Ancient Greek thought begins the tradition of Western philosophy and shapes it throughout history. This influence extends over various periods such as the Roman era, Middle Ages, Renaissance and Modernity,  as well as across cultures including Jewish, Christian and Islamic philosophies.  In recent history, thinkers as diverse as Freud, Darwin, Nietzsche and Marx borrow heavily from their Greek predecessors.  Finally, disciplines as varied as theology, political theory, aesthetics, ethics and ontology develop as a series of responses to the way the Greek philosophy sets up their central problems.

In this course we will begin with Sophocles’ tragedy Oedipus Tyrannus and inquiring into the origins of Greek philosophy in myth, tragedy and epic.  This will orient us towards some of the concerns of Ancient Greek philosophy. Then we will discuss the Presocratic philosophers (6 BCE) and how they help us understand Socratic philosophy.  The bulk of this course will be devoted to the philosophies of Plato and Aristotle, where we will inquire into how these philosophers investigated reality, knowledge, perception, art, ethics, city, universe, soul and God.  Finally, we will conclude with a lecture on the legacy of Ancient Greek thought.

Course requirements include attendance, class participation and three short papers. The first paper will be on either Parmenides or Heraclitus, the second paper on Plato’s Republic and a third paper on Aristotle.

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