For 10/1: Plato's Phaedrus

What is love and what role does it play in human experience? Over the course of the Phaedrus, Plato portrays love in a number of (perhaps unexpected) ways. Does he hit the mark here or is there something missing? And what does all of this have to do with the relationship between philosophy and rhetoric? Once again, Plato provides us with much food for thought.

From 9/24: Rehearsing for Death

Though many topics are broached in the Phaedo, the central themes concern the nature of the soul (its relation to the body, whether it survives after death, etc.) and Plato's metaphysical doctrine of the Forms. For Plato, these two themes run together as the soul and Forms share a certain kinship with one another. So let's keep the conversation going as we'll certainly want to talk more about the Forms next week.

For 9/24: Plato's Phaedo

Part of Plato's "middle period," the Phaedo is understood by most commentators to mark the point where Plato begins to assert his own views over - and perhaps against? - his mentor Socrates. Here two important themes are brought to the fore: the (possible) immortality of the soul and the so-called doctrine of the Forms. Metaphysics here we come!

From 9/17: Piety & Virtue & Knowledge, Oh My!

After considering the relationship between morality and religion, we went on to talk about both the nature of virtue and the possibility of human knowledge. Should morality and religion be separated from each other? Is virtue nothing other than a form of knowledge? Does Socrates convince us that knowledge is possible with his theory of recollection? Let us know what you think.

For 9/17: Plato's Meno

Whereas ethics and epistemology are typically treated by philosophers as separate areas of study, leave it to Plato to talk about virtue and knowledge in the same dialogue. What is virtue?Can it be taught or is it in some way innate? Can we ever know anything for certain? How might we know when we know? These and many more questions await our further investigation.

From 9/10: Getting to Know Socrates

Through the Clouds and the Euthyphro, we got a good feel for the person of Socrates -- how he was perceived, how he argued, what he took to be important, and perhaps even why he was put to death. We also talked a bit about piety, a topic which ceratinly deserves some more attention. So let us know what you're thinking after Wednesday night's class.

For 9/10: The Clouds & The Euthyphro

Whereas Aristophanes takes a humorous look at philosophy by lampooning Socrates, Plato evidences the classic Socratic approach to philosophy as he considers the true nature of piety. Does Aristophanes's humor still ring true today? Who is he most poking fun at? On the other hand, why might it be important to consider the nature of piety? Are we, as a culture, as unreflective as Euthyphro in this regard? Tell us what you think.

From 9/3: The Pre-Socratics & The Sophists

In our first meeting, we talked about the different branches of philosophy, Pre-Socratic philosophy, and the sophists who lived and taught during Socrates's time. What do you make of the beginnings of Western Philosophy, its early development, or perhaps its place in society today?