Universität Wien

180016 VO-L History of Philosophy I (Antiquity) (2016S)

From the Presocratics to Plato

5.00 ECTS (2.00 SWS), SPL 18 - Philosophie
Moodle

Details

Language: German

Examination dates

Lecturers

Classes (iCal) - next class is marked with N

  • Wednesday 09.03. 13:15 - 14:45 Hörsaal 32 Hauptgebäude, 1.Stock, Stiege 9
  • Wednesday 16.03. 13:15 - 14:45 Hörsaal 32 Hauptgebäude, 1.Stock, Stiege 9
  • Wednesday 06.04. 13:15 - 14:45 Hörsaal 32 Hauptgebäude, 1.Stock, Stiege 9
  • Wednesday 13.04. 13:15 - 14:45 Hörsaal 32 Hauptgebäude, 1.Stock, Stiege 9
  • Wednesday 20.04. 13:15 - 14:45 Hörsaal 32 Hauptgebäude, 1.Stock, Stiege 9
  • Wednesday 27.04. 13:15 - 14:45 Hörsaal 32 Hauptgebäude, 1.Stock, Stiege 9
  • Wednesday 04.05. 13:15 - 14:45 Hörsaal 32 Hauptgebäude, 1.Stock, Stiege 9
  • Wednesday 11.05. 13:15 - 14:45 Hörsaal 32 Hauptgebäude, 1.Stock, Stiege 9
  • Wednesday 18.05. 13:15 - 14:45 Hörsaal 32 Hauptgebäude, 1.Stock, Stiege 9
  • Wednesday 25.05. 13:15 - 14:45 Hörsaal 32 Hauptgebäude, 1.Stock, Stiege 9
  • Wednesday 01.06. 13:15 - 14:45 Hörsaal 32 Hauptgebäude, 1.Stock, Stiege 9
  • Wednesday 08.06. 13:15 - 14:45 Hörsaal 32 Hauptgebäude, 1.Stock, Stiege 9
  • Wednesday 15.06. 13:15 - 14:45 Hörsaal 32 Hauptgebäude, 1.Stock, Stiege 9
  • Wednesday 22.06. 13:15 - 14:45 Hörsaal 32 Hauptgebäude, 1.Stock, Stiege 9
  • Wednesday 29.06. 13:15 - 14:45 Hörsaal 32 Hauptgebäude, 1.Stock, Stiege 9

Information

Aims, contents and method of the course

The aim of these lectures is to review the history of Ancient Philosophy from its beginning with the so-called Presocratics and until the end of classical times that is down to Aristotle, but we will do so focusing on ancient cosmology and on ancient ethics. Ancient Philosophy indeed begins with theories about the nature of the world (kosmos) and they are the main concern of the Presocratics. These theories address questions such as how the world has come about, which are the principles accounting for the world and for the change that takes place in it, and what the world consists of. These questions were for the first time systematically treated by Plato in his dialogue Timaios. In this dialogue we are presented with the view that the world has been created by God, an intellect, portrayed as the creator of the universe. Aristotle disputes that view and he argues instead that nature alone is responsible for the structure, change and maintainance of the world and everything in it. Ancient cosmological theories imply ontological views, that is views about different kinds and ways of being such as substance and property. For this reason we will also deal with ancient ontology to the extent that this is necessary for understanding ancient cosmology. In the last three lectures we will discuss the main ethical theories of Plato and Aristotle. Central here are the questions of how we attain happiness (eudaimonia), how virtue (arete) contributes to it, and how we can achieve virtue.

Assessment and permitted materials

Written Examination

Minimum requirements and assessment criteria

Familiarity with important ancient philosophical concepts, methods and arguments.

Main aim of the course is that students gain knowledge of ancient philosophy from the beginnings with the Presocratics and until Aristotle and that they by the end of the course have understood the main philosophical questions that preoccupied ancient philosophers.

Examination topics

We will proceed thematically focusing on ancient cosmology and ancient ethics. We will aim to analyze the conceptual tools and arguments of ancient philosophers, their interaction and dialogue, especially on the issues of cosmology and ethical action.

Reading list

C. Horn - C. Rapp (ed.), Wörterbuch der antiken Philosophie, München 2002

M. Erler, Platon, München 2006

T. Irwin, Classical Thought, Oxford 1989

C. Rapp, Aristoteles zur Einführung, München 2012 (revised edition)

D. Sedley, Creationism and its Critics in Antiquity, Berkeley 2007

Reader (available in Facultas)

Association in the course directory

BA M 4.1, EC 4

Last modified: Mo 07.09.2020 15:36