PHH 3062 HISTORY OF PHILOSOPHY I: ANCIENT & MEDIEVAL PHILOSOPHY


Tuesday & Thursday: 2:00 – 3:15


INSTRUCTOR:  Ms. Jennifer Ingle                                    Office Hours:     T/R 1:00 – 2:00 p.m.     

Office:               FAO 232                                                                       and by appointment

Office Phone:     974-5896                                                                      

Email:               jingle24@tampabay.rr.com

 

COURSE DESCRIPTION

A course in the history of philosophy is not only a journey into the ancestral roots of western philosophy and western civilization; it is also a preparation for any serious academic work in philosophy, intellectual history, and most areas within the humanities. The course aims at helping students to understand and to appreciate the intellectual contribution of the pre-Socrates and the major philosophers who laid the foundation for western philosophy and through that contributed immensely to the emergence and development of western civilization. Thus, the materials cover the mythological tradition that preceded philosophy and extends from Hesiod in the ancient times through Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle and to Augustine and Aquinas in the medieval times.

 

REQUIRED TEXTS

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

Havelock, Eric A., Preface to Plato

Plato, The Meno

Plato, The Protagoras

Plato, The Symposium

Plato, The Republic, Grube trans. Reeve rev.

Aristotle, Introduction to Arisotle, 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.

ATTENDANCE POLICY

Attendance is mandatory.  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’.  Students who anticipate being absent from class due to religious observance should inform the instructor by the second class meeting.

GRADING POLICY


100-93%           A

92-90%             A-

89-87%             B+

86-83%             B

82-80%             B-

79-77%             C+

76-73%             C

72-70%             C-

69-67%             D+

66-63%             D

63-60%             D-

59-0%               F


 

 

COURSE REQUIREMENTS

Each student will be required to write two examinations and one paper of 8-10 pages on some aspect of Plato’s dialogues or Platonic philosophy.  (Students should choose the topic in consultation with the instructor.)  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 as the questions selected total at least 100 points. 

 

30%      Midterm Examination

30%      Final Examination

40%      Paper

 

AVAILABLE SUPPORT SERVICES

The Writing Center is located in CPR 257, and you are encouraged to make appointments and consult with the writing tutors.  Each time you go, your writing will improve.  It is free, and you may seek assistance with papers unrelated to this course. 

INSTRUCTOR AVAILABILIY

The easiest and best way to reach me is email.  If you need to schedule an appointment outside of my office hours, email me.  Feel free to stop by my office, with or without a question.

PLAGIARISM

The penalty for plagiarism or cheating will be automatic failure in the course.  See me if you are in doubt as to what constitutes plagiarism.

 


SYLLABUS

 

8/27      Introduction

8/29      Thales, Anaximander and Anaximenes

            Reading:           McKirahan, 20-58

                                    Havelock, 48-68

9/3        Heraclitus and Parmenides

            Reading:           McKirahan, 116-178

                                    Havelock, 115-133

9/5        Zeno & Melissus

            Reading:           McKirahan, 179-195; 292-302

 

9/10      Fifth Century Atomism

            Reading:           McKirahan, 303-343

 

9/12      Sophists & Nomos/Phusis

            Reading:           McKirahan, 353-413

9/17      The Socratic Problem/Meno

            Reading:           Plato, Meno

Havelock, 3-35

9/19      Plato, Meno

            Reading:           Plato, Meno

                                    Havelock, 197-214

9/24      Plato, Meno

            Reading:           Plato, Meno

                                    Havelock, 215-233

9/26      Plato, Protagoras

            Reading:           Plato, Protagoras

                                    Havelock, 234-253

10/1      Plato, Protagoras

            Reading:           Plato, Protagoras

10/3      Plato, Protagoras

            Reading:           Plato, Protagoras

 

10/8      First Exam      

10/10    Plato, Symposium

            Reading:           Plato, Symposium

10/15    Plato, Symposium

            Reading:           Plato, Symposium

10/17    Plato, Symposium

            Reading:           Plato, Symposium

 

SYLLABUS

 

10/22    Plato, Republic

            Reading:           Plato, Republic, 1-93

10/24    Plato, Republic

            Reading:           Plato, Republic, 94-185

10/29    Plato, Republic

            Reading:           Plato, Republic, 186-240

                                    Havelock, 254-275

10/31    Plato, Republic

            Reading:           Plato, Republic, 241-292

                                    Havelock, 276-311

11/5      Aristotle, Categories, Metaphysics

            Reading:           Aristotle, Metaphysics, I & XII

11/7      Aristotle, Metaphysics/Physics

            Reading:           Aristotle, Physics, II

11/12    Aristotle, Physics/Posterior Analytics

            Reading:           Physics, II, Posterior Analytics II

11/14    Augustine

            Reading:           Augustine, Against the Academicians, 1-94

11/19    Anselm

            Reading:           Anselm

11/21    Aquinas/Existence of God

            Reading:           TBA

            Research Papers Due

11/26    Aquinas/Existence of God

            Reading:           TBA*

11/28    Thanksgiving Holiday – NO CLASS

12/3      Problem of Universals

            Reading:           Porphyry & Boetheius

12/5      Problem of Universals

            Reading:           Abelard & Ockham

 

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