Introduction to Ancient Philosophy

This course discusses the ideas and arguments of major ancient Greek philosophers and introduces students to the history and continued relevance of the first centuries of western philosophy. Topics include the rise of cosmological speculation, the beginnings of philosophical ethics, Plato's moral theory and epistemology, Aristotle's philosophy of nature, metaphysics and ethics. The course also includes discusses how the canon of ancient philosophy was shaped and contains a dedicated unit focusing on women, slaves, and non-Greeks in ancient philosophy.