copy.)
• Epictetus, Handbook, translated by Nicholas White (Hackett, 1983). [ISBN: 0-915145-69-3]
• Thomas Aquinas, Summa Contra Gentiles, Book One: God, transl. by Anton Pegis (Univ. of Notre Dame Press, 1975). [ISBN: 0-268-01678-X]
• Selections (available with the links below) from the works of Epicurus, Sextus Empiricus, Plotinus, Augustine, Anselm, Abelard, Ibn-Sina, Ibn-Rushd, William of Ockham, Meister Eckhart, and Pico della Mirandola, as well as some current secondary literature.
Wed, Sep 2
Introduction to the class.
Presocratics and Plato
Fri, Sep 4
[Class does not meet.]
Reading: SH, 1-25.
Mon, Sept 7
The Miletians.
Reading: SH, 25-32; AGP (selections from/about the Miletians).
Essay: What is plausible, and what is implausible, about Thales’ claim that “all is water”?
Additional Material
Text: Greek Glossary [text].
Wed, Sep 9
Heraclitus and Xenophanes
Reading: SH, 33; AGP (selections from Heraclitus and Xenophanes).
Essay: Describe and discuss Heraclitus’s account of the logos.
Fri, Sep 11
Pythagoras
Reading: SH, 32-33; AGP (selections from the Pythagoreans).
Essay: What might the Pythagoreans mean by “the limited” and “the unlimited”? (Read the fragments and use your imagination.)
Mon, Sep 14
Parmenides and Zeno
Reading: SH, 34-36; AGP (selections from Parmenides and Zeno).
Essay: Choose one of Zeno of Elea’s paradoxes of motion, and describe and criticize it as carefully as the time and space permits.
Additional Material
Audio: Raymond Tallis on Parmenides (Philosophy Bites) (15m 14s) [audio].
Wed, Sep 16
The Pluralists and Atomists
Reading: SH, 36-39; AGP (selections from Anaxagoras, Empedocles, Leucippus, and Democritus).
Essay: Briefly describe the difference between the pluralists and the atomists.
Fri, Sep 18
The Sophists
Reading: SH, 39-43; AGP (editor introduction + selections from Protagoras and Gorgias).
Essay: What might Protagoras have meant when he said that “man is the measure of all things,” and how might anyone come to such an idea as this?
Additional Material
Text: Naragon, “Socrates and Plato” (from A Book is a Machine) [text].
Mon, Sep 21
Plato’s Apology
Reading: SH, 43-49; AGP (editor introduction + dialogue).
Essay: Describe Socrates’s account of the proper role of the philosopher.
Additional Material
Text: I. F. Stone on the execution of Socrates (a journalistic scoop) [text].
Text: Doug Linder, “The Trial of Socrates” (2002) [web].
Text: Enid Bloch, “Hemlock Poisoning and the Death of Socrates: Did Plato Tell the Truth?” [text].
Website: The Last Days of Socrates (Clark University): Plato’s dialogues with images and many helps for the beginning student. [web]
Wed, Sep 23 — Camp Mack Day
Fri, Sep 25
Plato’s Euthyphro
Reading: AGP, 97-111.
Essay: Compare Socrates and Euthyphro regarding their knowledge claims about the gods.
Additional Material
Videos: Myles Burnyeat on Plato (interviewed by Brian Magee) [Part One (9m 23s)] [Part Two (10m 12s)] [Part Three (9m 24s)] [Part Four (10m 44s)] [Part Five (3m 47s)].
Website: The Last Days of Socrates (Clark University): Plato’s dialogues with images and many helps for the beginning student. [web]
Mon, Sep 28
Plato’s Meno
Reading: AGP, 191-216.
Essay: What is Plato trying to demonstrate with his middle passage in the Meno about the geometric figure.
Wed, Sep 30
Plato’s Republic, Bk. 1
Reading: SH, 49-56; AGP (Republic, Bk. 1).
Essay: Briefly paraphrase Thrasymachus’s definitions of justice, and the problem Socrates found with each of these.
Fri, Oct 2
Plato’s Republic, Bk. 1
Reading: (see Sep 30)
Essay: [no essay]
Mon, Oct 5
Plato’s Republic, Bks. 2-4
Reading: AGP (Republic, 357a-362c, 368c-376e, 412b-417b, 427d-445e).
Essay: Why does Plato/Socrates discuss an “ideal city”? Do you agree with his strategy?
Wed, Oct 7
Plato’s Republic, Bks. 6-7
Reading: AGP (Republic, Bks. 6-7).
Essay: Explain what Plato means with his “Allegory of the Cave.” Of what is it an allegory?
Additional Material
Text: “Platonic Solids and Plato's Theory of Everything” [web].
Audio: Simon Blackburn on Plato's Cave (Philosophy Bites) (13m 42s) [audio].
Fri, Oct 9
First Exam
Mon, Oct 12 — Fall Break
Aristotle and the Hellenists
Wed, Oct 14
Aristotle’s Categories and On Interpretation
Reading: SH, 56-63; AGP (Categories, chs. 1-5; On Interpretation, chs. 1-4, 7, 9).
