PHIL 320 - Seminar in the History of Philosophy

Semester Offered: Spring
1 unit(s)

Topic for 2016/17b: Plato’s Republic. This seminar is devoted to a close study of Plato’s Republic, one of the most influential and challenging texts in the history of philosophy. We approach the dialogue from a variety of angles, with attention to the interplay between theoretical argument, historical context, dramatic irony, poetic allusion, and literary form. One of our goals is to understand how the diverse inquiries pursued in the dialogue–into justice in the city and the individual soul; the proper role of art in education; the complexity of human motivation; and the nature of philosophical insight–fit together into a unified whole. Christopher Raymond.

Prerequisite(s): upper level Philosophy courses or permission of the instructor.

One 3-hour period.