20809259Classics in Philosophy
Course Information
Description
This course examines influential Ancient Greek/Roman classical texts of philosophy (in translation) by such writers as Plato, Aristotle, and the Hellenistic philosophers. Examples of the texts are: Plato’s Republic, Aristotle’s Nicomachean Ethics, and Marcus Aurelius’ Meditations. Learners will be introduced to a range of important ideas, arguments, and theories advanced by these philosophers. The emphasis of the course will be on a close, critical reading of a few texts resulting in interpreting, understanding, analyzing, and critically evaluating the various ideas, arguments, and theories that arise from the text.
Total Credits
3
Course Competencies
-
Explain the main ideas, arguments, problems, and solution in the classical textAssessment StrategiesQuiz, essay, or written productCriteriayou identify a main ideayou interpret and break down textyou present and explain the argumentyou go beyond the text and present alternative or expanded interpretationsyou identify paths of interpretationyou choose an interpretive path
-
Apply philosophical methods, including: clarifying concepts; analyzing, evaluating and constructing argumentsAssessment StrategiesOral or written productCriteriayou clarify a philosophical theory and its limitationsyou rationally justify, without bias, the merits of a philosophical theoryyou explore your own intuitions about philosophical conceptsargument uses evidence from the text to support the conceptargument considers missing evidence from the text and how it affects evaluation of the conceptyou present complete, relevant evidence needed to support necessary aspects of an idea, claim, or recommendationyou produce accurate interpretations of research gathered for a taskyou determine value of information, critically assessing its relevance and credibilityyou seek additional information after recognizing the need for more clarification or supportyou evaluate the usefulness of varied approaches to ideas, claims, or recommendationsyou compare different points of view, considering them impartially and rationally
-
Develop counterexamples through thought experimentsAssessment StrategiesQuiz, essay, or written productCriteriayou test concepts and their limitationsyou test concepts to assess it for modificationyou assess a modified or opposing viewyou explore potential consequences of the concept in question
-
Develop arguments for written presentationAssessment StrategiesWritten productCriteriayou formulate a central problem or question (thesis)you provide relevant, supporting evidence or examples to support your point of viewyou present an opposing positionyou offer criticisms of opposing positionyou use straightforward prosepaper is logically structuredpaper clearly distinguishes between your view and views of others
-
Demonstrate respect for different points of viewAssessment StrategiesQuiz, essay, or written productCriteriayou impartially and rationally consider different points of viewyou consider unrepresented perspectivesyou encourage respect for individual differences and sensitivities
-
Evaluate different points of viewAssessment StrategiesQuiz, essay, or written productCriteriaevaluation is congruent to the textyou identify an issue on which there is disagreementyou articulate explicit points of disagreementyou articulate implicit points of disagreementyou describe one position and the reasoning behind ityou describe an opposing position and the reasoning behind it
-
Develop your own ideasCriteriayou present an ideayou present relevant evidence to support necessary aspects of the ideayou consider missing evidence and how it affects your ideayou provide reasoned qualifications or restrictions of the idea
This Outline is under development.