This course on Plato provides an in-depth account of this seminal thinker's philosophy.  Major themes such as the nature of knowledge, soul, universe, city, God, language, love, and art will be discussed based on selections from all of his dialogues.  Plato's relationship to Presocratic philosophy, especially Parmenides and Heraclitus will be discussed. We will pay special attention to Plato's dialogic form and its main protagonist: Socrates.

In the second half of the course, we will read the Republic in detail, with special attention to the legacy of Plato's thought throughout the history of Western Philosophy.

Required Text:

Plato: Complete Works, John Cooper ed. Hackett Publishing Co. $54.