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The Classical Tradition of Thought, 3 Credit Points Semester 1, 2011

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The Classical Tradition of Thought, 3 Credit Points Semester 1, 2011 Macquarie University Department of Ancient History. 1st Semester, 2011. AHIS 202 / 302 TheThe ClassicalClassical TraditionTradition ofof ThoughtThought Unit Outline and Weekly Study Guides: Reading Lists and Lecture Materials AHIS 202 / 302, The Classical Tradition of Thought, 3 credit points Semester 1, 2011. 1 Students in this unit should read this unit guide carefully at the start of semester. It contains important information about the unit. If anything in it is unclear, please consult the teaching staff in the unit. Unit Convenor: Dr. Chris Forbes [email protected] (02) 9850 8821 W6A 536 Consultation hours: Tuesday 12-1, Thursday 12-1. General Enquiries: Ms. Raina Kim, [email protected] (02) 9850 8833 W6A 540 Document Contents: Unit Introduction and Requirements: p. 3 Grading and Academic Honesty Statements p. 6 For External Students: N.B.! p. 8 Unit Schedule: p. 9 Journals; abbreviations and availability p. 11 Essay Topics: p. 12 What you need to do during the first Week: p. 14 Questions on Thucydides (work for Week 2's Tutorial) p. 15 Lecture Topics, weekly Bibliographies and Tutorial questions: Week 2: Presocratic Philosophy: Monists and Pluralists p. 20 Early Greek Philosophy: a rough Chronological Outline and map. pp. 22-3 The Development of Ancient Philosophy: an Outline Chronology. p. 24 Week 3: Socrates and his World p. 25 Week 4: Socrates and Moral Optimism; Plato and the Theory of Forms p. 27 Week 5: Plato p. 29 Week 6: Aristotle p. 31 Week 7: Alexander the Great; Hellenistic Philosophy p. 34 Maps of Alexander's Conquests and the Hellenistic Kingdoms pp. 35-6 Week 8: Hellenistic Philosophy 2, the coming of Rome p. 38 Week 9: Later Hellenistic and Early Roman Philosophy p. 40 Week 10: Trends in Roman philosophy, and the Clash of World-Views p. 42 Week 11: The Classical Tradition and the Judaeo-Christian Tradition p. 44 Extra Documents for Week 11 p. 46 Week 12: The Beginnings of Christian Philosophy; the Classical Response p. 48 Week 13: St. Augustine p. 50 2 Macquarie University Department of Ancient History 2011 AHIS 2/302 The Classical Tradition of Thought. Week 1 Unit Outline. Introduction to the Unit In the Sixth Century B.C. on the Greek mainland and the Aegean islands an intellectual revolution took place which determined the whole style of ‘western thought’ down to the present. In the generations that followed the early Greek philosophers set about the investigation of the ethical, political and metaphysical questions that have dominated European thinking ever since. In this Unit we will examine the beginnings and development of this ‘Classical Tradition’, as well as a number of the philosophical issues with which it dealt, and the people who formulated, elaborated and refined it. Issues dealt with will include: whether visible reality has some kind of foundations in a different kind of (non-visible) reality, the nature of love, the nature of the ‘ideal society’ and the definition of justice, the relationship between the individual and society, and between art and society, the moral nature of human beings, and the relationship between rationality and emotion. This Unit, the scope of which is indicated in the Handbook of Undergraduate Studies, is of the ‘General Education’ type, and the presentation will bear this in mind throughout. No background in ancient world studies or philosophy will be required or assumed, though it will be of assistance if you have it. The Unit should not, however, be thought of as merely a brief survey of the subject, because many topics will be thoroughly explored and much attention will be given to the analysis and interpretation of ancient writers. The Unit will move from an introduction to Presocratic Philosophy, through Socrates and Plato, including their ethical, metaphysical and political philosophy, to Aristotle. Then will follow a treatment of Stoicism and Epicureanism in the context of later Greek and early Roman thought. Roman culture will be discussed, with emphasis on the Roman response to Greek philosophical thinking and Greek culture. We will also deal with the rise of the importance of early Christian thinking, and its main similarities to and differences from Greek and Roman thought. For the period of the Roman Empire, Seneca and St. Augustine will be studied, together with other representatives of the Classical Tradition. Introductory Reading: For those with no historical background in the 6th and 5th centuries B.C., A.R. Burn, The Pelican History of Greece, N.B. pp. 63-141, or J.K. Davies, Democracy and Classical Greece, are recommended as