An introduction to Ancient Greek philosophy

This course of lectures is an introduction to some of the key elements in their thought. Here is roughly how we shall proceed.

The first lecture will consider Socrates. It will consider Socrates on human “virtue” or “excellence”. It will consider Socratic method and an example of it in the Euthyphro. It will consider problems with this method. It will also consider other works such as Crito.

The second and third lectures will consider Plato. They will consider Plato on the soul in the Phaedo. They will consider Plato on the perfectly just city-state, the philosopher king and his education, and the Forms and the Form of the Good in the Republic.

The fourth and fifth lectures will consider Aristotle. They will consider Aristotle on the various categories of things and on statements and logic and on the various kinds of activities in the Organon. They will consider Aristotle on nature in the Physics. They will consider Aristotle on being and substance in the Metaphysics. Finally, they will consider Aristotle on the “good for man” – eudaimonia or “well-being” – in the Nichomachean Ethics.