PHIL 410: Classical Philosophy (Fall 2003)

The URL for this syllabus is http://aristotle.tamu.edu/~rasmith/Courses/Ancient/410/. Please check the online version for updates and announcements.

• Place and Time: Tuesday/Thursday 8:00-9:15 AM, Bolton 003
• Instructor: Robin Smith (rasmith@tamu.edu)
• Office: Bolton 314
• Office hours: By appointment, or TR 9:30-11:00
• Telephone: 845-5696

This course surveys the history of philosophy in ancient Greece during the classical period, from about 600 BCE through about 300 BCE. The first third of the course will concern the earliest Greek philosophers, usually called "Presocratics" (since many of them, though not all, lived before Socrates) and the thinkers of fifth-century Athens, including Socrates (469-399 BCE) and the Sophists. The next third will concentrate on Plato (428/7-348/7 BCE), and the last third on Plato's student Aristotle (384/3 BCE-322/21 BCE).

Objectives

1. To give you a basic knowledge of Ancient Greek philosophers, especially Plato and Aristotle, and an understanding of their importance to the later history of philosophy.
2. To give you experience in reading and interpreting historical philosophical texts.
3. To introduce you to the methods of research in the history of philosophy.
4. To give you experience in writing a philosophical research paper.

Texts

• Richard McKirahan, Philosophy before Socrates. (Hackett Publishing Co., 1994). ISBN0-87220-175-9
• Complete Works of Plato, ed. John Cooper & D. S. Hutchinson (Hackett Publishing Co., 1997). ISBN 0872203492
• New Aristotle Reader, ed. J. L. Ackrill (Princeton University Press, 1987). ISBN 0-691-02043-4

Formal Work

Class Schedule and Readings

The schedule of readings and exams below is subject to revision, as necessary, to accommodate the pace of the class better or to accomplish any other really fine and appropriate end. However, I won't move the dates of exams up, and any change in the dates of exams will be announced (both in class and on this web site) at least a week in advance.

Policies on Academic Dishonesty

Please see the Texas A&M University Student Rules, Section 20 for definitions of types of academic dishonesty and the penalties that can be imposed. Note in particular the definition of plagiarism:

"Failing to credit sources used in a work product in an attempt to pass off the work as one's own. Attempting to receive credit for work performed by another, including papers obtained in whole or in part from individuals or other sources."

Just to make this point clear: submitting a term paper taken from an Internet paper service, in whole or in part, is academic dishonesty. Submitting such a paper and including an acknowledgment that it was taken from a paper service is academic dishonesty plus a confession.

Americans with Disabilities Act

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is a federal antidiscrimination statute that provides comprehensive civil rights protection for persons with disabilities. Among other things, this legislation requires that all students with disabilities be guaranteed a learning environment that provides for reasonable accomodation of their disabilities. If you believe you have a disability requiring an accomodation, please contact the Department of Student Life, Services for Students with Disabilities in Room 126 of the Koldus Building, on the Interet at http://studentlife.tamu.edu/ssd/, or by telephone at 979-845-1637.