"Greek Wisdom: Nature, Gods, and Philosophy"

Drew University, Spring 2005

COURSE DESCRIPTION:

Philosophers, poets, writers, scientists, artists and theologians approach the same reality - NATURE, in different ways. But what is nature? And what is our place in nature? In asking this question, we realize that this is not a question like any other: it encompasses the universe, our language and conceptual apparatus and demands a certain ethical attitude.

Early Greek Thinkers understood the power, scope and sublimity of this question. They pushed human thinking and language to its very limits: from precise logic to contemplative poetry to emotionally challenging tragedy. In their texts, we recognize the roots of our own intellectual history and the beginnings of our science, philosophy, technology and ethics. In their art, we see the complex inner and outer experiences of humans articulated in a profound way. Their understanding of Nature continues to illuminate and challenge us even today.

By placing gods within nature, these thinkers infuse nature with a dignity, rationality and power. By focusing on our mortal nature, heroism, and the vastness of the universe, Greek thought and tragedy help us experience this nature in its awesome brilliance. We will trace the birth of philosophy against this background of nature, gods and tragedy.

This course is an intellectual adventure: we want to read the Greeks as beyond the boundaries of our departments, majors, nations, identities and received dogmas. In thinking about all that is--nature-- fresh perspectives for our future are possible.

COURSE OBJECTIVES:

  1. To appreciate the distinctive intellectual contributions of Ancient Greece.
  2. To interpret, analyze and critique major texts of this tradition.
  3. To be able to recognize a text in terms of its tradition and analyze its cognitive, political and ethical implications.
  4. Discussion and clarification of philosophical arguments as they arise in these texts.

TEXTBOOKS:

  1. Lombardo, Stanley. Hesiod: Works and Days and Theogony. (Hackett 1993)
  2. Waterfield, Robin. The First Philosophers: The Presocratics and Sophists. (Oxford University Press 2000)
  3. Cobb, William. The Symposium and the Phaedrus: Plato's Erotic Dialogues. (SUNY, 1993.)

 

 

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