PAR  201    Fall 2009
HISTORY OF ANCIENT & MEDIEVAL PHILOSOPHY

Dr. Schmid: BR 270; x3409; hours: M 11-1150

schmidt@ uncw.edu; http://people.uncw.edu/schmidt/

REVISED 11-17-09

Course description:

Introduction to the philosophical questions, methods, concepts and theories of ancient and medieval philosophy. During this semester, we will wrestle with some of the questions philosophers have always pondered:

• What does science tell us about the world, and how does that knowledge influence the understanding of life?
• Is there such a thing as ethical knowledge, and if so, what does it teach us? Are right and wrong, good and evil, virtue and vice features of reality, or just values that human beings place on things?
• Is there a particular ‘philosophical’ way of living life, and is it somehow better than an un-philosophical life?
• Is there a God, and if so, what can we know of God’s relation to the universe and human beings?

Basic Student Learning Outcomes:

1)      learn to describe and explain various philosophical concepts, problems and positions of ancient and medieval philosophy, including five periods: Presocratics, Socrates and Sophists, Plato, Aristotle, Medieval Philosophy. Through lectures, reading supplementary materials explaining the original texts, and class discussion.

2)      evaluate at least two philosophical positions critically and systematically. Each student will write at least two philosophy papers, e.g. on a topic relating to Plato’s Phaedo, and a paper on one of the virtues, as Aristotle defines and explains them. Students may also write an additional paper on one of the medieval philosophical arguments for or against the existence of God. These papers should have (i) a clear thesis (ii) a logical order of argument, considering both pro and con examples and arguments regarding the thesis (iii) a clear summary and conclusion

3)      demonstrate familiarity with the arguments in support of those philosophical positions, e.g. the arguments for or against belief in the immortality of the soul, or for or against the Aristotelian concept of courage as a virtue, or for or against the Design Argument for the existence of God.

Rules & Requirements: 

• Books: Curd, Presocratic Reader (PR), Plato: Five Dialogues (FD), Gorgias; Aristotle, Nicomachean Ethics (NE); Schmid, Introduction to Ancient and Medieval Philosophy (IAMP)
• Participation, including attendance (3 cut limit; after which I deduct points for each class missed; I do not take attendance on review days, but I do on discussion days).
• Reading: you are expected to do the reading prior to class, and be prepared to participate in discussion. Instructor reserves the right to grade up or down 1 letter depending on his perception of student participation. Lateness is rude; repeated lateness will be penalized. Extensive non-attendance will result in a failing grade.
• 2 tests; 3 short (3 page) papers. 500 points. May do pop quizes. Students with a “B+” or better average on the first four grades will have the option of not writing the final paper. (In which case, 400 points possible.)
• All work must be turned in on time. Lateness will be penalized or, in some cases, result in an automatic F or even 0. Students who miss deadlines or tests must show proof of a valid excuse, i.e. an unforeseen emergency. NOTE: UNCW policy discourages incompletes, except in true emergencies.
• Normal expectations on coming to class on time, respect for others, doing your own work, UNCW honor codes. Plagiarism or cheating of any kind is punishable with an F and UNCW judicial procedures. Plagiarism is copying or paraphrasing another's writing without attribution, from whatever source (including the Internet); for a clear explanation of what plagiarism is and how to avoid it, see Plagiarism. In discussion, "anything goes" but students must respect each other, even if discussion gets heated. (Philosophical dialogue presupposes willingness of participants to be mistaken, or at least not know what they are talking about.)
• Students with special needs should contact me immediately. This includes any athletes or other students who anticipate missed classes, especially missed tests. Students must demonstrate need to miss test dates or paper deadlines, or they will be penalized.
• NOTE: No electronic equipment in class: cell phones must be turned off. Computers may not be used in class. If you take notes, do it with pen/pencil and paper. (I know this seems odd.)
• University rule: zero-tolerance for violence and harassment. For emergencies contact UNCW CARE at 962-2273, Campus Police at 962-3184, or Wilmington Police at 911.  For University or community resources visit http://uncw.edu/wrc/crisis.htm.

NOTE: this syllabus, including assignments and dates of tests, etc., is subject to revision at the will of the instructor. It is the student's responsibility to monitor the online syllabus to keep up with any changes, particularly if you miss class and do not get the announcement there.

CLASS ASSIGNMENTS AND DISCUSSION TOPICS

Presocratics: The first philosophers

Aug 19   IAMP I: What is Philosophy? (1-8) IAMP Chapter I. (If you wish, visit ancient Ephesus, video.)

