W7307
Course Unit Outline
Unit Code
W7307
Unit Name
Greek and Roman Philosophy
Unit Weighting
9 cps
Type of Unit
Specialised
Prerequisites, corequisites
W7106 or W7109
Academic Staff
Andrew Murray, BA (Macquarie 1974), MA (CUA Washington DC 1983) GradDipHEd (UNSW 1998), PhD (CUA
1992), Senior Lecturer
The Faculty Register lists those teachers that are accredited to teach this unit.
Curriculum Objectives
This is a specialist unit that allows the student to engage more deeply with ancient western philosophy, both Greek and
Roman. It will be relevant students wishing to major in philosophy.
Learning Outcomes
At the end of this unit students should be able to:
1.
Discuss in detail the thought of at least one major figure of the period
2.
Situate that thought in its historical context
3.
Analyse and interpret primary sources of the period
4.
Critically articulate thoughts as belonging to a particular school
5.
Apply the ideas of the period within a theological context
Threshold concept to be acquired in this unit
Content
1.
Close reading of two or three primary sources
2.
Plato and his influence
3.
Aristotle’s work
4.
Stoic and Epicurean philosophy
5.
Philosophy in the Hellenistic Period
Learning Activities
Lectures, discussion groups
Required Specialist Facilities or Equipment
Nil
Assessment Profile
In this unit, assessment of student achievement with respect to the Learning Outcomes will be based on:
1.
An exposition of a short text (e.g. short essay or seminar). [Outcomes 3 and 4]
2.
Critical discussion of a idea or argument (e.g. short essay or seminar). [Outcomes 2, 4 and 5]
3.
Close study of a major figure (e.g. major essay). [Outcomes 1, 2 and 5]
Representative References

1.
Algra, Keimpe. The Cambridge History of Hellenistic Philosophy. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press,
1999.
2.
Aristotle. The Complete Works of Aristotle: The Revised Oxford Translation. Edited by Jonathon Barnes.
Princeton NJ: Princeton University Press, 1984.
3.
Epicurus. The Essential Epicurus: Letters, Principle Letters, Vatican Sayings, and Fragments. Translated by
Eugene O’Connor. Buffalo NY: Prometheus Books: 1993.
4.
Long, A. A (ed). The Cambridge Companion to Early Greek Philosophy. Cambridge: Cambridge University
Press, 1999.
5.
Lucretius, Carus Titus. On the Nature of the Universe. Translated by Alicia Stallings. London: Penguin,
2007.
6.
Ophuijsen, Johannes M. van (ed). Plato and Platonism. Washington DC: Catholic University of America
Press, 1999.
7.
Plato. The Republic. Translated by Tom Griffith. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2000.
8.
Sedley, David (ed). The Cambridge Companion to Greek and Roman Philosophy. Cambridge: Cambridge
University Press, 2003.
9.
Sellars, John. Stoicism. Berkeley CA: University of California Press, 2006.
10.
Sharples, R. W. Stoics, Epicureans and Sceptics: An Introduction to Hellenistic Philosophy. London:
Routledge, 1996.
11.
Shields, Christopher John. Aristotle. London: Routledge, 2007