A Dialogue Concerning An Undergraduate Seminar in Classical Philosophy

A Dialogue Concerning An Undergraduate Seminar in Classical Philosophy

Philosophy 3310
Spring 2016
Dr. Anne-Marie Schultz
TR 2:00-3:15 105 Morrison

“Humanity consists of the Bible and the Greeks. All the rest is dance."

 Emmanuel Levinas

"The safest generalization that can be made about the history of western philosophy is that it is all a series of footnotes to Plato."

A.N. Whitehead

“For it is owing to their wonder that human beings  both now begin and at first began to philosophize.”  Aristotle

Please tell  me a bit about this course.

First of all, welcome to the world of Classical Philosophy. I’m so glad you decided to take this class.

I’m excited also, but I am wondering exactly what we’ll study in this  class. 

Here’s a description of what we’ll  explore together.

Over two thousand years ago, ancient thinkers like Thales, Anaximander, Anaximenes, Xenophanes, and Sappho began to wonder about the nature of the world around them. They searched for answers about the structure of the cosmos and the meaning of human experience. In many ways, they were no different than the average person who has such thoughts today. We live in a world where we are bombarded with choices about how to communicate  aspects of our experience with others. These thinkers lived  long before there were blogs and Facebook feeds and Twitter streams.  Their mental landscape was uncluttered by constant texting and email and cell phone use.  However, like us,  they longed to communicate. In some cases,  even before there was the written word itself,  these thinkers began to share their ideas about how the world and human experience appeared to them.  They created the horizon of philosophical inquiry itself.  As the centuries passed,  Heraclitus, Parmenides, and Pythagoras added their insights to this burgeoning philosophical conversation. Decades later, the atomists, the sophists, and Socrates debated the nature of the human soul and the existence of the good. Plato furthered these conversations by writing great philosophical masterpieces like the Symposium, the Republic, and the Apology. Aristotle carried these inquires further with his Nicomachean Ethics, Politics, and Metaphysics. The conversations recorded in these various texts become the foundation of western philosophical, social, and political thought.  Of course, there are many voices that remained outside of this conversation but none the less played important roles in shaping what we know as the practice of philosophy.   To the extent possible,  we’ll try to uncover some of these lost philosophical voices.  
That sounds pretty cool.  I can’t wait to be a part of this conversation. What books will we read?

We will start the semester with the presocratic thinkers.  Their writings are for in A Presocratics Reader, 2^nd Edition Edited, with Introduction, by Patricia Curd.  Translations by Richard D. McKirahan and Patricia Curd

ISBN-13: 978-1-60384-305-8.

 We will then turn our attention to the sophists and Plato. You’ll find the sophists writings in in the Presocratics Reader. We’ll also read some passages from Plato  that  describe the sophists.   When we turn to Plato, we’ll start with the Allegory of the Cave. That’s available on line.  I’ll also provide Allan Bloom’s translation.   In addition, please buy Plato’s Protagoras. Translated by Stanley Lombardo and Karen Bell ISBN: 0-87220-094-9 and Plato’s Symposium  Translated, w/Introduction and Notes by Alexander Nehamas and Paul Woodruff ISBN: 0-87220-076-0. The Trial and Death of  Socrates or  Five Dialogues will round out the readings for Plato.

 We will spend the last part of the semester with Aristotle. Buy his Nicomachaen Ethics Edited and translated by Roger Crisp ISBN: 978-0-521-63546-2

Do I have to buy those exact editions and translations?

There are benefits to working with the same translation in that the one’s I’ve picked. They  are good translations. Also, the syllabus will have page numbers from these particular editions and  translations. if you have other translations that is also fine, most of these texts also have line numbers that you can use for reference.  Also,   we  can learn a lot  by comparing how different translations change our understanding of the  texts.   So in sum,  having the text is more important than having a particular version of the text.

