KR021 The Beginnings of Greek Philosohy: Presocratics and Sophists

Faculty of Arts
Autumn 2021
Extent and Intensity
2/0/0. 4 credit(s). Type of Completion: z (credit).
Teacher(s)
doc. Mgr. et Mgr. Juraj Franek, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Guaranteed by
doc. Mgr. et Mgr. Juraj Franek, Ph.D.
Department of Classical Studies – Faculty of Arts
Contact Person: Jitka Erlebachová
Supplier department: Department of Classical Studies – Faculty of Arts
Timetable
Mon 16:00–17:40 G31
Prerequisites
Working Knowledge of English.
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is also offered to the students of the fields other than those the course is directly associated with.
The capacity limit for the course is 60 student(s).
Current registration and enrolment status: enrolled: 1/60, only registered: 0/60, only registered with preference (fields directly associated with the programme): 0/60
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
there are 25 fields of study the course is directly associated with, display
Course objectives
The course serves as an introduction to the Greek philosophy of the Archaic period. Lectures are complemented with readings and discussions of the primary texts.
Following the successful completion of the course, studnents will have obtained an orientation in Presocratic philosophers and Sophists. Special attention will be devoted the transition from myth to philosophy and critical, rational thought.
Reading of the primary literature will serve as an introduction to the fundamental fields of systematic philosophy (ontology, epistemology, ethics, political philosophy).
Learning outcomes
Following the successful completion of the course, the student will be able to:
- present the specifics of the preservation of Presocratic philosophical works;
- summarize main differences between a mythical and a philosophical approach to the world;
- identify the most important exponents of Presocratic philosophy and Sophistic movement;
- describe ontology, epistemology, cosmogony, cosmology and ethics of selected Presocratic philosophers and Sophists.
Syllabus
  • 1. General introduction to the earliest Greek philosophy.
  • 2. From myth to philosophy.
  • 3. Milesian School: Thales, Anaximander, Anaximenes.
  • 4. Xenophanes.
  • 5. Eleatics: Parmenides and Zeno.
  • 6. Pythagoras and Pythagoreans.
  • 7. Heraclitus.
  • 8. Atomists: Leucippus and Democritus.
  • 9. Empedocles.
  • 10. Anaxagoras.
  • 11. Sophists I: Protagoras, Gorgias.
  • 12. Sophists II: Prodicus, Critias, Antiphon.
Literature
    required literature
  • Laks, A. - Most, G. W. (eds.) (2016). Early Greek Philosophy I-IX. Cambridge, Mass.: Harvard University Press.
    recommended literature
  • McKirahan, R.D. (2010). Philosophy before Socrates. Indianapolis: Hackett.
  • Barnes, J. (1982). The Presocratic Philosophers. London - New York: Routledge.
  • Guthrie, W. K. C. (1962). A History of Greek Philosophy I: The Earlier Presocratics and the Pythagoreans. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
  • Guthrie, W. K. C. (1965). A History of Greek Philosophy II: The Presocratic Tradition from Parmenides to Democritus. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
  • Guthrie, W. K. C. (1971). The Sophists. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
  • Curd, P. - Graham, D. W. (eds.) (2008). The Oxford Handbook of Presocratic Philosophy. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
  • Long, A. A. (ed.) (1999). The Cambridge Companion to Early Greek Philosophy. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Teaching methods
The course is a combination of lectures and class discussions. Systematic home reading and preparation for clases is necessary requirement for the successful completion of the course.
Assessment methods
Multiple-choice written test (pass mark = 70%).
Language of instruction
English
Follow-Up Courses
Further Comments
Study Materials
The course is taught once in two years.
Listed among pre-requisites of other courses
The course is also listed under the following terms Autumn 2019, Autumn 2023.
  • Enrolment Statistics (Autumn 2021, recent)
  • Permalink: https://is.muni.cz/course/phil/autumn2021/KR021