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Western philosophy begins with the ancient Greeks in the 6th century BCE.

It includes three principal periods: ancient Greek; medieval; modern.

This course considers some of the key elements in the thought of the three greatest philosophers of the ancient Greek period: Socrates; Plato; and Aristotle.

It to begin with considers Socrates

Socrates is concerned in particular with questions of ethics.

It then considers Plato. It considers Plato on the soul and its immortality in the Phaedo and, in particular, on the perfectly just city-state in the Republic.

Finally, it considers Aristotle on among other things language and logic in the Organon and on change and cause in the Physics and on “happiness” in the Nichomachean Ethics.

No prior specialist knowledge is required to attend this course.

Sessions consist of clearly structured talks and an encouragement to ask questions and to make comments.

Participants are assisted in their understanding of the subject and in their critical engagement with it.

There is in each session an opportunity to engage with other participants.