Ancient Greek Philosophy

Learning Outcomes

Transferable and Generic Skills

Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:

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

Knowledge and Understanding

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

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

Subject Specific Intellectual and Research Skills

Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:

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

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 commentary and exam
• 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 on a plan. The writing of a textual commentary and your preparation for exams should involve you in thinking deeply about the relevant issues and texts.

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.