PHH 3062-001 HISTORY OF PHILOSOPHY I: ANCIENT & MEDIEVAL         PHILOSOPHY

Tues. & Thurs. 2:00-3:15, CPR 126   

 

 

J.B. Waugh

FAO 233

jwaugh@cas.usf.edu

Telephone/voice mail: 974-5571

Office Hours: Wednesday:  1:004:00 and by appointment                                                                                                                                                      

 

Course objectives:

 

The HISTORY OF WESTERN PHILOSOPHY: ANCIENT & MEDIEVAL PHILOSOPHY has at least four objectives. The first is to acquaint students with major texts in the history of philosophy from the Ancient & Medieval period.  The second is to develop the abilities of students to engage in critical analysis of philosophical texts and the arguments these texts present.  The third is to enhance the abilities of students to write a sustained argument in continuous prose and to engage in research supporting the argument they present.  The last objective is to prompt students to engage in reflective and critical discussions of philosophical issues.

 

 

TEXTS:

 

McKirahan, Richard D., Jr., Philosophy Before Socrates 

Havelock, Eric A., Preface to Plato

Plato, The Trial and Death of Socrates (Plato's Apology, Crito, and Euthyphro) Grube trans.

Plato, The Republic, Grube, trans. Reeve rev.

Aristotle, Introduction to Aristotle, McKeon, ed.

Augustine, Against the Academicians and The Teacher, King, trans.

Anselm, Monologion and Proslogion, Williams, trans.

Five Texts on the Mediaeval Problem of Universals, Spade, ed.

 

 

LECTURE AND DISCUSSION TOPICS     READING ASSIGNMEN­TS (for following class)

 

08‑24    Introduction                            McKirahan, pp. 1-19

Havelock, 61-86; 97-114

 

08-26   Hesiod                                     McKirahan, pp. 20-47

Havelock, 87-96

 

08-31   Thales                                      McKirahan, pp. 48-68

            and Anaximander                      Havelock, 36-60

 

09-02   Anaximenes                             McKirahan, pp. 69-115

and Xenophanes

 

09-07   Pythagoreanism                        McKirahan, pp. 116-150

Havelock, 115-144

 

09-09   Heraclitus                                 McKirahan, pp. 151-178        

Havelock, 145-193

 

09-16   Parmenides                              McKirahan, pp. 179-195

& 292-302                  

 

09-21   Zeno & Melissus                      McKirahan, pp. 196‑231

 

09-23   Anaxagoras                              McKirahan, pp. 303-344

 

09-28   Fifth Century Atomism             McKirahan, pp. 353-413

 

09-30   Sophists & Nomos/Phusis       Prepare for First Examination

 

10-05   First examination                   Plato, Euthyphro,

Havelock, pp. 3-35

           

10-07  The Socratic Problem               Plato, Apology

            Euthyphro                                           Havelock, 197-233     

 

10-12   Apology                                  Plato, Crito

                                                                        Havelock, 234-253

 

10-14  Crito                                        Plato, Republic, pp. 1-93

 

10-19    Republic                                             "           pp. 94-185      

 

10-21   Republic                                              "           pp. 186-240

                                                                        Havelock, 254-275     

 

10-26   Republic                                  Plato, Republic, pp. 241-292  

Havelock, 276-311

 

10-28   Republic                                  Aristotle, Metaphysics, I-XII   

 

11-02   Aristotle's Metaphysics Aristotle, Physics, II                            

 

11-04   A's Metaphysics/Physics          Aristotle, Ethics, I‑III.5, Ethics, X                  

 

11-09   A's Ethics                                 Augustine, Against the Academicians, 1-94

 

11-11   Veterans’ Day Holiday                                

 

11-16   Augustine                                 Anselm, Monologion,1-90

 

11-18   Anselm                                    Anselm, Proslogion, 93-139                           

 

11-23   Anselm/Guanilon                      Universals: Porphyry &                                                                                                                                Boethius, Abelard                                                        

11-25   Thanksgiving Holiday

 

11-27   Problem of Universals  Universals:  Duns Scotus, Ockham       

 

11-30   Universals                                 Aquinas, The Existence of God*

 

12-01  Aquinas/Existence of God         Prepare for examination

 

12-07   FINAL EXAMINATION   NOTE:  EXAMINATION PERIOD IS 1:00-3:00

 

*This reading will be distributed in class, or will be available at Pro-Copy.

 

 

REQUIREMENTS:

 

Each student will be required to write two examinations and a research paper of 10-20 pages on some aspect of Plato's dialogues or Platonic philosophy.  (Students should choose the topic in consultation with the professor).  Study questions for the examinations will be distributed approximately two weeks before the date of the examination.  The examination will consist of questions taken from the list of study questions; students will elect to answer any combination of questions from the list of questions that comprises the exam, as long the questions selected total at least 100 points.  Students will also have the option of gaining additional points on the exam by answering a designated question or questions.  Each examination will each count as 30% of the final grade for the course; the research paper will count as 40%.

 

Students are expected to attend all class meetings (of course).  Any student who misses four or more class meetings cannot expect to receive a grade higher than a 'B' for the course; students missing six or more classes cannot expect a grade higher than a 'C'; students missing eight or more classes cannot expect a grade higher than a 'D'.  Plagiarism or cheating will not be tolerated; this can hardly come as a surprise. (See pp. 38‑39 of the USF Undergraduate Catalogue for the University's policy on academic dishonesty).

 

 

Grading scale:

 

Students will be assigned grades ranging from A+ to F, including letter grades of plus and minus based on the following scale.

 

A+       98 TO 100 GRADE POINTS

A         93-97

A-        90-92

 

B+       87-89

B          83-86

B-        80-82

 

C+       77-79

C         73-76

C-        70-72

 

D+       67-69

D         63-66

D-        60-62  

 

F          below 60

           

 

TAPING OF CLASSES:

 

Students must ask permission to tape classes from the instructor.  If permission is granted, the tapes are for personal use only, and may not be sold or given to others.  The tapes are to be erased at the end of the semester.

 

 

ABSENCE DUE TO RELIGIOUS OBSERVANCE:

 

Students who anticipate the necessity of being absent from class because they intend to observe a major religious holiday should notify the instructor in writing by the second meeting of the class.

 

 

S/U GRADING:

 

The request for a grade of S/U must be made by the 10th week of the semester. 

 

 

INCOMPLETE POLICY: 

 

Incompletes will be given at the request of the student and the discretion of the instructor in accordance with the policy on incompletes stated in the Undergraduate Catalogue. 

 

 

CHANGES TO SYLLABUS:

 

The instructor reserves the right to make changes to this syllabus as professional judgment dictates.