Ancient World: Greek Philosophy
| Module title | Ancient World: Greek Philosophy |
|---|---|
| Module code | CLA1507 |
| Academic year | 2019/0 |
| Credits | 15 |
| Module staff | Dr Gabriele Galluzzo (Convenor) |
| Duration: Term | 1 | 2 | 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Duration: Weeks | 11 |
| Number students taking module (anticipated) | 48 |
|---|
Module description
The module will make students acquainted with the beginnings of philosophy, from the Presocratics to Aristotle. Participants will read some of the masterpieces of Western thought and become familiar with a number of crucial notions – such as explanation, principle, nature, convention, wellbeing and happiness – that are still of considerable importance in contemporary philosophical debates and in ordinary life. The module is intended for beginners and presupposes no previous acquaintance with philosophy, nor any knowledge of Greek and Latin. It is particularly suitable for interdisciplinary pathways as students will be introduced to notions that cut across philosophy, history, and literary studies.
Module aims - intentions of the module
This module addresses key issues of ancient Greek philosophy. It is concerned with ancient Greek thinking on the nature and origins of philosophy and the fundamental values of a human life. Students will learn how to analyse, evaluate and use ancient Greek philosophical texts by the Presocratics, Plato and Aristotle and modern scholarly discussions as sources for understanding Greek philosophy.
Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)
ILO: Module-specific skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 1. Through an analysis of ancient Greek philosophical texts and modern scholarly discussions, on completion of this module students will be able to describe and evaluate a number of key features of Greek philosophy.
- 2. They will also have assimilated a basic understanding of some important Platonic and Aristotelian discussions of ethical ideas.
- 3. They will be able to examine a set of key issues and debates in Greek philosophy.
ILO: Discipline-specific skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 4. Students will be able to use and evaluate ancient Greek philosophical texts as historical sources.
- 5. They will also develop advanced academic and library skills as well as a critical ability in assessing published literature on selected texts on Greek philosophy.
ILO: Personal and key skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 6. Students will demonstrate independent and group study skills in research and presentation of findings.
- 7. They will also be able to select and organise relevant material and to present an argument in coherent oral and written form, and to discuss issues in a peer group.
Syllabus plan
1. The start of Western philosophy, the Presocratics.
2. Socrates, philosophical method, thought on the community and its values.
3. Plato: his thought on human desires and aspiration, body and soul, humanity and immortality.
3. Aristotle: on ethics, friendship, virtue, and happiness.
Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)
| Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities | Guided independent study | Placement / study abroad |
|---|---|---|
| 27 | 123 | 0 |
Details of learning activities and teaching methods
| Category | Hours of study time | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Scheduled learning and teaching activities | 22 | Lectures (11 x 2 hours) |
| Scheduled learning and teaching activities | 5 | Seminars (5 x 1 hour) |
| Guided independent study | 123 | Independent study |
Formative assessment
| Form of assessment | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oral presentation | 5-10 minutes | 1-7 | Verbal feedback |
Summative assessment (% of credit)
| Coursework | Written exams | Practical exams |
|---|---|---|
| 30 | 70 | 0 |
Details of summative assessment
| Form of assessment | % of credit | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Essay assignment | 30 | 2000 words | 1-7 | Mark and written comments |
| Exam | 70 | 2 hours | 1-7 | Mark and written comments |
Details of re-assessment (where required by referral or deferral)
| Original form of assessment | Form of re-assessment | ILOs re-assessed | Timescale for re-assessment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Essay | Essay | 1-7 | August ref/def period |
| Exam | Exam | 1-7 | August ref/def period |
Indicative learning resources - Basic reading
Core Set Texts:
Plato, The Last Days of Socrates (Penguin Classics).
Plato, Symposium (Penguin Classics) Aristotle, Ethics (Penguin Classics).
R. Waterfield, The First Philosophers: The Presocratics and the Sophists, translated with introduction and notes (Oxford
World's Classics, 2000)
Other Recommended Reading:
J. Annas, Ancient Philosophy: A Very Short Introduction (Oxford University Press, 2000).
C. Gill, Greek Thought. Greece and Rome New Surveys in the Classics (Oxford University Press, 1995).
M.L.Gill, P.Pellegrni (eda.), A Companion to Ancient Philosophy (Wiley-Blackwell, 2009).
T. Irwin, Classical Thought (Oxford University Press, 1989).
D. Sedley, Cambridge Companion to Greek and Roman Philosophy (Cambridge University Press, 2003).
R. Wardy, Doing Greek Philosophy (Routledge, 2005).
| Credit value | 15 |
|---|---|
| Module ECTS | 7.00 |
| Module pre-requisites | None. |
| Module co-requisites | None. |
| NQF level (module) | 6 |
| Available as distance learning? | No |
| Last revision date | 18/01/2017 |
