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FACULTY OF ARTS, YORK UNIVERSITY Course: AS/PHIL 2010.03 —Origins of Western Philosophy Term: Fall 2010 Prerequisite/Co-requisite: none Course Director: Professor Gerard Naddaf Marker/Grader: TBA Time and location: 10:00- 11:30 (Stedman Lecture Hall E) Expanded Course Description: Organization: This course involves lectures by the course director followed by an open discussion with students. The lectures will focus mainly on the weekly readings (see syllabus). Both the historical context and the arguments will be emphasized. There are no tutorials with this class. Content: While no background is required for this course, those with a special interest in the history of ideas may find it most profitable. The focus will be on the origin and early development of what is arguably one of the most important intellectual revolutions in human history: Western philosophy. This course will begin with an examination of the possible factors behind this revolution and will then proceed to examine some of the works of the first philosophers. As part of our examination of these philosophers, students will be introduced to some basic philosophical problems. Most of the problems considered will be concerned with psychology, cosmology, theology, epistemology and political and moral theory. This course will be indispensable for an understanding of Socrates, Plato and Aristotle — indeed the history of Western philosophy in general. Learning Objectives: The purpose of this course is to introduce students to the origin and early development of western philosophical ideas and argumentation. It will also encourage students to engage in critical analysis through a better understanding of the cultural context in which many of the most important concepts in western philosophy originated (e.g., soul, god, nature and reason). Students will also be introduced to the relation between originality and continuity in the history of philosophy. This knowledge will be transferable to a number of other disciplines. Required Course Readings Richard McKirahan, Philosophy Before Socrates, Indianapolis/Cambridge, 1994; Gerard Naddaf, The Greek Concept of Nature, Albany, 2005. For a detailed schedule of lectures and readings, see the syllabus below. Recommended Reading: J. Barnes, The Presocratic Philosophers, London, 1982; J. Barnes, Early Greek Philosophy, Harmondsworth, 1987; R. Brumbaugh, The Philosophers of Greece, New York, 1964; Jacques Brunschwig and G.E.R. Lloyd (ed), A Guide to Greek Thought. Major Figures and Trends Cambridge Mass. 2003; F.M. Cornford, Before and After Socrates, Cambridge, 1932; J. Burnet, Early Greek Philosophy (4th ed.), London, 1930; Victor Caston and Daniel Graham (ed), Presocratic Philosophy Essays in honour of Alexander Mourelatos Burlington, 2002; John Dillon and Tania Gergel, The Greek Sophists London, 2003; H. Frankfort, Before Philosophy, Harmondsworth, 1947; Andrew Gregory, Ancient Greek Cosmogony, London, 2007; W.K.C. Guthrie, The Greek Philosophers from Thales to Aristotle, London, 1967; W.K.C. Guthrie, A History of Greek Philosophy, Vols 1 to 3, Cambridge, 1962-1969; Pierre Hadot, What is Ancient Philosophy? Cambridge Mass., 2003; Robert Hahn, Anaximander and the Architects, Albany, 2000; E. Hussey, The Presocratics, London, 1972; E. Hussey, “Ionian Inquires: on Understanding the Presocratic Beginnings of Science”, in The Greek World, ed. A Powell, London, 1995, 530-49; D.A. Hyland, The Origins of Philosophy, Atlantic Highlands, 1973; C. Kahn, Anaximander and the Origins of Greek Cosmology, New York, 1960; G.B. Kerferd, The Sophistic Movement, Cambridge, 1981; G.S. Kirk, J.S. Raven and M. Schofield, The Presocratic Philosophers (2nd ed.), Cambridge, 1983; T. Irwin, A History of Western Philosophy, Vol. 1, Oxford, 1989; A. Long (ed), The Cambridge Companion to Early Greek Philosophy, Cambridge, 1999; Gerard Naddaf (with Dirk Couprie and Robert Hahn), Anaximander in Context: New Studies in the Origins of Greek Philosophy, Albany, 2003; Gerard Naddaf “What is Presocratic philosophy?”, Ancient Philosophy 26 (1) 2006, 161-179; Catherine Osborne, Presocratic Philosophy. A Very Short Introduction, Oxford, 2004; Anthony Preus (ed), Before Philosophy: Essays in Ancient Greek Philosophy VI; Albany 2001; J. P. Vernant, The Origins of Greek Thought, Ithaca, N.Y., 1982; L. Robin, Greek Thought, London, 1928; Robin Waterfield (ed. and tr.), The First Philosophers, Oxford World’s Classics, 2000. Students may also want to read Plato’s Apology. N.B.There is also a bibliography in R. McKirahan, Philosophy Before Socrates and in G. Naddaf, The Greek Concept of Nature. Evaluation *In-class test will consist of several questions based on the lectures and readings. The answers may vary from one paragraph to one page. The papers and exams will be marked by a Marker/Grader who will hold office hours only after the papers have been graded. Should students want to discuss their marks or comments with the course director, they must first discuss their concerns with the Marker/Grader. Grading, Assignment Submission, Students may take a limited number of courses for degree credit on an ungraded (pass/fail) basis. For full information on this option see Alternative Grading Option in the Faculty of Arts section of the Undergraduate Calendar: http://calanders.registar.yorku.ca/calanders/2006-2007/Asrules/grading_system.htm Assignment Submission: Proper academic performance depends on students doing their work not only well, but on time. Accordingly, assignments for this course must