Course Description
The dialogues of Plato. Emphasis is placed on the language, style, and philosophical thought of Plato.
Additional Requirements for Graduate Students:
Graduate students are required to direct seminar sessions and write more extensive research papers.
Athena Title
Advanced Readings: Plato
Prerequisite
GREK 2001 or GREK 2001W or GREK 2003 or permission of department
Semester Course Offered
Not offered on a regular basis.
Grading System
A - F (Traditional)
Course Objectives
THE STUDY SEEKS TO DEVELOP ACQUAINTANCE WITH PLATO BY READING, TRANSLATING, AND ANALYZING ONE OR MORE OF HIS DIALOGUES, SUCH AS THE GORGIAS, REPUBLIC, OR SYMPOSIUM. EMPHASIS ON STYLE, TONE, AND DICTION REVEALS THE ARTISTIC GENIUS AND CONTRIBUTION OF PLATO NOT ONLY IN GREEK LITERATURE BUT ALSO AS AN INFLUENCE IN ALL SUBSEQUENT WESTERN THOUGHT. BY STUDYING COMMENTARIES ON THE DIALOGUE(S) THE STUDENT SHOULD GAIN ACQUAINTANCE WITH PLATO'S EPISTEMOLOGY AND ETHICS. THE STUDENT WILL ENGAGE IN CRITICAL ANALYSIS OF SEMANTIC, SYNTACTIC, GRAMMATICAL, STYLISTIC, RHETORICAL, AND PHILOSOPHICAL EVIDENCE IN PLATO'S DIALOGUES. THE STUDENT WILL PRODUCE WRITING APPROPRIATE TO THE SUBJECT MATTERS OF PLATONIC DIALOGUE AND PHILOSOPHY AND TO THE DISCIPLINE OF CLASSICS.
Topical Outline
I. READING, TRANSLATING, AND ANALYZING ONE OR MORE OF THE DIALOGUES BY PLATO EXCEPT THOSE READ IN GREEK 2002. II. DISCUSSING THE TREATMENT OF THE SUBJECT BY PLATO. IF THE DIALOGUE CHOSEN WERE THE GORGIAS, THE DISCUSSION WOULD FIRST CONCERN RHETORIC AS A FORM OF STUDY AT ATHENS; AND THEN IT WOULD CONSIDER HOW PLATO SHIFTS FROM RHETORIC TO ETHICS, A FAVORITE SUBJECT OF THE DIALOGUE. III. STUDYING STYLE, TONE, AND DICTION OF THE DIALOGUE.
Syllabus