Ancient Greek Philosophy

Learning Outcomes

Transferable and Generic Skills

Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:

• take notes from talks and written materials.
• appreciate points of view remote from one’s own.
• work effectively to deadlines.
• undertake, with adequate supervision, independent work, including identifying and using appropriate resources.

Knowledge and Understanding

Having successfully completed this module, you will be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of:

• the arguments in support of those views and the problems facing them.
• some central views of the ancient Greek philosophers.
• the influence of those views on subsequent thinkers.

Subject Specific Intellectual and Research Skills

Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:

• interpret, synthesise and criticise complex texts and positions.
• present and debate ideas in an open minded and rigorous way.

In this module you will explore some of the central concepts, claims and arguments embodied in some of the major works of ancient Greek philosophers, principally Plato and Aristotle. While the syllabus may vary from year to year, topics might include:

• Concepts of being, not-being, and change
• Methods of argument and persuasion used by ancient philosophers
• Theories of the ethical virtues
• Theories of knowledge
• Plato’s theory of Forms, and philosophical problems it raises

Teaching methods include

• Lectures
• In class discussion
• One on one consultation with the module co-ordinator

Learning activities include

• Attending lectures
• Contributing to discussion in class
• Doing research for and writing assessed textual commentaries and essays
• Applying techniques and skills learnt to your reading and writing inside and outside the module

In the lectures, you will not only be introduced to the philosophical issues central to this module and the ideas of the philosophers studied but also encouraged to think about them for yourself. Your own ideas and any difficulties you encounter can be raised and discussed in discussion hours, and you will have the opportunity to revise your written work in light of feedback received.

Formative

This is how we’ll give you feedback as you are learning. It is not a formal test or exam.

Essay proposal

• Assessment Type: Formative
• Feedback: Students will receive written feedback on the draft essay. Students have the opportunity to receive further feedback from the module co-ordinator on any aspect of their performance during office hours or by appointment.
• Final Assessment: No
• Group Work: No
• Percentage contribution: 100%

Summative

This is how we’ll formally assess what you have learned in this module.

Referral

This is how we’ll assess you if you don’t meet the criteria to pass this module.

Repeat

An internal repeat is where you take all of your modules again, including any you passed. An external repeat is where you only re-take the modules you failed.