PY431-5-AU-CO:
Ancient Philosophy
2025/26
Philosophical, Historical, and Interdisciplinary Studies (School of)
Colchester Campus
Autumn
Undergraduate: Level 5
Current
Thursday 02 October 2025
Friday 12 December 2025
15
17 April 2025
Requisites for this module
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This is a module about ancient Greek philosophy focusing on the work and thought of Plato and Aristotle, two of the most influential figures in the western philosophic and cultural tradition.
It is also intended to be an introduction to a way of approaching philosophy characteristic of the ancient world, and differing from most contemporary approaches.
In the writings of Plato and Aristotle, philosophy is understood not as an academic discipline, but as the fulfilment of a distinctively human possibility for inquiry. This conception of philosophy as a way of life is most obviously manifest in Plato`s philosophic writings, dramatic dialogues examining an exemplary philosophic life, the life of Socrates, Plato`s teacher.
However, we will see this conception also at work in Aristotle`s account of the life of contemplation. In both authors, we will pay special attention to the interrelation between their accounts of practical philosophy (ethics and politics) and their theoretical philosophy (metaphysics and theory of knowledge).
In the Autumn term, we will begin with a brief look at two of the so-called `pre-Socratic` philosophers, Parmenides and Heraclitus. Then we will turn to Plato`s dialogues and his complex portrayal of Socrates. Some of the questions we will consider include: what (according to Plato) is Socratic philosophy; i.e., what distinguishes Socrates from his philosophic predecessors, the pre-Socratics, and from his intellectual opponents, the Sophists? What does Socrates teach and how does he teach it? How are we to understand Socrates` profession of ignorance and its relation to his search for self-knowledge? In our investigation of Plato`s account of Socrates we will address issues in Plato`s theory of knowledge, metaphysics, ethical psychology and political theory. We will also consider questions about Plato manner of writing and its significance.
In the spring, we will turn to Aristotle, examining aspects of his ethics, philosophy of nature, metaphysics and philosophy of mind. Of particular interest will be Aristotle`s conception of nature and the role this conception plays in his thinking. As in our study of Plato, we will also focus on the relation between Aristotle`s practical account of the best human life and his theoretical account of what is in the most significant respect.
The aims of the module are:
* to introduce students to selected texts in ancient Greek philosophy;
* to promote an historical sense in relation to the texts;
* to develop powers of exposition and analysis of unfamiliar patterns of thought;
* to give students an idea of the place of Greek thought in the development of Western philosophy.
No information available.
Erasmus/IP students must have already taken an introductory module in Philosophy at their home institution.
1 x one-hour lecture each week followed by a one-hour discussion seminar at which issues covered in the lecture will be discussed. Weeks 8 and 21 are Reading Weeks. Weeks 30 and 31 (Summer term) are revision sessions.
This module does not appear to have a published bibliography for this year.
Assessment items, weightings and deadlines
| Coursework / exam |
Description |
Deadline |
Coursework weighting |
| Coursework |
Commentary 1 (500 words) |
|
20% |
| Coursework |
Commentary 2 (500 words) |
|
20% |
| Coursework |
Essay (1000 words) |
|
60% |
Exam format definitions
- Remote, open book: Your exam will take place remotely via an online learning platform. You may refer to any physical or electronic materials during the exam.
- In-person, open book: Your exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may refer to any physical materials such as paper study notes or a textbook during the exam. Electronic devices may not be used in the exam.
- In-person, open book (restricted): The exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may refer only to specific physical materials such as a named textbook during the exam. Permitted materials will be specified by your department. Electronic devices may not be used in the exam.
- In-person, closed book: The exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may not refer to any physical materials or electronic devices during the exam. There may be times when a paper dictionary,
for example, may be permitted in an otherwise closed book exam. Any exceptions will be specified by your department.
Your department will provide further guidance before your exams.
Overall assessment
Reassessment
Module supervisor and teaching staff
Prof Wayne Martin
PHAIS General Office: 6.130, pyugadmin@essex.ac.uk
Yes
Yes
Yes
Dr Josiah Saunders
Durham University
Associate Professor
Available via Moodle
Of 857 hours, 36 (4.2%) hours available to students:
821 hours not recorded due to service coverage or fault;
0 hours not recorded due to opt-out by lecturer(s).
* Please note: due to differing publication schedules, items marked with an asterisk (*) base their information upon the previous academic year.
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