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Campus | Bryn Mawr |
Semester | Fall 2020 |
Registration ID | PHILB101001 |
Course Title | Happiness&Reality Anc Thought |
Credit | 1.00 |
Department | Classical Studies |
Instructor | Bell,Macalester |
Times and Days | WSa 01:10pm-02:30pm
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Room Location | |
Additional Course Info | Class Number: 2227 What makes us happy? The wisdom of the ancient world has importantly shaped the tradition of Western thought but in some important respects it has been rejected or forgotten. What is the nature of reality? Can we have knowledge about the world and ourselves, and, if so, how? In this course we explore answers to these sorts of metaphysical, epistemological, ethical, and political questions by examining the works of the two central Greek philosophers: Plato and Aristotle. We will consider earlier Greek religious and dramatic writings, a few Presocratic philosophers, and the person of Socrates who never wrote a word.; This is an introduction to some of the questions and methods of philosophy through classic ancient texts and contemporary philosophical discussions. Our class time will be used for both lecture and discussion. Since discussion of the material is a crucial component of the class, you are expected to come to our sessions having read the assigned material and ready to discuss the texts. Please be sure to always bring a copy of the readings with you to class. Course Objectives This is an introductory survey course with several distinct objectives: • To provide students with an introduction to the methods and themes of philosophy. • To help students develop their skills in reading, writing, and critically evaluating arguments. • To offer students a general introduction to some of the central questions of ancient philosophy • To help students recognize the diverse ways in which contemporary analytic philosophy has been influenced by ancient Greek philosophy. Approach: Critical Interpretation (CI), Inquiry into the Past (IP), Writing Attentive; Haverford: A: Meaning, Interpretation (Texts) (A), Humanities (HU) Enrollment Cap: 22; If the course exceeds the enrollment cap the following criteria will be used for the lottery: Major/Minor/Concentration; Freshman; Junior; We will utilize a variety of methods including voice over Powerpoint lectures and presentations, Zoom sessions during assigned class time, Moodle discussion boards, and in-person discussions. Please Note: while the current plan is to attempt to offer this as a hybrid course with in-person and on-line elements, I may decide to run it as a completely remote course, depending on local conditions and developing information about COVID-19. Please do *not* enroll if you require an in-person or hybrid course. |
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