be received on the due date specified for the assignment. Assignments are to be handed in as indicated by the course director or as indicated in the syllabus below. Lateness Penalty: Assignments received later than the due date will be penalized (essays will be deducted at a rate of 5% (i.e. 1/20) per working day late). Exceptions to the lateness penalty for valid reasons such as illness, compassionate grounds, etc., may be entertained by the Course Instructor but will require supporting documentation (e.g., a doctor’s letter). Missed Tests: Students with a documented reason for missing a course test, such as illness, compassionate grounds, etc., which is confirmed by supporting documentation (e.g., doctor’s letter) may request accommodation from the Course Instructor. Accommodation will usually take the form of a make-up test written at a later date. Further extensions or accommodation will require students to submit a formal petition to the Faculty.IMPORTANT COURSE INFORMATION FOR STUDENTS Academic Honesty and IntegrityYork students are required to maintain high standards of academic integrity and are subject to the Senate Policy on Academic Honesty (http://www.yorku.ca/secretariat/legislation/senate/acadhone.htm). Access/Disability York provides services for students with disabilities (including physical, medical, learning and psychiatric disabilities) needing accommodation related to teaching and evaluation methods/materials. It is the student's responsibility to register with disability services as early as possible to ensure that appropriate academic accommodation can be provided with advance notice. You are encouraged to schedule a time early in the term to meet with each professor to discuss your accommodation needs. Failure to make these arrangements may jeopardize your opportunity to receive academic accommodations.
Ethics Review Process York students are subject to the York University Policy for the Ethics Review Process for Research Involving Human Participants. In particular, students proposing to undertake research involving human participants (e.g., interviewing the director of a company or government agency, having students complete a questionnaire, etc.) are required to submit an Application for Ethical Approval of Research Involving Human Participants at least one month before you plan to begin the research. If you are in doubt as to whether this requirement applies to you, contact your Course Director immediately Religious Observance Accommodation York University is committed to respecting the religious beliefs and practices of all members of the community, and making accommodations for observances of special significance to adherents. Should any of the dates specified in this syllabus for an in-class test or examination pose such a conflict for you, contact the Course Director within the first three weeks of class. Similarly, should an assignment to be completed in a lab, practicum placement, workshop, etc., scheduled later in the term pose such a conflict, contact the Course director immediately. Please note that to arrange an alternative date or time for an examination scheduled in the formal examination periods (December and April/May), students must complete an Examination Accommodation Form, which can be obtained from Student Client Services, Student Services Centre or online at http://www.registrar.yorku.ca/pdf/exam_accommodation.pdf Student Conduct Students and instructors are expected to maintain a professional relationship characterized by courtesy and mutual respect and to refrain from actions disruptive to such a relationship. Moreover, it is the responsibility of the instructor to maintain an appropriate academic atmosphere in the classroom, and the responsibility of the student to cooperate in that endeavour. Further, the instructor is the best person to decide, in the first instance, whether such an atmosphere is present in the class. A statement of the policy and procedures involving disruptive and/or harassing behaviour by students in academic situations is available on the York website http://www.yorku.ca/secretariat/legislation/senate/harass.htm Please note that this information is subject to periodic update. For the most current information, please go to the CCAS webpage (see Reports, Initiatives, Documents): http://www.yorku.ca/secretariat/senate_cte_main_pages/ccas.htm. March 22, 2006. SYLLABUS Thursday September 10: Introduction to syllabus. Tuesday September 15: Hesiod and the poetic tradition: role of the Muses; origin and structure of the universe; origin of humanity; the justice of Zeus (see McKirahan, 7-19. Homer whom the Greeks considered “the educator of Greece,” will also be contextualized. Thursday September 17: Why did philosophy as we know it, originate in Ancient Greece or factors behind the origin of philosophy (McKirahan, 20-22). A number of the factors to be considered are not found in McKirahan, at least not in any detail (e.g., Greek rationality as a product of the polis or city-state, and the role of the alphabet). The meaning of Presocratic and Presocratic sources. Tuesday September 22: The Milesian “school” : Thales, Anaximander, Anaximenes. Why sixth-century BC Miletus is considered as the birthplace of Western philosophy. A new view of nature (phusis). What is revolutionary about Thales statement that “all is water”. The Milesians as Monists. (McKirahan, 23-31). An analysis of some basis concepts: phusis (nature); theos (god); arche (principle, beginning); genesis (birth, generation); psuche (soul, life); kosmos (world-order); techne (art).
