University of the West of England

MODULE SPECIFICATION

(Template revised October 2005)

Code: UPZPMS-30-1 Title: Ancient Philosophy Version: 1

Level: 1 UWE credit rating: 30 ECTS credit rating: 15

Module type: Standard

Owning Faculty: Social Science and Humanities Field: Philosophy

Valid from: September 2008 Discontinued from: N/A

Contributes towards: Awards up to BA (Hons)

Pre-requisites: None

Co-requisites: None

Excluded combinations: None

Learning outcomes:

On completion of the module students are expected to demonstrate:

1. the ability to use a range of logical, analytical, and theoretical tools in the analysis of philosophical issues arising from the study of ancient philosophical texts (assessed at all assessment points)

2. transferable written skills in the presentation and analysis of arguments (assessed at all assessment points)

3. a knowledge of the historical development of ancient philosophy from the beginnings to Plato

Syllabus outline:

The aim of this course is to introduce students to the foundational names, texts, and ideas of early Greek philosophy and thus, a fortiori, to the foundational ideas of Western philosophy as a whole. The first term will focus on the earliest philosophers up to and including Socrates. The second term will focus on the philosophy of Plato. The course will lay foundations for the study of philosophy that can be built upon in subsequent study. Its historical introduction to philosophy will form a useful counterpoint to the problem-based introductions to philosophy available in other modules.

Teaching and learning methods:

Teaching will be by lecture and writing assignment. While other modules will focus on argument and presentation skills via seminars and presentations, this module will focus on reading and writing skills, with an emphasis on the study of philosophical texts and their critical analysis in written assignments.

Reading Strategy:

Students will be required to purchase the key texts (inexpensive and widely available) that form the focus of the module. Extensive bibliographies of secondary literature (with recommendations) will be provided in the module handbook and, wherever possible, full use of the electronic journals will be made to ease access to the scholarly literature. Additional material for this new module will be ordered for the library. When necessary additional out of copyright material will be made available electronically via myuwe/blackboard.

Indicative Reading List:

The following list is offered to provide validation panels/accrediting bodies with an indication of the type and level of information students may be expected to consult. As such, its currency may wane during the life span of the module specification. However, as indicated above, CURRENT advice on readings will be available via other more frequently updated mechanisms.

BARNES, J., The Presocratic Philosophers, 2 vols (London: RKP, 1979), and a revised edition in a single paperback volume (London: Routledge, 1982).

BRICKHOUSE, T. C., Socrates on Trial (Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1989)

& N. D. SMITH,

FINE, G., ed., Plato, 2 vols (Oxford: OUP, 1999)

GUTHRIE, W. K. C., A History of Greek Philosophy 1: The Earlier Presocratics and the Pythagoreans

(Cambridge: CUP, 1962)

GUTHRIE, W. K. C., A History of Greek Philosophy 2: The Presocratic Tradition from Parmenides to

Democritus (Cambridge: CUP, 1965)

GUTHRIE, W. K. C., A History of Greek Philosophy 3: The Fifth-Century Enlightenment (Cambridge: CUP, 1969)

IRWIN, T., Classical Philosophy (Oxford: OUP, 1999)

KERFERD, G. B., The Sophistic Movement (Cambridge: CUP, 1981)

KIRK, G. S., & The Presocratic Philosophers (Cambridge: CUP, 1957) and a 2nd edition revised

J. E. RAVEN by M. SCHOFIELD (1983)

KRAUT, R., ed., The Cambridge Companion to Plato (Cambridge: CUP, 1992)

LONG, A. A., ed., The Cambridge Companion to Early Greek Philosophy (Cambridge: CUP, 1999)

PLATO, The Republic, trans. D. Lee (Harmondsworth: Penguin, 1987)

PLATO, The Last Days of Socrates, trans. H. Tredennick & H. Tarrant (Harmondsworth: Penguin, 1993)

VLASTOS, G., Socrates: Ironist and Moral Philosopher (Cambridge: CUP, 1991)

Assessment

Weighting between components A and B A: 40% B: 60%

ATTEMPT 1

First Assessment Opportunity

Component A (Controlled conditions)

Description of each element Element weighting

1. Examination (3 Hours) 40%

Component B

Description of each element Element weighting

1. 1,000 word essay 15%

2. 1,000 word essay 15%

3. 2,000 word essay 30%

Second Assessment Opportunity (further attendance at taught classes is not required)

Component A (Controlled conditions)

Description of each element Element weighting

1. Examination (3 Hours) 40%

Component B

Description of each element Element weighting

1. 2,000 word essay 30%

2. 2,000 word essay 30%

SECOND (OR SUBSEQUENT) ATTEMPT: Attendance at taught classes is not required.

Specification confirmed by …………………………………………………Date ……………………………

(Associate Dean/Programme Director)