RLS024 Greek philosophy of late Antiquity and early Christianity

Faculty of Arts
Spring 2025

The course is not taught in Spring 2025

Extent and Intensity
2/0/0. 4 credit(s). Type of Completion: z (credit).
In-person direct teaching
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
Supplier department: Department of Classical Studies – Faculty of Arts
Prerequisites
( RLS023 Hellenistic Philosophy || KR023 Hellenistic Philosophy ) && KR024 Philosophy of Late Antiquity
The completion of the course RLS023 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 Late Antiquity and Earliest Christianity. 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 the most important philosophers of Late Antiquity (late Academy, the development of Peripatetic school, neopythagoreism, neoplatonism) and Earliest Christianity (special attention will be dedicated to the philosophers and theologians of the second and third century).
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 the relation between Greek philosophy and early Christianity;
- describe the developments of the philosophical schools of the Classical age (Academy, Peripatetic school) and their reaction on the hellenistic philosophical movements;
- introduce the most important thinkers of the Late Antiquity and early Christianity;
- identify the ways in which the early Christian apologists approached the Greek philosophical tradition.
Syllabus
  • 1. Introduction.
  • 2. Academy after Plato.
  • 3. Periptatetic school after Aristotle.
  • 4. Neopythagoreism.
  • 5. Philo of Alexandria.
  • 6. Greek Christian apologetics I: Aristides, Justin Martyr, Tatian, Athenagoras, Theophilus.
  • 7. Greek Christian apologetics II: Clemens of Alexandria and Origen.
  • 8. Latin Christian apologetics: Tertullianus and Minucius Felix.
  • 9. Plotinus and neoplatonism.
  • 10. Pagan anti-Christian reaction.
  • 11. Late neoplatonism: Porphyry, Iamblichus, Proclus.
  • 12.–13. Pagans and Christians.
Literature
    recommended literature
  • Osborn, E. (2001). Irenaeus of Lyons. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
  • Osborn, E. (2005). Clement of Alexandria. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
  • Osborn, E. (1997). Tertullian: First Theologian of the West. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
  • Barnard, L. W. (1967). Justin Martyr: His Life and Thought. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
  • Harvey, S. A. - Hunter, D. G. (eds.) (2008). The Oxford Handbook of Early Christian Studies. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
  • Young, F. - Ayres, L. - Louth, A. (eds.) (2004). The Cambridge History of Early Christian Literature. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
  • Lane Fox, R. (2006). Pagans and Christians in the Mediterranean World from the Second Century AD to the Conversion of Constantine. London: Penguin.
  • Gerson, L. P. (ed.) (2010). The Cambridge History of Philosophy in Late Antiquity. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
  • Smith, A. (2004). Philosophy in the Late Antiquity. London - New York: Routledge.
  • Remes, P. - Slaveva-Griffith, S. (eds.) (2014). The Routledge Handbook of Neoplatonism. London - New York: Routledge.
  • Gerson, L. P. (ed.) (1996). The Cambridge Companion to Plotinus. 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
Further Comments
The course is taught once in two years.
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