| Unit name | Philosophical Texts 2: Plato's Apology, Meno & Phaedo |
|---|---|
| Unit code | PHIL10007 |
| Credit points | 10 |
| Level of study | C/4 |
| Teaching block(s) |
Teaching Block 2 (weeks 13 - 24) |
| Unit director | Dr. Doyle |
| Open unit status | Open |
| Pre-requisites |
None |
| Co-requisites |
None |
| School/department | Department of Philosophy |
| Faculty | Faculty of Arts |
The course concerns the philosophy of Socrates (c 470-399 BC), and of the "early" and "middle" periods of the philosophy of Plato (430-347 BC), which it treats in an introductory fashion. The focus will be on historical issues concerning the trial and death of Socrates, his personality and philosophical views, and the transitions in Plato's thought away from certain Socratic claims and conceptions and toward metaphysics and the doctrine of Forms. While the course focuses on the three Platonic works Apology, Meno and Phaedo, excerpts from other dialogues will be also discussed by way of contextualising and enlarging upon the issues raised.
