Philosophy 101
Historical Introduction to Philosophy: Ancient
Fall 2008
Philosophy is the pursuit of wisdom; through it we aim to understand the world in order
to lead a fulfilling, meaningful life. This course is an introduction to philosophy by way
of its historical beginnings in ancient Greece. We will read the Pre-Socratics, Plato and
Aristotle, concentrating on their views about the existence of God, the nature of mind,
knowledge and the good life. In addition to considering how these philosophers
responded to each other, we will focus on how they speak to us now across millennia, and
more generally, how philosophy is both historically rooted and universal.
Contact Info
Professor Bharath Vallabha
Office: Thomas 126
Phone: 526-5670
E-mail: bvallabha@brynmawr.edu
Office Hours: Wednesday 3-4, Thursday 1-2, and by appointment.
Required Texts.
Available at the campus bookstore:
- McKirahan, ed. Philosophy Before Socrates
- Plato, Five Dialogues
- Plato, Republic
- Irwin and Fine, eds. Aristotle, Selections
Further readings are available on Blackboard. These are marked on the schedule as “BB”.
Course Requirements.
The class meets twice a week, Mondays and Wednesdays, 1:00-2:30pm in Taylor D.
Attendance and participation is required. Participation involves:

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Being engaged in the discussion: talking and active listening.
A short one page paper every two weeks. In these papers you should briefly
summarize the thesis and argument of a reading of your choice from those two
weeks, and raise a question you have about that reading. These assignments will not
be graded, and are meant for practicing writing and close reading.
Graded assignments consist of four papers (4-6 pgs). The due dates are on the schedule
below.
The first paper will be 15% of the final grade, the next two papers 20% each, the last
paper 30%, and class participation 15%.
Schedule of Readings
Sep 3
Introduction: What is Philosophy?
I. Myth and Reason Before Socrates
Sep 8
Myth and the Dawn of Reason
 McKirahan, PBS, pgs. 7-31, 116-128.
Sep 10
Paradoxes of Reason: Parmenides & Zeno
 McKirahan, PBS, pgs. 151-188.
II. Socrates and the Philosophical Life
Sep 15
Socratic Questioning and the Nature of Piety
 Euthyphro
Sep 17
The Trial of Socrates
 Apology
Sep 22
Should Socrates Escape?
 Crito
Sep 24
Immortality of the Soul
 Phaedo
Sep 29
Immortality of the Soul
 Phaedo, cont’d.
* First Paper Due
III. Plato’s Republic
Oct 1
Justice and Power
 Book I
Oct 6
The Ideal City
 Book II, Book III (403d-417b)
Oct 8
Three Parts of the City and the Soul
 Book IV
Oct 13 & 15
Fall Break, No Class
Oct 20
The Guardians’ Communal Life
 Book V
Oct 22
Philosopher Kings
 Book VI, Book VII (514a-526c)
Oct 27
Forms of Injustice
 Book VIII
* Second Paper Due
Oct 29
Justice and Happiness
 Book IX
IV. Aristotle
Nov 3
Being and Causation
 Physics (pgs. 102-105), Metaphysics (pgs. 221-240, 244-250)
Nov 5
Substance, Matter and Form
 Physics ( pgs. 95-101), Metaphysics (pgs. 272-290)
Nov 10
The Soul and the Body
 De Anima, pgs. 169-187
Nov 12
Perception and Understanding
 De Anima, pgs. 188-205
Nov 17
Happiness and the Human Form
 Nicomachean Ethics, Book I
Nov 19
Virtues of Character
 Nicomachean Ethics, Books II-III
* Third Paper Due
Nov 24
Virtues of Thought
 Nicomachean Ethics, Books VI-VII
Nov 26
Thanksgiving, No Class
Dec 1
Friendship
 Nicomachean Ethics, Books VIII-IX
V. Skepticism
Dec 3
Skepticism and Tranquility
 Sextus Empiricus, Outlines of Scepticism (BB)
Dec 8
God and Ethics
 Sextus Empiricus, Outlines of Scepticism, cont’d. (BB)
Dec 10
Conclusion: Legacy of Ancient Philosophy
 Hadot, Philosophy as a Way of Life (BB)
Dec 17
* Fourth Paper Due