Academic Catalogs

PHIL C102: History of Ancient Philosophy

Course Outline of Record
Item Value
Curriculum Committee Approval Date 12/05/2014
Top Code 150900 - Philosophy
Units 3 Total Units 
Hours 54 Total Hours (Lecture Hours 54)
Total Outside of Class Hours 0
Course Credit Status Credit: Degree Applicable (D)
Material Fee No
Basic Skills Not Basic Skills (N)
Repeatable No
Grading Policy Standard Letter (S), 
  • Pass/No Pass (B)
Local General Education (GE)
  • CL Option 1 Arts and Humanities (CC2)
California General Education Transfer Curriculum (Cal-GETC)
  • Cal-GETC 3B Humanities (3B)
Intersegmental General Education Transfer Curriculum (IGETC)
  • IGETC 3B Humanities (3B)
California State University General Education Breadth (CSU GE-Breadth)
  • CSU C2 Humanities (C2)

Course Description

The thoughts of the ancient Greeks still have relevance and greatly influence the world today. This course will take students on a journey through ancient Greek thought in order to examine those ideas and explore how these profound thinkers helped move Western thought away from mysticism and superstition to philosophical analysis and the scientific method. This course will cover the writings of the Pre-Socratics, Zeno's paradoxes, Socrates, Plato, Aristotle, the Stoics, Epicureanism, and more. Transfer Credit: CSU; UC. C-ID: PHIL 130.C-ID: PHIL 130.

Course Level Student Learning Outcome(s)

  1. Describe and appraise the philosophical questions that were raised by the Greek philosophers, including the pre-Socratics, Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle, as well as the arguments that these philosophers use to justify their positions.
  2. Discriminate between questions that fall into different branches of philosophy, including logic, ethics, metaphysics, and epistemology.
  3. Examine and debate problems of reason, belief and opinion, and the good.

Course Objectives

  • 1. Employ critical philosophical skills such as the ability to critically evaluate the arguments, assumptions, principles, and methods of the philosophers under consideration.
  • 2. Explicate philosophical texts of the ancient past.
  • 3. Analyze primary theories with special emphasis on Platos and Aristotles standpoints.

Lecture Content

Pre-Socrates Review of selected thinkers and subjects Greek religious views Thales Anaxagoras Heracletus Paramendies and Zeno The one and the many Appearance and reality Platonic thought Role of myth Role of dialectic Role of logical reality Aristotle and Hellenistic thought Nature of philosophic speculative thought Christian and Hellenistic thought

Method(s) of Instruction

  • Lecture (02)
  • DE Live Online Lecture (02S)
  • DE Online Lecture (02X)

Instructional Techniques

Instructional techniques may include: Discussion  PowerPoint lectures or Video  Lecture  Group work  Class discussion  Games/simulations

Reading Assignments

Reading assignments will primarily consist of book chapters.  They may also include additional articles, external links, interaction with the written work of other students, and the reading necessary for independent research.

Writing Assignments

At least one major paper will be required during the semester.  This paper will require students to explain a difficult philosophical position and develop and defend a thesis regarding their analysis of this position.  This is in addition to smaller writing assignments.

Out-of-class Assignments

In addition to their readings and questions given to think about at home, at least one major paper will be required during the semester.  This paper will require students to explain a difficult philosophical position and develop and defend a thesis regarding their analysis of this position.  This is in addition to smaller writing assignments.

Demonstration of Critical Thinking

Read and analyze texts.  Exhibit critical thinking by engaging in class discussions about the philosophies of the pre-Socratics, Plato, Aristotle, and others.  Students will be required to write at least one major paper and give shorter essay responses throughout the semester in which they will be expected not only to analyze and explicate material, but also to defend their chosen positions and analysis.

Required Writing, Problem Solving, Skills Demonstration

At least one major paper will be required during the semester.  This paper will require students to explain a difficult philosophical position and develop and defend a thesis regarding their analysis of this position.  This is in addition to smaller writing assignments.

Eligible Disciplines

Philosophy: Masters degree in philosophy OR bachelors degree in philosophy AND masters degree in humanities or religious studies, OR the equivalent. Masters degree required.

Textbooks Resources

1. Required Levin, Noah. Ancient Philosophy Reader: An Open Educational Resource, 2018 ed. NGE Far Press, 2018

Other Resources

1. The Internet Classics ArchiveOther free online resources or cheaper textbooks that are still in circulation, such as Coplestons book, save students money. 2. Coastline Library