Greek Philosophy

This subject has the following teaching availabilities in 2012:

8.5 hours each week

None.

None.

One of the following subjects is recommended bur not required:

None

For the purposes of considering request for Reasonable Adjustments under the disability Standards for Education (Cwth 2005), and Students Experiencing Academic Disadvantage Policy, academic requirements for this subject are articulated in the Subject Description, Subject Objectives, Generic Skills and Assessment Requirements of this entry.The University is dedicated to provide support to those with special requirements. Further details on the disability support scheme can be found at the Disability Liaison Unit website: http://www.services.unimelb.edu.au/disability/

This subject examines Greek theories of knowledge, reality and value, concentrating on Plato, Aristotle, and several major Hellenistic philosophers, with some coverage of other ancient thinkers as well.

Specific questions to be discussed will include: How is knowing possible? What roles in knowledge are played by perception, and by the intellect? What is the reality we seek to know? Is it possible to be responsible for what we do? What is the nature of the soul and mind? How are values - religious, ethical, aesthetic and epistemic values - to be understood, and how do they 'fit in' to reality?

Differences in the approaches to these questions to be found in various ancient thinkers will be explored.

Greek philosophy is fascinating in its own right. But it also launches the whole discipline of philosophy. The subject will also involve some discussion of how Greek approaches to the questions mentioned both prefigure, but also diverge from, the ways these questions were

taken up in the subsequent trajectory of western philosophy.

On completion of this subject students should:

• be able to give an account of the scope, achievements, and principal concerns of some central Greek philosophical investigations into the nature of reality, knowledge and value.
• be improved in their reading of philosophical texts and in their philosophical writing.

A written examination, mid-semester (50%). A n essay of 2000 words , at the end of semester (50%).

This subject has a minimum hurdle requirement of 75% tutorial attendance. Regular participation in tutorials is required. Assessment submitted late without an approved extension will be penalised at 10% per day. After 5 working days late assessment will not be markedIn-class tasks missed without approval will not be marked. All pieces of written work must be submitted to pass this subject.

Julia Annas, Voices of Ancient Philosophy (Oxford University Press, 2001).

This subject potentially can be taken as a breadth subject component for the following courses:

• Bachelor of Biomedicine
• Bachelor of Commerce
• Bachelor of Environments
• Bachelor of Science

You should visit learn more about breadth subjects and read the breadth requirements for your degree, and should discuss your choice with your student adviser, before deciding on your subjects.

Students who successfully complete this subject should:

• have developed their powers of critical and analytical thinking.
• be able to apply these powers to problems and issues in other areas of philosophy, and in other disciplines.
• have a deeper understanding of what it means to be a human being.