montejohnson - PHIL101: Aristotle

Syllabus

Date Reading

i 8 Introduction

i 10 Protrepticus 6; DCM 26

i 15 Protrepticus 6; Metaphysics 1.1-2

i 17* Protrepticus 7-8; N. Ethics 1

i 22 Protrepticus 7-8; N. Ethics 2-5

i 24 Protrepticus 7-8; N. Ethics 6

i 29 Protrepticus 9; Physics 2

i 31* Protrepticus 9; Physics 2

ii 5 Review Session

ii 7 Midterm Examination

ii 12 Protrepticus 9; Parts of Animals 1

ii 14 Protrepticus 10; Politics 1-2

ii 19 Protrepticus 10; Politics 7

ii 21* Protrepticus 10; Politics 8

ii 26 Protrepticus 11; On the Soul 1

ii 28 Protrepticus 11; On the Soul 2

iii 4 Protrepticus 11; N. Ethics 7

iii 6* Protrepticus 11; N. Ethics 10

iii 11 Protrepticus 12; Rhetoric 1

iii 13 Review Session

iii 20 Final Exam

Useful Files

Instructions on how to cite Aristotle along with a list of his extant works.
Instructions for the scribe assignment.
A PDF of the minutes of last year's lecture course, taken by student scribes: 2007 PHIL 101 Aristotle.

Teaching Assistant

Dr. Ioan Muntean, the teaching assistant for PHIL 101, is available for consultation in his office HSS 8029 Friday 11am-12pm, or by appointment.

Course Description

This course examines the logic, physics, and politics of Aristotle of Stagira (384-322 B.C.), using as a basis for discussion a reconstruction of his lost work the Exhortation to Philosophy (Protrepticus). We will follow the arguments of the Protrepticus to their conclusion (“you should do philosophy”), pausing to examine parallel treatment of key themes in major extant works, including the Physics, On the Soul, Nicomachean Ethics, Politics, and Rhetoric.

Required Texts

Aristotle's Protrepticus apud Iamblichus. Translated by D. S. Hutchinson and Monte Ransome Johnson (2007).

The Basic Works of Aristotle. Edited by Richard McKeon (New York, 1941). The Modern Library paperback edition (ISBN 0-375-75799-6) is available at Groundwork Books.

Evaluation

Participation (100 points): You may participate by asking questions or making comments in class, or by posting questions or comments to the class listserv.

Writing assignments (200 points): Four one-page assignments, each worth 50 points; due on Jan. 17 and 31, February 21, and March 6; no late papers accepted.

Scribe assignment (100 points): See below.

Midterm exam (200 points): In-class, open-book essay quiz on February 2.

Final Exam (400 points): Open-book, cumulative essay exam, on March 20.

Extra-credit project (up to 100 points): Research project developed in consultation with the professor.