Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey

Searchable Course Catalog

header image

PHIL0275A-S20

Greek Philosophy
Please register via CLAS 0275A

Greek Philosophy: The Problem of Socrates
Why did Socrates “call philosophy down from the heavens, set her in the cities of men and also their homes, and compel her to ask questions about life and morals and things good and evil”? Why was philosophy indifferent to man, then considered dangerous to men when it did pay attention? How was philosophy ultimately transformed by Plato and Aristotle as a consequence of the examination of human knowledge that Socrates made intrinsic to philosophy? In this course we will consider the central questions of ancient Greek philosophy from the pre-Socratics through Plato and Aristotle by focusing on what Nietzsche called "the Problem of Socrates": why Socrates abandoned "pre-Socratic" natural science in order to examine the opinions of his fellow Athenians, and why they put him to death for corruption and impiety. Texts will include selected fragments of the pre-Socratics and sophists, works of Aristophanes, Xenophon, Plato, Aristotle , and Nietzsche. 3 hrs. lect disc.
Course Reference Number (CRN):
22441
Subject Code:
PHIL
Course Number:
0275
Section Identifier:
A

Course

PHIL 0275

All Sections in Spring 2020

Spring 2020

PHIL0275A-S20 Lecture (Witkin)
PHIL0275X-S20 Discussion (Witkin)
PHIL0275Y-S20 Discussion (Witkin)
PHIL0275Z-S20 Discussion (Witkin)