RLS022 Classical Greek Philosophy: Socrates, Plato, Aristotle

Faculty of Arts
Spring 2025
Extent and Intensity
2/0/0. 4 credit(s). Type of Completion: z (credit).
In-person direct teaching
Teacher(s)
PhDr. Mgr. Viktor Zavřel (lecturer)
Guaranteed by
PhDr. Mgr. Viktor Zavřel
Department of Classical Studies – Faculty of Arts
Contact Person: Jitka Erlebachová
Supplier department: Department of Classical Studies – Faculty of Arts
Prerequisites
( RLS021 Presocratics and Sophists || KR021 Presocratics and Sophists ) && KR022 Classical Greek Philosophy
The completion of the course KR021 The Beginnings of Greek Philosohy: Presocratics and Sophists is a plus, but by no means a necessary requirement for enrollment.
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: 0/60, 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
Course objectives
The course serves as an introduction to the Greek philosophy of the Classical 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 the works of Plato and Aristotle, foundational figures of the European thought. Special attention will be devoted to Socrates and minor Socratics.
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:
- provide an overview of Socrates' life and philosophy;
- present various solutions to the so-called "Socratic question";
- summarize the formative characteristics of Plato's philosophy from the early dialogues to the late period;
- identify main tenets of Aristotle's works, especially with regard to his metaphysics, politics and ethics;
- describe and evaluate the importance of the classical period of Greek philosophy for the subsequent development of Western thought.
Syllabus
  • 1. General introduction to the Greek philosophy of the Classical period.
  • 2. Plato's Apology of Socrates and the problem of historical Socrates.
  • 3. Socrates in the Clouds.
  • 4. Socrates as a conformist in Xenophon.
  • 5. Socratic method and early dialogues of Plato.
  • 6. Plato's Phaedo and the death of Socrates.
  • 7. Plato's middle dialogues.
  • 8. Late Plato: From the Republic to the Laws.
  • 9. Aristotle as an historian of philosophy.
  • 10. Aristotle's logic and metaphysics.
  • 11. Virtue Ethics.
  • 12.–13. Aristotle's political philosophy.
Literature
    required literature
  • Halliwell, S. (ed.) (2015). Aristophanes: Clouds, Women at the Thesmophoria, Frogs. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
  • Cooper, J. M. (ed.) (1997). Plato: Complete Works. Indianapolis - Cambridge: Hackett Publishing Company.
  • Barnes, J. (ed.) (1984). The Complete Works of Aristotle. The Revised Oxford Translation. Princeton: Princeton University Press.
    recommended literature
  • Reeve, C. D. C. (1989). Socrates in the Apology: An Essay on Plato's Apology of Socrates. Indianapolis - Cambridge: Hackett Publishing Company.
  • Vlastos, G. (1991). Socrates: Ironist and Moral Philosopher. Ithaca: Cornell University Press.
  • Colaiaco, J. A. (2001). Socrates Against Athens: Philosophy on Trial. Routledge: New York and London.
  • Montuori, M. (1981). Socrates: Physiology of a Myth. Amsterdam: J. C. Gieben.
  • Benson, H. H. (ed.) (1992). Essays on the Philosophy of Socrates. New York - Oxford: Oxford University Press.
  • Brickhouse, T. C. - Smith, N. D. (1994). Plato's Socrates. New York - Oxford: Oxford University Press.
  • Brickhouse, T. C. - Smith, N. D. (2002). The Trial and Execution of Socrates: Sources and Controversies. New York - Oxford: Oxford University Press.
  • Dorion, L.-A. (2004). Socrate. Paris: Presses Universitaires de France.
  • Morrison, D. R. (ed.) (2011). The Cambridge Companion to Socrates. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
  • Kahn, C. H. (1996). Plato and the Socratic Dialogue: The Philosophical Use of a Literary Form. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
  • Brisson, L. - Fronterotta, F. (eds.) (2006). Lire Platon. Paris: Presses Universitaires de France.
  • Irwin, T. (1995). Plato's Ethics. New York - Oxford: Oxford University Press.
  • Benson, H. H. (ed.) (2006). A Companion to Plato. Malden - Oxford: Wiley-Blackwell.
  • Kraut, R. (ed.) (1992). The Cambridge Companion to Plato. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
  • Horn, C. - Müller, J. - Söder, J. (eds.) (2009). Platon-Handbuch: Leben - Werk - Wirkung. Stuttgart: J. B. Metzler.
  • Irwin, T. (1988). Aristotle's First Principles. Oxford: Clarendon Press.
  • Berti, E. (2004). Aristotele: Dalla dialettica alla filosofia prima. Milano: Bompiani.
  • Jaulin, A. - Gauthier-Muzzellec, M-H. - Wolff, F. - Bodéüs, R. (eds.) (2003). La philosophie d'Aristote. Paris: Presses Universitaires de France.
  • Ross, D. (1995). Aristotle. Sixth Edition. London - New York: Routledge.
  • Rapp, C. - Corcilius, K. (eds.) (2011). Aristoteles-Handbuch: Leben - Werk - Wirkung. Stuttgart: J. B. Metzler.
  • Barnes, J. (ed.) (1995). The Cambridge Companion to Aristotle. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
  • Anagnostopoulos, G. (ed.) (2009). A Companion to Aristotle. Malden - Oxford: Wiley-Blackwell.
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
Czech
Follow-Up Courses
Further Comments
The course is taught once in two years.
The course is taught: every week.
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