Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey

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CLAS0275A-S13

Greek Philosophy

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):
22360
Subject Code:
CLAS
Course Number:
0275
Section Identifier:
A

Course

CLAS 0275

All Sections in Spring 2013

Spring 2013

CLAS0275A-S13 Lecture (Witkin)
CLAS0275B-S13 Lecture (Witkin)