12/21/2024 8:34:59 AM	PHIL 20 Course Outline as of Summer 2021	Changed Course
CATALOG INFORMATION
Discipline and Nbr:  PHIL 20	Title:  HIST WEST PHIL: ANCIENT
Full Title:  History of Western Philosophy: Ancient and Medieval
Last Reviewed:1/28/2019

Units		Course Hours per Week			Nbr of Weeks	Course Hours Total
Maximum	3.00	Lecture Scheduled	3.00		17.5 max.	Lecture Scheduled	52.50
Minimum	3.00	Lab Scheduled	0		6 min.	Lab Scheduled	0
		Contact DHR	0			Contact DHR	0
		Contact Total	3.00			Contact Total	52.50
		Non-contact DHR	0			Non-contact DHR Total	0

Total Out of Class Hours:  105.00

Total Student Learning Hours: 157.50

Title 5 Category:  AA Degree Applicable
Grading:  Grade or P/NP
Repeatability:  00 - Two Repeats if Grade was D, F, NC, or NP
Also Listed As: 
Formerly:  PHIL 20.1

Catalog Description:

History of Western philosophy from classical Greek through the Middle Ages, concentrating on Socrates, Plato and Aristotle.

Prerequisites/Corequisites:

Recommended Preparation:
Eligibility for ENGL 1A or equivalent

Limits on Enrollment:

Schedule of Classes Information
Description:

History of Western philosophy from classical Greek through the Middle Ages, concentrating on Socrates, Plato and Aristotle.

(Grade or P/NP)
Prerequisites:
Recommended:Eligibility for ENGL 1A or equivalent
Limits on Enrollment:
Transfer Credit:CSU;UC.
Repeatability:00 - Two Repeats if Grade was D, F, NC, or NP

ARTICULATION, MAJOR, and CERTIFICATION INFORMATION

Associate Degree:		Effective:	Fall 1980	Inactive:
Area:	E	Humanities
CSU GE:	Transfer Area			Effective:	Inactive:
	C2	Humanities		Fall 1986
IGETC:	Transfer Area			Effective:	Inactive:
	3B	Humanities		Fall 1986
CSU Transfer:	Transferable	Effective:	Fall 1980	Inactive:
UC Transfer:	Transferable	Effective:	Fall 1980	Inactive:
C-ID:
CID Descriptor: PHIL 130	History of Ancient Philosophy	SRJC Equivalent Course(s): PHIL20

Certificate/Major Applicable: Major Applicable Course

COURSE CONTENT

Student Learning Outcomes:
At the conclusion of this course, the student should be able to:

1.  Describe the philosophical views of the major philosophers in the ancient through medieval

     traditions:  pre-Socratics, Socrates, Plato, Aristotle and the major Hellenistic and Medieval

     philosophers.

 

2.  Analyze how these philosophers' views developed as a response to their predecessors'

      views.

 

3.  Critically evaluate the arguments and viewpoints of the philosophers studied.

 

Objectives:

Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to:

 

1. Describe the historical and cultural contexts in which these philosophies were developed.

 

2. Analyze representative primary texts of the most significant philosophical literature of this

     period (e.g. Plato's Apology, Euthyphro, Crito and Republic.  Aristotle's essays on

     Ethics and Friendship).

 

3. Describe the relationship between the ancient and medieval philosophies discussed and the

     major moral and philosophical issues of the present day.

Topics and Scope

I.  Introduction

    A. Historical and geographical introduction to the world of ancient Greece

     B. Overview of ancient Greek mythology

II.   The Origins of Western Philosophy in Miletus

III.  Heraclitus - flux and strife

IV.  The Eliatic Philosophers

    A. Oneness

    B. Changeless (Parmenides and Zeno)

V.   Early Pluralists

    A. Empedocles

     B. Anaxagoras - early pluralists

VI.  The Pythagoreans - Natural Law and Mathematics

VII.  The Atomists - a Mechanical Description of Nature

VIII. The Sophists - the Relationship between Rhetoric and Philosophy

IX.  Socrates - the Pursuit of Human Excellence

X.   Plato

    A. The life of Plato

    B. The influence of Socrates, Pythagoras and Parmenides

    C. The works of Plato

         1. Apology

         2. Euthyphro

         3. Crito

         4. Republic

    D. The theory of forms      

XI. Aristotle

    A. Aristotle's response to Plato

    B. The works of Aristotle

         1. Nicomachean Ethics

         2. Friendship

         3. Physics

         4. Politics

    C. Theology in physics and astronomy

    D. Religion and the Unmoved Mover

XII. Hellenistic Philosophers

    A. Historical developments in Greece and Rome

    B. The Epicureans

    C. The Stoics

    D. The Cynics

    E. The Skeptics

XIII. Medieval Philosophers

    A. Origins and spread of Christianity

    B. The question of God's existence

     C. The question of faith vs. reason

Assignments:

1. Regular reading assignments 20-50 pages from primary sources, course

    texts and/or supplementary materials

2. Regular reading responses or activities (10-15) which cover the assigned readings

3. Term paper(s) of 2500-5000 words in which philosophical issues raised in class

    are explored

4. At least two mid-term examinations. Each exam is approximately one hour long.

     Required in-class essays on material covered in readings and class discussions

5. A final examination including written essay(s) in response to questions on material

     covered in class and in texts

6. Participation in class discussions

Methods of Evaluation/Basis of Grade.

Writing: Assessment tools that demonstrate writing skill and/or require students to select, organize and explain ideas in writing.		Writing 40 - 75%
Reader responses; term papers
Problem solving: Assessment tools, other than exams, that demonstrate competence in computational or non-computational problem solving skills.		Problem Solving 0 - 0%
None
Skill Demonstrations: All skill-based and physical demonstrations used for assessment purposes including skill performance exams.		Skill Demonstrations 0 - 0%
None
Exams: All forms of formal testing, other than skill performance exams.		Exams 15 - 50%
Tests and exams will include multiple choice and essay questions
Other: Includes any assessment tools that do not logically fit into the above categories.		Other Category 0 - 20%
Attendance and participation

Representative Textbooks and Materials:

The Great Conversation:  A Historical Introduction to Philosophy. 7th ed. Melchert, Norman. Oxford University Press. 2014 (classic)

 

A Historical Introduction to Philosophy. 9th ed. Stumpf, Samuel, and Fieser, James. McGraw Hill Educational. 2014 (classic)

 

Classics of Western Philosophy. 8th ed. Cahn, Steven. Hackett Publishing Company. 2012 (classic)

 

Philosophy: History and Problems. 8th ed. Stumpf, Samuel Enoch and Fieser, James. McGraw Hill. 2011 (classic)

 

Plato: Five Dialogues. 2nd ed. Tr.  Grube, G.M.A.  Hackett Publishing Company. 2002 (classic)

 

Nicomachean Ethics. 2nd ed. Aristotle and Tr. Irwin, Terence. Hackett Publishing Company. 2000 (classic)

 

Republic. Plato and Tr. Grube. G.M.A.  Hackett Publishing Company. 1992 (Classic)

Print PDF