Module overview
Philosophy has always progressed by being aware of its past, and it has been said that the legacy of the ancient Greek thinkers to Western philosophy is nothing less than Western philosophy itself. The ancients invented our subject, and Plato and Aristotle are still widely regarded as the two greatest philosophers of all time. A full philosophical education demands some understanding and critical engagement with key aspects of their wide and powerful thought. These great thinkers and their predecessors, the earliest Greek philosophers, raise fundamental questions and develop the use of argument to try and answer them: What is the nature of reality? Is the world the way we perceive it to be? Is the world constantly changing or always the same? What is it to be a good person? What is the best kind of life for a human being to lead? What it is to know what is good? What is it to know anything, rather than just have an opinion?
Aims and Objectives
Learning Outcomes
Subject Specific Intellectual and Research Skills
Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:
- interpret, synthesise and criticise complex texts and positions
- present and debate ideas, both orally and in writing, in an open minded and rigorous way.
Knowledge and Understanding
Having successfully completed this module, you will be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of:
- the arguments in support of those views and the problems facing them.
- the influence of those views on subsequent thinkers.
- some of some of central views of the ancient Greek philosophers.
Transferable and Generic Skills
Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:
- to take notes from talks and written materials.
- appreciate points of view remote from one’s own.
- undertake, with adequate supervision, independent work, including identifying and using appropriate resources.
- to work effectively to deadlines.
Syllabus
In this module you will explore some of the central concepts, claims and arguments embodied in some of the major works of ancient Greek philosophers, principally Plato and Aristotle. While the syllabus may vary from year to year, topics might include:
- Concepts of being, not-being, and change
- Methods of argument and persuasion used by ancient philosophers
- Theories of the ethical virtues
- Theories of knowledge
- Plato’s theory of Forms, and philosophical problems it raises
Learning and Teaching
Teaching and learning methods
Teaching methods include
- Lectures
- In class discussion
- One on one consultation with the module co-ordinator
Learning activities include
- Attending lectures
- Contributing to discussion in class
- Doing research for and writing assessed textual commentary and exam
- Applying techniques and skills learnt to your reading and writing inside and outside the module
In the lectures, you will not only be introduced to the philosophical issues central to this module and the ideas of the philosophers studied but also encouraged to think about them for yourself. Your own ideas and any difficulties you encounter can be raised and discussed in discussion hours, and you will have the opportunity to revise your written work in light of feedback received on a plan. The writing of a textual commentary and your preparation for exams should involve you in thinking deeply about the relevant issues and texts.
| Type | Hours |
|---|---|
| Wider reading or practice | 24 |
| Preparation for scheduled sessions | 24 |
| Follow-up work | 24 |
| Revision | 22 |
| Lecture | 33 |
| Completion of assessment task | 23 |
| Total study time | 150 |
Resources & Reading list
General Resources
Resources. Primary and secondary texts available from the library and digitally. Key texts held in the Reserve Collection. Blackboard.
Textbooks
Plato and Reeve (translator) (2004). Republic. Hackett.
Aristotle and Reeve (translator) (2023). Nicomachean Ethics. Hackett.
Assessment
Formative
This is how we’ll give you feedback as you are learning. It is not a formal test or exam.
Essay proposal
- Assessment Type: Formative
- Feedback: Students will receive written feedback on the draft essay. Students have the opportunity to receive further feedback from the module co-ordinator on any aspect of their performance during office hours or by appointment.
- Final Assessment: No
- Group Work: No
- Percentage contribution: 100%
Summative
This is how we’ll formally assess what you have learned in this module.
| Method | Percentage contribution |
|---|---|
| Commentary | 50% |
| Timed Assignment | 50% |
Referral
This is how we’ll assess you if you don’t meet the criteria to pass this module.
| Method | Percentage contribution |
|---|---|
| Timed Assignment | 100% |
Repeat
An internal repeat is where you take all of your modules again, including any you passed. An external repeat is where you only re-take the modules you failed.
| Method | Percentage contribution |
|---|---|
| Timed Assignment | 50% |
| Commentary | 50% |
Repeat Information
Repeat type: Internal & External