GREEK PHILOSOPHY 2 | CLASS 1: JAN 4, 2017
WELCOME
DR. MICHAEL GRIFFIN
CLASSICS & PHILOSOPHY
S O C R AT E S . A R T S . U B C . C A / 2 1 2
INTRODUCTION
• Course overview
• What is Greek philosophy?
• Journey to the past
JOSÉ DE RIBERA, PLATÓN (1637)
INTRODUCTION
• Course overview
• No prerequisites
• If you do the readings &
come to class, you should
do well!
• Take-home question papers
(multiple choice) every two
weeks; final exam drawn
from questions
• PHIL = CLST 212
• If you’re waiting to register,
try CLST 212, or talk with me
JOSÉ DE RIBERA, PLATÓN (1637)
INTRODUCTION
• Course overview
• What is Greek
philosophy?
• Journey to the past
JOSÉ DE RIBERA, PLATÓN (1637)
Greek Philosophy
What is it?
• “Philosophy” derives from the Greek word philo–sophia: “The longing to understand” (so Aristotle, Metaphysics A).
‣ Two versions (OED): a particular system of beliefs...
There are more
things in heaven
and earth, Horatio,
than are dreamt of
in your philosophy!
!
Hamlet 1.5
Greek Philosophy
What is it?
• “Philosophy” derives from the Greek word philo–sophia: “The longing to understand” (so Aristotle, Metaphysics A).
‣ Two versions (OED): a particular system of beliefs...
or the spirit of inquiry.
Oh day and night,
but this is wondrous
strange!
And therefore
as a stranger
give it
welcome.
Hamlet 1.5
Greek Philosophy
What is it?
• “Philosophy” derives from the Greek word philo–sophia: “The longing to understand” (so Aristotle, Metaphysics A).
‣ Two versions (OED): a particular system of beliefs...
or the spirit of inquiry.
‣ As a spirit of inquiry, Western philosophy traces its roots to
Socrates and his quest for the examined life (Apology
38A) – a life lived wakefully, consciously and consistently, with
reasons why.
‣ The Socratic quest inspired the search for scientific
knowledge about the constitution of matter, the revolution
of the stars, and medicine, but Greek philosophy always
returned to the human condition.
Greek Philosophy
What is it?
• Greek philosophia is
• 1. An inquiry into the fundamental reasons or causes
(Greek: aitia) of human and natural events.
• 2. An attempt to put the results of that inquiry into practice
in the good life, a well-lived, consistent human existence.
• It is an activity conducted in Greek poetry and prose,
traditionally dated from Thales (6th century BCE) to
Simplicius (6th century CE), which spread through Europe
and gave rise to Western science, medicine, ethics, etc.
‣ More broadly, it stretches back to the traditions represented
by Homer and Hesiod (8th century BCE), and forward to
early modern science, philosophy, and medicine.
Greek Philosophy
What is it?
‣ In antiquity, Philosophia named a self-guided, reflective life aiming
for freedom from external pressures, including cultural tradition,
peer pressure, authority, and even inner states like (irrational)
fear that can overwhelm our reason.
‣ In this course (Greek Philosophy 2), we’ll study the heyday
of Greek philosophy in the Hellenistic period, following the
conquests of Alexander the Great, focusing on three major
systems:
✓ Stoic
✓ Skeptic
✓ Epicurean
✓ Neo-Platonic
Timeline
CLST/PHIL 211
‣ 8th-7th centuries BCE: The Poets – Homer, Hesiod
‣ 6th century (“Archaic” period) – The Presocratics
‣ 5th-4th century (“Classical” period) – Socrates and his students
‣ Socrates
PHIL 310 (Plato)
‣ Plato
PHIL 311 (Aristotle)
‣ Aristotle
‣ 4th-1st century (“Hellenistic”) period – The schools
‣ Platonic Academy
‣ Aristotelian Lyceum
CLST/PHIL 212
‣ Stoics
‣ Epicureans
‣ 1st-6th century CE (Roman empire)
‣ Neoplatonism
(One of my main research areas)
See the “bird’s eye view” download
THE MEDITERRANEAN WORLD
INTRODUCTION
• Course overview
• What is Greek philosophy?
• Journey to the past
JOSÉ DE RIBERA, PLATÓN (1637)
Link to partial video shown in class: youtu.be/fqTs77YXTQM