Greek Philosophy

This subject has the following teaching availabilities in 2016:

170 hours

One of the following subjects is recommended but not required:

For the purposes of considering request for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Cwth 2005), and Student Support and Engagement Policy, academic requirements for this subject are articulated in the Subject Overview, Learning Outcomes, Assessment and Generic Skills sections of this entry.

It is University policy to take all reasonable steps to minimise the impact of disability upon academic study, and reasonable adjustments will be made to enhance a student's participation in the University's programs. Students who feel their disability may impact on meeting the requirements of this subject are encouraged to discuss this matter with a Faculty Student Adviser and Student Equity and Disability Support: http://services.unimelb.edu.au/disability

This subject examines the ideas of pre-Socratic philosophers, Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle. We focus specifically on the philosophical innovations of the Ancient Greeks, both in their contributions of radically new ideas and radically new methodologies. Specific questions to be discussed will include: What makes philosophy different from mythology? What is knowledge and how is it possible? What is the epistemological value of a definition? What is the nature of the soul and mind? What is virtue and what is its relation to happiness? What is the good life for a human being? These questions grew out of one another for the Greeks, and we will trace that development. We will also think about the relevance of Ancient Greek philosophical positions to our own lives and our own understanding of the world. In doing so, we will test the staying power of Plato and Aristotle’s thought and, more importantly, put into action the Socratic sentiment that the unexamined life is not worth living.

Students who successfully complete this subject will:

• Acquire ability 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;
• Improve skills in reading philosophical texts and in writing philosophical papers.

• A written examination, equivalent to 2,000 words, mid-semester (50%)
• A written examination, equivalent to 2,000 words held in the end of semester examination period (50%)

Hurdle requirement:

• Students must attend a minimum of 75% of tutorials (i.e., 8 out of 11 weeks) in order to pass this subject
• All pieces of written work must be submitted to pass this subject

Note: Assessment submitted late without an approved extension will be penalised at 10% per day; after five working days, late assessment will not be marked.

Aristotle, Nicomachean Ethics, trans. C.D.C. Reeve (Hackett, 2014)
Plato Complete Works, eds. John M. Cooper and D.S. Hutchinson (Hackett 1997)

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.