good, readable introductions to the period. Other older works, such as J.B. Bury's A History of Greece, and N.G.L. Hammond's A History of Greece, may be useful if you have them, but do not buy them specially. Prescribed Texts: The modern work set as a textbook is T. Irwin, Classical Thought, Oxford, 1989. Though it does not cover the whole of the content of the unit, it comes closer than any comparable book. It will be referred to regularly in lectures and tutorials. The required ancient authors are all available in Penguin translations or other inexpensive editions. You are not required to use any particular version, but for ease of use in groups (so we can all turn to the same page!) we suggest: (over) 3 Prescribed Ancient Texts: The First Philosophers: The Presocratics and Sophists, ed. R. Waterfield, Oxford, 2000. Plato – Protagoras and Meno, trans. A. Beresford, Penguin, 2005, and The Symposium, trans. R. Waterfield, Oxford, 1994. Aristotle – The Politics, trans. T.A. Sinclair, Penguin, 1962. Lucretius – On The Nature of the Universe, trans. R. Melville, Oxford, 1997. Seneca – Letters from a Stoic, trans. R. Campbell, Penguin, 1969. St Augustine – Confessions, trans. H. Chadwick, Oxford, 1991. (All these books may be obtained from the University Co-op Bookshop. N.B. all except The First Philosophers, Plato's Symposium, Lucretius and Augustine's Confessions are the Penguin translation.) Recommended General Reading: F. Copleston – A History of Philosophy, Book 1. E. Brehier – The Hellenistic and Roman Age. J.V. Luce – An Introduction to Greek Philosophy. H. Chadwick – Early Christian Thought and the Classical Tradition. For students with some experience in philosophy: R.W. Jordan – Ancient Concepts of Philosophy. Unit Webpages The Unit has two web pages; (a) the normal Blackboard page, at https://learn.mq.edu.au, and (b) a public web page which duplicates this document and adds extra features, accessible at www.anchist.mq.edu.au/202/202frames.htm. Unit Requirements. In addition to attending the lectures (Internal students: Externals can download them from iLecture and receive them on CD) and doing the reading associated with weekly tutorial discussion topics, you will be required to hand in written work as specified below. For each Tutorial you are set a particular passage of one ancient author to read. A series of questions are given, which are intended to guide your thinking as you prepare for the Tutorial. They are also the basis for the Short Paper for that week, if you decide to do it. To pass this Unit you must simply achieve a passing grade (50%) overall. The University suggests that you should be doing approximately 9 hours’ work per week (averaged over the semester, including the two weeks of the break) for a 3 credit point Unit. Assessment: All students are required to complete three pieces of written work and a two hour examination, and participate in the Online Forum. The written work is made up of two short papers (12.5% each) and one major essay (30%). Participation in the Online Forum is worth 15%. Details of the exam (worth the remaining 30%), will be available later in the term. Task Weight Due Date Linked Unit Outcomes Linked Graduate Capabilities Short Paper 1 12.5% Variable 1, 2, 3, 6, 7 1, 2, 3, 5 Major Essay 30% 26/04/2011 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 Short Paper 2 12.5% Variable 1, 2, 3, 6, 7 1, 2, 3, 5 Online Forum 15% Exam Date 4, 6, 7 1, 2, 5, 6, 7, 9 Examination 30% Exam Period 2, 3, 5, 6, 7 1, 2, 3, 5, 9. The topics for the two short papers may be selected from the weekly Tutorial topics. You may not do more than one from each broad section of the Unit: the sections are Weeks 4 3-6, Weeks 7-10, and Weeks 11-13. They are to be of approximately 1,000 words, in essay form based around the guide questions, and are to be heavily based on your understanding and explanation of the particular piece of ancient writing, not merely the collection of the opinions of others. They must be submitted by the time of the following Tutorial. Short papers need not refer to any secondary (i.e. modern) literature, though such reference is certainly not discouraged if you wish to go into greater depth. Bibliographies are not necessary, though footnotes must be used if you do make use of the work of modern scholars. N.B. If you do a short assignment and are dissatisfied with your mark, you may elect to do three; if you do so, you will be assessed on the best two. This ‘safety net’ is designed to help those who are only feeling their way into the subject. The major essay, of approximately 2000-2500 words (2000 if you are doing the Unit at 200-Level; 2500 if you are doing it at 300-Level), is due at Macquarie on Wednesday April 27th. Topics are to be selected from the list on p.
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