Ancient Philosophy
Code
711031059
Academic unit
Faculdade de Ciências Sociais e Humanas
Department
Filosofia
Credits
6
Teacher in charge
António de Castro Caeiro
Weekly hours
4
Teaching language
Portuguese
Objectives
a) to acquire a basic knowledge of the most important figures in ancient philosophical thought and of some of their texts.
b) to acquire a basic understanding of the specificity of ancient philosophy as a foundational moment in and the beginning of the philosophical tradition.
c) to acquire the ability to identify the most significant philosophical problems in ancient thought.
d) to acquire a basic knowledge of the main lines of development of ancient philosophy.
e) to acquire a basic ability to place concepts, methodological strategies and doctrinal positions in the historical context to which they belong.
f) to acquire a basic understanding of ancient philosophical terminology and its role in the genesis of philosophical terminology.
g) to acquire a basic ability to read and interpret some key texts of ancient philosophy.
h) to recognize the importance of the study of ancient philosophy for the understanding of current philosophical issues.
Prerequisites
Not applicable
Subject matter
A systematic approach to the concept of philosophy in Antiquity, its fundamental concepts, problems, programs and solutions.
1) Arist., M., Book A: The philosophical way of thinking and its object: causes and principles of beings.
2) Beings (ta chrêmata, ta pragmata, ta onta) embedded in a universal horizon of meaning.
3) How does philosophy alter the way in which we usually live? Truth and Falsity, Reality and Fiction.
4) Mimêsis and Alêtheia.
5) Pl., Phd.: “aitia”, “physis”, “theôria”, “praxis”, “aretê”.
6) Pl., Res., X. Mimêsis vs. alêtheia. Physis vs. praxis.
7) Arist., M., Γ. Ontology: contradiction, identity, sufficient reason.
8) Arist., M., B: problems and solutions.
9) Arist., NE., A, B, Z: ta onta (ta endechomena allôs echein e ta mê endechomena allôs echein).
10) technê, episteme, poiêsis.
11) Sophia vs. phronêsis.
12) A systematic approach.
Bibliography
Aristóteles:
Caeiro, A. de C. (2004). Aristóteles: Ética a Nicómaco. Introdução, tradução e notas. Lisboa.
Tredennick, H. (1933). Aristotle: Metaphysics. Edited, translated, with notes and introduction. 2 vols. London.
Platão:
Fowler, H. N. (1925). Plato: Republic. Edited, translated, with notes and an introduction. London.
Shorey, P. (1930). Plato: Republic. Edited, translated, with notes and an introduction. London.
Teaching method
Teaching methodologies (including evaluation): (1000 characters)
The syllabus resorts two main activities. In the first hour we will read, expose and explain the fundamental key concepts and the theoretical frameworks of the texts at stake. In the second hour we will be interpreting and analysing the texts with the students in order to promote a debate about alternative views, possible objections, argumentation and expression.
Evaluation method
The evaluation is individual, through one written test (70&) in the end of the semester and one written paper (30%) discussed and supervised in tutorial monitoring.