Are there any recommended texts and sources to enhance my understanding of the course material?
Yes. Please visit the class blog at classicalphilosophyseminar2016.blogspot.com regularly. I post outlines and links to useful sites and articles regularly. It is also where all your blogs will be listed in a single space.  In addition, consult the Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy, at http://plato.stanford.edu/. The Perseus Project offers abundant primary source material. Find them at  http://www.perseus.tufts.edu. My favorite secondary source on the Presocratics is Nietzsche’s Philosophy in the Tragic Age of the Greeks.
Do you lecture a lot? 
I will lecture a bit from time to time, but, by and large, this class will follow a seminar format. You might wonder what makes a seminar format different from a regular class format.
Well, in fact, I was wondering just that. 
It is a good question. I see you are really getting the hang of this philosophy as dialogue already. Here are four answers to that most excellent question. First, the class is discussion-centered rather than lecture-based. Though I’ll lecture some during class, generally we will read through the texts together and discuss them together. Second, your philosophical interests shape the direction the class will take. Seminars require your active involvement.   Third, there are no quizzes and no exams.  Fourth, you will make two presentations to the class. Fourth, you will keep a  semester long philosophical blog.  Fifth, you write a final seminar paper.
Wait a minute. What did you say about there being no exams? 
That’s right.  No exams.  I don’t like to give exams. I don’t like to grade them. You don’t like to take them. I don’t think they are a valuable use of our collective time together. I’ve created other assignments aimed at deepening your understanding of the philosophers we study. For example, you will keep a philosophical blog.  You will give a class presentation on a pre-socratic philosopher (15-20 minutes).  You will write a seminar paper in which you explore some aspect of another pre-socratic philosopher or Plato or Aristotle’s thought.  You’ll also make a brief  (12-15 minute) presentation on  your seminar paper to the class.   
Will you provide me with more detail about these  assignments?
Yes.  We’ll go over what is expected about blogs during the first couple classes.   I’ll give you a detailed description of what is expected of you and a grading rubric for each of the assignments as the time to do them draws nearer.
Great.
I’m really excited about the opportunity to approach this class in this sophisticated way. I hope you enjoy it as well.
How can I get in touch with you outside of class?
Here’s some information about my Office and Office Hours: I am generally in my BIC office (101 Morrison) on Tuesdays and Thursdays. My office hours are by appointment. Please contact Mildred_Hubbard@baylor.edu to schedule an appointment with me. The best way to get in touch with me is via email at Anne_Marie_Schultz@baylor.edu. I try to answer all email within a few hours.
Wow. That’s impressive.
Thanks.
 So, I know we are supposed to be into this love of wisdom thing for its own sake, but I’m really pretty focused on getting a good grade in this class. And I’m now a little worried about this no exam thing.
That’s understandable.  Grades are important, not as important as the intrinsic love of wisdom or becoming a life long learner or finding your soulmate or ascertaining your vocation or knowing God,  the nature of the soul, and other abiding truths of the cosmos,  but important nonetheless.
Well, how is my grade determined for this class?
There are 1000 points possible. If you earn 900 or above you get an A, and so on down the line…

How do I earn these points?

You earn points by completing various assignments in the class. Your overall grade will depend on how well you do on the assignments that I mentioned above (along with participation and attendance.

Would you mind presenting me with that information in  a chart form?  Sure.  .

Attendance  and Participation	150 points	Graded weekly	10 points a week.
Semester Long Philosophical Blog	350 points	Graded weekly	25 posts total, up to 14 points per post.
Pre Socratic Presentation	100 points	Due at various dates around the middle of the semester	You’ll be graded on the content and style of your presentation, your use of  Powerpoint,  Prezi or really good use of the board and a handout for us all)
Final Paper Abstract	50 points	Due  March 31	250 word description of your final paper project
Draft of seminar Paper	100 points	Due April 14	1000 words of your final paper.
Critique of seminar paper	50	Due April 21	You’ll be graded on how much feedback for improvement you give to your critique partner.
Final Paper	100	Due on day of final exam.
Final Presentation	100	Due at various dates during the last three weeks of  class	You’ll be  graded content and style of your presentation, your use of  Powerpoint,  Prezi or really good use of the board and a handout for us all.

Will  you tell me a bit more about each of the assignments?  

Yes, I will in the FAQs for each assignment.  I find that it is helpful to have these FAQs closer to the time you begin to work on the assignments.  Right now, the main assignments are blog posting and  attendance and participation, so we’ll cover those FAQs on the first day. 

I have another question. How do I know what I need to read for each day?
That’s easy. Just consult the Class Calendar.