Thursday September 24: The origin and structure of the universe according to Anaximander (McKirahan, 32-41). The origin of living creatures (McKirahan 42-43). Tuesday September 29: Anaximander con’t. . How the world or the present order of things is naturally maintained according to Anaximander (McKirahan 43-47). Anaximenes contribution: air as the material principle; the physical processes of rarefaction and condensation; the notion of god; cosmology (McKirahan, 48-58). Thursday, October 1: Xenophanes and rational theology (McKirahan, 59-64); physical ideas (64-66); the origin and limitations of human knowledge (McKirahan, 66-68). Tuesday, October 6: Pythagoras and the “Italian” school; philosophy as a way of life; on the immortality of the soul; the importance of mathematics and harmony (McKirahan, 79-115). Thursday, October 8 : Mandatory in-class written test (worth 20% of the final grade) [READING WEEK OCTOBER 10-16] Tuesday October 20 : Heraclitus on meaning and role of logos (McKirahan, 120-121; 124-125); on method (McKirahan 118-120); on the role of opposites (McKirahan, 121-124); on religion, soul, politics and moral thought (McKirahan, 125-128). Thursday, October 22 : Why Parmenides constitutes a turning point in philosophy; the power of logic; change as an illusion; the three paths and the way of truth (McKirahan 151-174); some consequences of the way of truth (McKirahan, 166-174); the way of mortal opinions (McKirahan, 174-178). Tuesday October 27: Zeno’s defence of Parmenides. Zeno’s arguments against plurality and motion (McKirahan, 179-195). Thursday, October 29: Empedocles’ reply to Parmenides; the advent of pluralism and a separate moving cause; the originality of Empedocles; cosmic cycles and cosmic problems (McKirahan, 232-241; 259-281); explanation of cognition and epistemology (McKirahan, 251-252; 282-284); reconciling the rationalist and the mystic in Empedocles; immortality and the reincarnation of the soul (McKirahan, 252-254; 285-291). Tuesday, November 3: Anaxagoras’ reply to both Parmenides and Empedocles. Mind and matter as the basic components and explanation of all things (McKirahan, 196-229); epistemology (McKirahan, 230-31). NOTE: Essay topics for the short critical essay will be given out on Tuesday, November 3. The essay should be around five type-written pages. It is worth 30% of the final grade. The essay is due in class Tuesday, November 17. Thursday, November 5: The Atomists’ reply to Parmenides; the advent of atoms and the void (McKirahan, 303-329); epistemological, political and ethical theories of Democritus (McKirahan, 329-343). NOTE: Friday, November 6 is the last day to drop a class without receiving a grade. Tuesday, November 10: An overview of consistent themes in early Greek cosmogony before Plato. Thursday, November 12: The early moral thought of the Greeks (McKirahan, 356-363). Tuesday, November 17: The origin and aim of the Sophistic movement; a new view of man and society (McKirahan, 363-377). Thursday, November 19: Protagoras and relativism: man as the measure of all things (McKirahan, 378-382). Gorgias’ on the power of persuasion (McKirahan 376-378); Gorgias’ reply to Parmenides (McKirahan, 382-386); Some observations on the philosopher versus the non-philosopher? (McKirahan, 387-389); Tuesday, November 24: The nomos-phusis (or nature-convention) debate: the defence of phusis or nature (McKirahan, 390-403). Thursday, November 26: The nomos-phusis debate con’t: the defence of nomos or convention (McKirahan 403-413) Tuesday, December 1: Philosophy, allegory and divine inspiration. Thursday, December 3: The so-called Socratic revolution; some reflections on Plato’s Apology. Tuesday, December 8: Course overview; general question period; take-home exams. On Tuesday, December 8 (LAST CLASS), students will receive their take-home exam. The exam is worth 50% of the final grade. The exam must be handed in Monday, December 14 by 4:00pm. It must be dropped off in the box designated for this in the philosophy department. |
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