Instructor: Prof. Shane Drefcinski
Office: 339 Gardner Hall
Office Phone: 342-1828
E-Mail: Drefcins@uwplatt.edu
Office Hours: TTR: 1:00pm-4pm and by appointment.

Course Description: This course is a survey of the origins of Western philosophy, from its beginnings among the ancient Greeks through the 14th century.  Particular emphasis is given to Plato, Aristotle, Augustine, and Thomas Aquinas.

Student Learning Objectives:
Students who successfully complete this course will:
• Acquire a basic understanding of the history of Western philosophy, from its origins in the 6th century B.C. through the 14th century.
• Enhance their ability to think critically by a careful examination of difficult philosophical texts.
• Enhance their ability to present their ideas and arguments effectively, both orally and in writing.

Required Texts:
• Forrest E. Baird and Walter Kaufmann, editors, Philosophical Classics, Vol, I: Ancient Philosophy, third edition, (New Jersey: Prentice Hall, 2000).
• Forrest E. Baird and Walter Kaufmann, editors, Philosophical Classics, Vol, II: Medieval Philosophy, third edition, (New Jersey: Prentice Hall, 2000).
Other readings will be handed out.

Grading: Grades will be based on four factors: (1) two essay exams, (2) a term paper, (3) five short quizzes, and (4) class participation. There are two essay exams, which are each worth 100 points.  The term paper is also worth 100 points.  Finally, class participation is worth 50 points.

Policy on Late Exams, Papers, and Incompletes:  The exams are “take-home” and must be submitted on the assigned date.  Late exams will be penalized, as will late papers. Incompletes will not be routinely assigned for unfinished course work.  In order to receive an incomplete the student must consult the instructor before the week of final exams and provide an acceptable reason why the course work cannot be completed.  Finally, any student who may need an accommodation due to a disability should see me. A VISA from Services for Students with Disabilities authorizing your accommodations will be needed.

September 2
• Introduction.

September 7-9
• The Milesians: Thales, Anaximander, and Aniximenes (pp. 1-10).
• Pythagoras and Heraclitus (pp. 11-13, 15-18).
• The Eleatics: Parmenides and Zeno (pp. 19-27).

September 14-16
• The Pluralists: Empedocles, Anaxagoras, and Democritus (pp. 31-42).
• Three Sophists: Protagoras, Gorgias, and Critias (pp. 43-48).
• Various Views of Athens: Pericles, and Thucydides (pp. 49-60).

September 21-23
• The popular view of Socrates: Aristophanes’ The Clouds (handout)
• Socrates: Euthyphro and Apology.
• Socrates: Phaedo (57a-69e, 84c-118a).

September 28-30
• Plato: Republic II, IV-VII.
• Plato: Parmenides and Theatetus.
• Optional reading:  Why Socrates Rejects Glaucon's Version of the Social Contract .
 

October 5-7
• Aristotle: Categories and Posterior Analytics.
• Aristotle: Physics II.
• Aristotle: Metaphysics I, XII.

October 12-14
• Aristotle: On the Soul II.
• Aristotle: Nicomachean Ethics I-II, X.
• Exam #1

October 19-21
• Epicurus: Letter to Herodotus, Letter to Menoeceus, Principal Doctrines.
• Lucretius: On the Nature of the Universe.
• The Early Stoa: Zeno of Citium and Cleanthes; excerpt from Cicero (handout).
• Epictetus: Encheiridion.

October 26-28
• Pyrrho and Sextus Empiricus: Outlines of Pyrrhonism.
• Plotinus: Enneads I, 6; V, 1; V, 3.
• Early Christian documents (Vol. II, pp. 1-41).

November 2-4
• Augustine: Confessions, VIII, XI.
• Augustine: City of God, VIII, XI, XII, XIX.

November 9-11
• Boethius: The Consolation of Philosophy.
• Anselm: Proslogion and “Debate with Gaunilo.”
• Avicenna: Essay on the Secret of Destiny and Concerning the Soul.
• Al-Ghazali: The Incoherence of the Philosophers.
• Averroës: The Decisive Treatise.

November 16-18
• Moses Maimonides: The Guide for the Perplexed.
• Roger Bacon: The Opus Majus.

November 23
• Thomas Aquinas: The Principles of Nature.

November 30-December 2
• Thomas Aquinas: On Being and Essence.
• Thomas Aquinas: Summa Theologiae–Treatise on God.
• Thomas Aquinas: Summa Theologiae–Treatise on Man.
• Term Paper is due on November 30.

December 7-9
• Thomas Aquinas: Summa Theologiae–Ethics (pp. 384-410).
Optional reading:  A Brief Primer on St. Thomas Aquinas' Account of the Virtues.
• William of Ockham: “On Universals,” “On Being,” “On Knowledge,” “On God,” “On Politics.”

December 14-16
• Pico: On the Dignity of Man.
• Concluding remarks.
• Exam #2