Greek Philosophy: Plato and Aristotle — PHIL1903/PH19C

2004/05  schedule of lectures/classes with associated reading

The course contains 11 Units, the first of which is not going to be examined. Readings are given here by reference to the prescribed text, Classical Philosophy, which I abbreviate as CP.  The numbers given refer to the numbered sections of CP, not to page numbers (unless specifically designated as such).  What is listed here may go further than we shall be dealing with in the lectures. The lectures themselves give specific references to the texts and to various secondary sources.

In various places you may find references also to CCR.  This is a way of referring to a collection of texts, Readings in Ancient Greek Philosophy, edited by S. Marc Cohen, Patricia Curd, and C.D.C. Reeve.  A copy of this collection is on overnight reserve in the Library. Unlike CP, CCR gives largely unbroken texts.

  1. Socrates

    2. Mission: CP 138, 139, 452, 453, 539, 540, 582, 583

    Methods: The search for "what is X?"; examples; is it always an appropriate question?  CP 142, 144, 145, 146, 148, 586

    Aim: to convict of ignorance; knowing only that one doesn’t know; irony?; extension of the craft analogy to ethical and political issues. CP 177, 179, 182, 315, 317, 434, 547, 548

    Socratic teaching.
  2. Plato: metaphysics

    3. "Forms" as underlying predication; as ideal types and as explanation; Third man objection to the forms (Parmenides): CP: 194-213, 219-223.

  3. Plato: epistemology

    4. Argument for the Forms; Knowledge and opinion in the Republic; the similes for knowledge

  4. Plato: immortality of the soul

    5. Arguments in the Phaedo

    Reading: in Plato: Phaedo; in CP 300-330.  The complete text of the various arguments, in Jowett's translation, is here (together with the scene of Socrates' death).

  5. Plato: tripartite soul and the analogy with society
    6.

    Reading: in CP, 437-439; 468-471; 549-556; in Plato: Republic II-V, VII 535 on, VIII-IX.

  6. Aristotle: elementary philosophical logic and metaphysics

    7. Substance and the categories; other distinctions; syllogistic explanation and view of science

    Reading: CP 227-239, 272-275; in CCR Aristotle: Categories, De Interpretatione, Topics, Posterior Analytics.

  7. Aristotle and Zeno: physics

    8. time and truth (future sea battle, fatalism); nature of time, reply to Zeno

    Reading: CP, 79-82, 355-356; in CCR Zeno in the Pre-Socratic section.

  8. Aristotle: biology

    9. matter and form; souls and body; teleology; naturalistic account but awkward status of thinking

    Reading: in CP chapter VI and 331-337; in CCR Aristotle: Physics, On Generation and Corruption, On the Heavens, Meteorologica, Parts of Animals, Metaphysics VII and VIII, De Anima.

  9. Aristotle and others: nature and convention
    10.

    Reading: In CP, 125, 131-2, 147, 149-150, 152, 154, 192-3, 389, 456, 458.  In CCR, in the section on the Sophists: Antiphon.

  10. Aristotle: human flourishing (included in notes for topic 9)

    11. Nicomachean Ethics – doctrine of the mean; argument about the good.

    Reading: in CP, 381-388, 406-410, 498-500, 557-9, 606. In CCR, Aristotle: Nicomachaean Ethics Book II and X.

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last revised 14 April 2005

© E.P. Brandon, 2005