CLASSICAL PHILOSOPHY Scott Austin

PHIL 410/500 309 E Bolton

MWF 8:00-8:50 Voicemail (979) 695-7628

BOLTON 003 (basement) s-austin@philosophy.tamu.edu

OFFICE HOURS (309E Bolton): MWF 9-10 & 11:30-12:30; T 9-12; TH none

A history of Greek philosophy from the beginnings through Aristotle. Monistic natural science (Thales, Anaximenes, Anaximander), flux and Logos (Heraclitus),

immovable Being (Parmenides), paradoxes of change and motion (Zeno), logic and

cosmology (Empedocles, Anaxagoras, Democritus), sophistry and relativism (Gorgias

and Protagoras). Plato: learning and recollection (Meno), the trial of Socrates (Apology),

civil disobedience and revenge (Crito), death and immortality (Phaedo), what is

friendship? (Lysis), the Good (Republic, Books VI and VII), the Forms (Parmenides),

the cosmos (Timaeus). Aristotle: what is Being? What is Substance? (Metaphysics,

Book VII); matter, form, causality, teleology, God and the heavens (Metaphysics, Book XII). There are no prerequisites for this course.

Requirements: three 7-12 page double-spaced papers, due Monday, February 18 (in class); Monday, March 31 (in class); and Friday, May 2 (at the time and place of the optional ‘final’). There are extensions for religious holidays, for illness, and for crisis. There are also rewrites, all of which must be turned in by May 2. Late papers must also be handed in by that date. The grade for the course is normally the average of the three paper grades. There is an optional ‘final’, also on May 2. The grade for the ‘final’ can replace one (lower) paper grade, unless the paper received an F* for scholastic dishonesty. The instructor reserves the right to begin taking attendance at any time and to count attendance for up to ¼ of the semester grade.

Submission of a paper or exam in fulfillment of these requirements constitutes an affirmation that the work is in accordance with the Aggie Honor Code.

Books: “Some Fragments from Presocratic Philosophers” (handout)

Plato: Complete Works, edited by John M. Cooper (Indianapolis: Hackett Publishing Company, 1997)

Aristotle: Metaphysics, translated by Hugh Lawson-Tancred (Penguin Books, 2004)

You can consult a reliable encyclopedia, the Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy, online at http://plato.stanford.edu. I’m told that http://itunes.stanford.edu/quickstart.html has a lecture course called the Literature of Crisis, containing an excellent introduction to the culture of the classical world. (Wikipedia is unreliable.)

Course Objectives for the Humanities requirement

1. To demonstrate awareness of the scope and variety of works in ancient philosophy (EEO 1).

2. To understand the values of ancient Greek philosophers as expressions of their civilization (EEO 2).

(PHIL 410, continued)

3. To respond critically to works in Ancient Greek philosophy (EEO 3).

Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA) Policy Statement

The following ADA policy statement (part of the policy on Individual Disabling Conditions) was submitted to the University Curriculum Committee by the Department of Student Life. The policy statement was forwarded to the Faculty Senate for information.

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is a federal anti-discrimination statute that provides comprehensive civil rights protection for persons with disabilities. Among other things, this legislation requires that all students with disabilities be guaranteed a learning environment that provides for reasonable accommodation of their disabilities. If you believe you have a disability requiring an accommodation, please contact the Department of Student Life, Services for Students with Disabilities, in Cain Hall or call 845-1637.

AGGIE HONOR CODE

“An Aggie does not lie, cheat, or steal or tolerate those who do”

Upon accepting admission to Texas A&M University, a student immediately assumes a commitment to uphold the Honor Code, to accept responsibility for learning, and to follow the philosophy and rules of the Honor System. Students will be required to state their commitment on examinations, research papers, and other academic work. Ignorance of the rules does not exclude any member of the TAMU community from the requirements of the processes of the Honor System.

For additional information please visit www.tamu.edu/aggiehonor/

PLEDGE: On all course work, assignments, or examinations at Texas A&M University, the following Honor Pledge shall be pre-printed and signed by the student: “On my honor, as an Aggie, I have neither given nor received unauthorized aid on this academic work.”