Essay: Explain as carefully as you can what Aristotle means by ‘substance’, as well as the significance of his ten categories.
Additional Material
Videos: Martha Nussbaum on Aristotle (interviewed by Brian Magee) — [Part One (9m 21s)] [Part Two (8m 40s)] [Part Three (8m 8s)] [Part Four (9m 42s)].
Videos: Mark Steel on Aristotle — [Part One (9m 51s)] [Part Two (9m 54s)] [Part Three (9m 20s)].
Fri, Oct 16
Aristotle’s Topics and Posterior Analytics
Reading: AGP (Topics, Bk. 1, chs. 1-2; Posterior Analytics, Bk. 1, chs. 1, 3; Bk. 2, ch. 19).
Essay: What is the role of self-evident truths when constructing a demonstration? What self-evident truths does Aristotle recognize?
Additional Material
Text: Aristotle on Science [text]
Mon, Oct 19 Aristotle’s Physics Reading: AGP (Physics, Bk. 1, chs. 1, 5-9; Bk. 2, chs. 1-3, 7-8). Essay: What does Aristotle mean by ‘cause’? What kinds of causes does he recognize? Wed, Oct 21 Aristotle’s Generation and Corruption Reading: AGP (Generation and Corruption, Bk. 1, chs. 1, 4). Essay: When a stone is warmed by the sun, or a human being grows, or a pig eats an apple, a kind of change is occurring; how does Aristotle understand these changes? Fri, Oct 23 Aristotle’s Metaphysics Reading: AGP (Metaphysics, Bk. 1; Bk. 4, ch. 1). Essay: Describe and briefly assess Aristotle’s criticisms of Plato’s forms. Mon, Oct 26 Aristotle’s On the Soul Reading: AGP (On the Soul, Bk. 2; Bk. 3, chs. 4, 5, 10). Essay: Briefly describe what Aristotle means by 'soul', and then describe in your own words his distinction between perception and intellect (Bk. 3, ch. 4), and between passive and active reason (Bk. 3, ch. 5). Wed, Oct 28 Aristotle’s Nicomachean Ethics Reading: SH, 64-68; AGP (Nicomachean Ethics, Bks. 1-2). Essay: What does Aristotle think is the function of human beings, and what is his support for this? Explain how he fits this talk of human function into his moral theory. Additional Material Text: Naragon, “Aristotelian Ethics” (from A Book is a Machine)
[text] Audio: Myles Burnyeat on Aristotle on Happiness (Philosophy Bites)(12m 15s)
[audio]. Audio: Terence Irwin on Aristotle’s Ethics (Philosophy Bites)(17m 28s)
[audio]. Audio: Roger Crisp on Aristotle’s Ethics (Interviews with Philosophers)(20m 15s)
[audio].
Fri, Oct 30
Epicureanism
Reading: SH, 68-71; Epicurus, “Letter to Herodotus” [text] and “Letter to Menoeceus” [text].
Essay: Write on either of the following:
(1) In a few paragraphs, describe Epicurus’s atomism (as presented in his “Letter to Herodotus”), with a focus on his account of perception, and compare it with the modern understanding of perception; or,
(2) In a brief paragraph, describe Epicurus’s argument discounting the importance of death (as described in his “Letter to Menoeceus”), and then in the remainder of the essay, evaluate this argument.
Additional Material
Text: Epicurus, “Principle Doctrines” [text].
Text: Tim O'Keefe, “Epicurus” (IEP) [web].
Mon, Nov 2
Stoicism
Reading: SH, 71-72; Epictetus, Handbook.
Essay: Briefly describe how Epictetus believes we ought to live (be sure to cite his Handbook, using section #s).
Wed, Nov 4
Skepticism
Reading: SH, 72-74; Sextus Empiricus, selection from Outline of Pyrrhonism [text].
Essay: What were the Skeptics trying to accomplish, and how did they (attempt to) accomplish it? Do you agree with their approach?
Additional Material
Text: Harold Thorsrud, “Ancient Greek Skepticism” (IEP) [web]
Fri, Nov 6
Second Exam
The Middle Ages
Mon, Nov 9
Neo-Platonism
Reading: SH, 100-22; Gerson, “Plotinus” (SEP) [web]; Plotinus, “On Beauty” (a selection from the Enneads) [text].
Essay: In your own words, describe the ascent to beauty that Plotinus develops in this passage. This ascent is just one example of what more general ascent?
Additional Material
Audio: Peter Adamson, “Plotinus on Evil” (Philosophy Bites) (14m 52s) [audio].
Wed, Nov 11
Augustine
Reading: SH, 122-29.
Essay: Drawing on the materials for today, briefly explain Augustine's intellectual ancestors. Who influenced his thought, and in what directions?
Additional Material
Text: Mendelson, “Augustine” (SEP) [web].
Videos: Anthony Kenny on Medieval Philosophy (interviewed by Brian Magee) [Part One (9m 54s)] [Part Two (10m 26s)] [Part Three (10m 32s)] [Part Four (6m 32s)] [Part Five (5m 54s)].