Aug 21   Milesians PR 1-16, IAMP I-II. (9-16)

Aug 24   Milesians PR 1-16, IAMP I-II. (9-16)

Aug 26   Pythagoreans PR 17-24, IAMP I-II. (16-20) (If you are interested, see guitar harmonics.)

Aug 28   Heraclitus PR 29-41, IAMP I-II. (20-23).Written assignment: bring one quote + brief discussion of it to class. (1/2 p.)

Aug 31   Eleatics PR 42-51,73-77, 89-92, also 25-28, 53-60, IAMP II.5 (23-29)

Sep 2     Pluralists PR, 61-71, IAMP II.6 (29-35)

Sep 4     Discussion. Written assignment: bring 1/2-1 page typed double-space discussion of Philosophical Arguments to class to discuss with others. I have posted notes on these questions, including some of the most common errors. NOTE: in response to Matt's question about "paedophilia" among the Greeks: Greek Homosexuality. Anyone interested in this question might wish to read Plato's Symposium.

Sep 7    Labor Day vacation

Sep 9    Atomists PR, 79-88, IAMP II.7 (35-41)

Sep 11  Review for test (in construction )

Sep 14  TEST (bring black or blue pen + lined paper)

Socrates and the Sophists: Philosophy “enters the marketplace”Visit ancient Athens. Mock trial

Please Note: my office is in Bear 270, not 263 as was on the previous syllabus

Sep 16    Sophists PR 97-98, IAMP III.1-2, selections on web (42-49).. Intro to Protagoras

Sep 18    CLASS CANCELLED

Sep 21    Rhetoric Gorgias 447-466, IAMP III.3 (49-53) Intro to Gorgias

Sep 23    Justice and Happiness Gorgias 466-481, IAMP III.3 (49-53). Possible quiz on Gorgias today or Monday.

Sep 25    The Good Life I Gorgias 481-499, IAMP III.4 (53-57)

Sep 28   The Good Life II Gorgias 499-527, IAMP III.4 (53-57) quiz on Gorgias; arguments

Sep 30   What is Piety? Euthyphro (FD 5-22), IAMP III.5 (57-63) Intro to Euthyphro

Oct 2      Discussion

Oct 5      Fall break

Oct 7      Philosophy and the Examined Life Apology of Socrates Intro to Apology, Crito

Oct 9      Discussion.

Oct 12    Review for test

Oct 14    TEST (bring black or blue pen). Bring ESSAY to class, typed 2-3 pages.

Plato’s Phaedo: Knowledge, the Forms and the Soul

Oct 16   The Art of Dying Phaedo 57-70 (FD 89-106). IAMP IV.1-3 (71-78) Intro to Phaedo

Oct 19   Proofs of the Immortality of the Soul Phaedo 70-84 (FD 106-123). IAMP IV.4 (79-85)

Oct 21   Discussion

Oct 23   Is life after death impossible? Phaedo 84-95 (FD 136-46). IAMP IV.5-6 (85-93)

Oct 26   Socrates and the Theory of Forms Phaedo 96-107 (FD 136-46). IAMP IV.5-6 (85-93)

Oct 28   Discussion

Oct 30   Mythos and Logos Phaedo 107-118 (FD 146-55), IAMP IV.7 (93-94)

Nov 2    PAPER DUE. Sample on the Phaedo. Links for "argumentative essay": brief; longer (at "THE OWL"), what is an "argument"?

Aristotle’s Ethics: Virtue and the good life

Nov 4   Happiness NE I.-5, 7, IAMP Book I (95-102). An opposing view to Aristotle's teleological naturalism: Sartre

Nov 6   Virtue and Responsibility NE II-III.5, IAMP Books II-IV  (102-113)

Nov 9   The Moral Virtues NE III.6-IV

Nov 11  Discussion

Nov 13  Justice NE V IAMP Book V (113-118)

Nov 16  Wisdom and Will NE VI-VII.8 IAMP Books VI-VII (118-125)

Nov 18  Friendship and the Good Life NE VIII.1-6, IX.4, 8-9, X NE VIII-X, IAMP Books VIII-X (125-131)

Nov 20  Discussion

Nov 23   PAPER DUE

Nov 25   Thanksgiving vacation

Nov 27   Thanksgiving vacation

Medieval Philosophy: What can we know about “God”?

Nov 30   Does God Exist? Summa Theologiae; IAMP VI.1-5 (132-150)

Dec 2     Discussion

Dec 7 - PAPER due.