Socrates and Plato stand at the source of the Western Philosophical tradition. Alfred Whitehead said that “the safest general characterization of the European philosophical tradition is that it consists of a series of footnotes to Plato.” Through a close reading and analysis of several representative Platonic dialogues, this module introduces the student to the philosophy of Plato and Socrates (Plato’s teacher and main interlocutor in his dialogues), and prepares him for the third year module on Aristotle’s philosophy and the Honours seminar on Greek Thinkers. The module may include material on earlier Philosophy that informs the background to Socrates and Plato.
Assessment
TBA
References
G.M.A. Grube and John Cooper trans., Plato: Five Dialogues G. M. A. Grube and C. D. C. Reeve trans., Plato: Republic
Supplementary Readings (Select)
H. D. F. Kitto, The Greeks (introduction to the cultural and historical background) John M. Cooper, Plato: Complete Works, “Introduction” Plato, “Seventh Letter”, Glenn R. Morrow trans. in John M. Cooper ed., Plato: Complete Works Richard Kraut ed., The Cambridge Companion to Plato (selected chapters) Julia Annas, An Introduction to Plato’s Republic
