Syllabus For Ancient Philosophy

Evangel University, Spring 2008, Phil 476, Professor Douglas F. Olena

TR - 11:00 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. AB I 315

Office hours: AB II room 214G: mornings Tuesday, or by appointment.

Evangel Policy regarding term papers and tests

Special Cases Policy for learning or physical disabilities

Purpose of Ancient Philosophy in the Curriculum:

Ancient Philosophy is an advanced course in philosophy meant for juniors and seniors. Prerequisite course: Introduction to Philosophy.

Course Description:

Catalog Description:

Foundations of Western thinking in the Classical Greek period with emphasis on Plato and Aristotle, including their political thought.

Addendum to the catalog description:

Students will explore the problems of discovering what the world is made up of. What is primary for any understanding of the world? What generates philosophy, reasoning, technology, and ethics in the ancient world.

Course Objectives:

This course is designed to acquaint the student with the foundations of Western civilization. In addition to the concentration on Plato and Aristotle, the student will become acquainted with the Stoics and Epicureans, and study the concept of free speech in the ancient world.

The student will be able to:

Identify major trends and issues in ancient thought.
Define and identify examples of major philosophic concerns such as the nature of free speech, what the world consists of, the origin of mathematics, the care of the self
Discuss the relations of these ideas with both the Jewish and Christian world.

Texts:

See the bibliography page (http://olena.com/edu/evangel/ancientbibliography.html) about acquiring these volumes.

Lost Discoveries: Dick Teresi

A Presocratics Reader: Hackett Press

Plato: Six Great Dialogues: Dover Press

Aristotle: Introductory Readings: Hackett Press

Epictetus: The Handbook (The Encheiridion) Download

Fearless Speech: Michel Foucault

The Essential Epicurus: Prometheus Books

Marcus Aurelius: Meditations: Dover Press

Seneca: Dialogues and Letters: Penguin Classics

Course Requirements:

Read the texts and be prepared to comment on them.

Prepare to lead class discussions during the semester.

Write a narrative paper on a topic germane to the class readings.

Review short passages of each text.

Prepare to present quotations in class and discuss the implications of these ideas.

Grading:

1/3 — Class participation and readings

1/3 — Class presentations

1/3 — Written narrative paper

Grading will be on the Evangel Standard:

93-100% = A

90-92.9% = A-

87-89.9% = B+

83-86.9% = B

80-82.9% = B-

77-79.9% = C+

73-76.9% = C

70-72.9% = C-

67-69.9% = D+

63-66.9% = D

60-62.9% = D-

0-59.9% = F

Class Participation and Readings:

Being an advanced class it is expected that the student will attend every class. Excuses will only be granted for required school activities, illness, death in the family and accident. The excuse must be provided before the class begins or by email the same day as the class (except, of course if you have been in an accident.) You will be graded by your participation in class discussion. From time to time I will require a short review of class readings to be handed in the day the topic is being discussed.

Class Presentations

Being one third of the grade the class presentations are a central feature. To accomplish this adequately you will be required to do the following:

Present research on the biography of the writer, or in the case where multiple essays by one writer will be presented, on a major figure mentioned in the essay.
Analyse the paper assigned in as thorough a manner as is possible.
Provide a synopsis of the paper, the main themes, thesis and problems.
Present research on the history of the problems addressed in the paper.
Relate the issues in the presentation to outside ideas and readings.
Optionally provide an outline as a handout for the rest of the class.

Narrative Paper:

Rules and specifications for the narrative paper.

The length of the paper will be approximately 12 to 24 pages.
The Introduction: written last, this will give your conclusions to the issues.
Discuss the issues using class books and any other readings or sources you wish. Internet research is permitted and encouraged, but it must show a mature, well grounded approach.
All citations will be footnoted in Turabian style. (also here)

Your accomplishments in this paper will determine one third of your grade.

Addendum:

If you have any questions about any of this syllabus or any of the course requirements, please email me. You are responsible for everything in this syllabus and if you fail to hand in an assignment, you are still responsible for it and will be graded without it. I may remind you the assignment is due, but am not obligated to do so. I will also direct you to this syllabus if the answer you seek is in it.

I have made and will make mistakes. When I do, I am disposed to favor the student. Begging me to reconsider a grade sometimes will help you, though the last time I read a paper for the second time, I found more mistakes, and realized why I had given the student the grade I did. I did not lower the student's grade.

If you are having trouble in class, please see me, email me or call me. I am more likely to be generous to you if we have a relationship of some kind. If you sneak into class late, leave early, never say anything in class or out of it, show no interest in the material, etc., there are few options to me when it comes to grading your work. I will be as fair as humanly possible, but if I don't know you, all I will have is the work you give (or don't give) me.

As much as the techné of education disposes us to treat each other perfunctorily (adj. (of an action or gesture) carried out with a minimum of effort or reflection), I am convinced that the effort required to master the material is a very humanizing process. We depend on each other for this conversation to be productive. Fostering relationships with fellow students and professors will be to our mutual advantage.