Fri, Nov 13
Augustine
Reading: Augustine, Confessions, Bk. 11 [text].
Essay: With references to relevant passages in the text (Bk. 11), what is Augustine's account of time?
Mon, Nov 16
Ibn-Sina (Avicenna)
Reading: SH, 129-37; Ibn-Sina, Concerning the Soul (selection) [text].
Essay: Compare Ibn-Sina’s account of perception with that of Aristotle and Epicurus.
Additional Material
Text: Sajjad H. Rizvi, “Avicenna (ibn-Sina)” (IEP) [web].
Text: Dag Nikolaus Hasse, “Influence of Arabic and Islamic Philosophy on the Latin West” (SEP) [web].
Text: Alfred Ivry, “Arabic and Islamic Psychology and Philosophy of Mind” (SEP) [web].
Audio: Peter Adamson, “Avicenna” (Philosophy Bites) (13m 4s) [audio].
Wed, Nov 18
Ibn-Rushd (Averroes)
Reading: SH, 138; Ibn-Rushd, The Decisive Treatise, determining the nature of the connection between religion and philosophy [text].
Essay: In your own words, describe and evaluate ibn-Rushd’s view of the proper relationship between demonstrative (i.e., scientific) truth and revealed truth (such as the various claims found in scripture).
Additional Material
Text: H. Chad Hillier, “Ibn-Rushd” (IEP) [web].
Fri, Nov 20
Moses Maimonides
Reading: SH, 139-42; Moses Maimonides, A Guide for the Perplexed (selection) [text].
Essay: What does Maimonides believe regarding our ability to have knowledge about God? What are his reasons for believing this?
Additional Material
Text: Kenneth Seeskin, “Maimonides” (SEP) [web].
Text: Joseph Telushkin, “Maimonides” (brief account) [web].
Mon, Nov 23
Peter Abelard
Reading: SH, 143-45; Peter Abelard, On Universals (selection) [text].
Essay: What is a universal, and why is there a problem with universals? What kind of thing does Abelard think a universal is, and how does his view of universals compare with the views of Plato and Aristotle?
Additional Material
Diagram: The Problem of Universals [text].
Text: King, “Peter Abelard” (SEP) [web].
[My original reading schedule did not allow for November 25 as a holiday. Consequently, we will read and discuss Abelard on Monday, Nov. 23, since many of you will have already encountered Anselm and his ontological argument in another class. You may still write the essay on Anselm, if you wish.]
Anselm
Reading: SH, 142-43; Anselm, “Proslogion” [text].
Essay: Describe and evaluate Anselm’s proof for God’s existence. The passage you read is normally understood to contain two different proofs or God’s existence; how do these two proofs differ?
Additional Material
Text: Thomas Williams, “Anselm” (SEP) [web].
Wed, Nov 25 / Fri, Nov 27 — Thanksgiving Break
Mon, Nov 30
Aquinas
Reading: SH, 145-47; Aquinas, Summa Contra Gentiles, Bk. I, chs. 1-9.
Essay: What does Aquinas mean by “Truths of Reason” and “Truths of Faith”? Briefly evaluate how he justifies each of these kinds of truth.
Additional Material
Text: McInerny and O'Callaghan, “Thomas Aquinas” (SEP) [web].
Wed, Dec 2
Aquinas
Reading: Aquinas, Summa Contra Gentiles, Bk. I, chs. 10-13.
Essay: Describe and evaluate Aquinas’s argument for God’s existence as presented in his Summa Contra Gentiles, Bk. I, ch. 13, §§3-16.
Additional Material
Text: Aquinas’s “Five Ways” (a brief selection from his Summa Theologia) [text].
Video: Three Minute Philosophy (Aquinas) [video].
Fri, Dec 4
[class does not meet]
Mon, Dec 7
William of Ockham
Reading: SH, 147-49; R. J. Snell, “Overcoming Omnipotence” [text].
Essay: In your own words, explain how Ockham’s emphasis on divine omnipotence causes problems for human knowledge, and for science in particular. How might this problem be best resolved?
Wed, Dec 9
Meister Eckhart
Reading: SH, 133-34; Meister Eckhart, “Sermon #1” [text]; Burkhard Mojsisch, “Meister Eckhart” (SEP) [web].
Essay: Briefly describe and discuss the relationship between human beings and God that Eckhart describes in his sermon. How does it compare with our relationship to ourselves, and to other created beings?
Additional Material
Text: Reiner Schürmann, “Meister Eckhart” (Encyc. Brit.) [text].
Fri, Dec 11
Pico della Mirandola
Reading: “Giovanni Pico della Mirandola,” in the Catholic Encyclopedia [web]; Pico, “Oration on Man (selection)” [text].
Essay: In what, according to Pico, lies the greatness of human beings? Do you agree?
Additional Material
Text: Richard Hooker, “Pico della Mirandola” [web].
Finals Week
Third Exam
Manchester College // Registrar // Department of Religion and Philosophy // Last updated: 17 Aug 2009