PHL2130 Plato and Platonism
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Handbook entry- a brief description of the subject can be found in the handbook entry. The handbook also provides information about the unit leader, the semester and mode in which the unit is available, the contact hours and the assessment requirements.
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MUSO site - there is a WebCT site for this unit where assessment tasks, lecture notes and other unit resources will be posted. Once enrolled, students taking this unit are advised to check the WebCT site regularly.
Subject description:
Plato (428-347 BC) is the first of the ancient Greek philosophers whose works we possess in their entirety. Unlike the majority of philosophers who follow after him, Plato wrote dialogues, not philosophical treatises. Plato himself is not a speaker in these dialogues, though his friend and teacher, Socrates, is the protagonist in most of them. Plato's choice to write in the dialogue form complicates the question of "Plato's philosophy". To what extent can we identify what Plato thought from the things that Socrates says in the dialogues? (After all, we would not necessarily infer that Shakespeare thought X from the fact that a character in one of his plays says X.) To what extent can we learn what the historical Socrates thought from reading Plato? Does Plato start out writing dialogues that more or less accurately depict Socrates and the content of his views and then eventually start using the character of Socrates as a mouthpiece for Plato's own views? This subject also considers the legacy of Plato's philosophy. In particular, we will consider the influential version of Plato's philosophy championed by Plotinus (205-260 AD).
What will I accomplish by completing this subject?
You will not become familiar with everything Plato wrote by taking this subject. He wrote far too much. You will, however, become familiar with the contents of some of his most influential works. In addition, you will learn various methodological approaches that people take to Plato's dialogues. This means that you will be able to undertake further study of works by Plato on your own and you will also be able to better understand the many things that have been written about Plato by later thinkers. Your skills in philosophical analysis will be enhanced by a close reading of some of Plato's arguments. Most importantly, you will develop an appreciation for the works of the most confronting and challenging philosopher ever to set pen to paper. Almost no student is indifferent to Plato's Socrates - they either love him or hate him.
What if I'm a Classical Studies student who hasn't done Philosophy before?
The normal pre-requisite of first-year Philosophy can be waived for students with some background in Classics or History. There may be some vocabulary that will be new to you, but your choice of topics for essays will include at least some specifically for Classics students.
Give me a sample
In book X of Republic, Socrates argues that tragedy and epic poetry are comparable to painting. Both are illusory. The painter gives us a two dimensional representation of a three dimensional object. Moreover, the painter needs to know nothing 'deep' about the object - only what it looks like. The poet is in a similar state. The 'depth' of tragedy as an art form is illusory and the poet has no great wisdom about what matters in life. Plato is often attacked over his apparently unfair assault on poetry in particular and art in general. In addition to Plato's text, we'll read a paper by Alexander Nehamas. Nehamas claims that Plato's attack can make sense if we consider the context. His attitude toward tragedy is analogous to contemporary critiques of television.
Potential essay question for Philosophers: On what grounds does Plato criticise art in Book X of Republic? Is there any context in which we should take these criticisms seriously?
Potential essay question for Classicists: What attitude did Plato's contemporaries have toward the wisdom of tragic poets? How would fifth century Athenians have regarded Plato's remarks in Book X of Republic?
Check out some Plato on the web
In Republic book X, [http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/cgi-bin/ptext?lookup=Plat.+Rep.+598b ] Socrates argues that poetry is shallow and superficial, like painting.