Categories in ancient philosophy

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Level: 
Doctoral
CEU credits: 
2
Academic year: 
2009/2010
Semester: 
Winter
Start and end dates: 
22 Feb 2010
Co-hosting Unit(s) [if applicable]: 
Department of Philosophy
Academic Program: 
Doctor of Philosophy in Philosophy
CEU Instructor(s): 
István Bodnár
Additional information: 
Course goal: The primary goal of the course is to help students to tackle topical issues in ancient philosophy, and to appreciate the discussions about these issues in the modern literature. For this latter aim, important texts of the secondary literature will be introduced and discussed on a regular basis.
Learning Outcomes: 
By the end of the course students will be expected to be able to compare and assess different theories of categories and ontologies, their relation to theories of predications, and to situate these in the larger context of ancient philosophical systems, and of the debates among the different philosophical schools. Students will also be expected to be able to assess the implications of alternative modern interpretations of these theories, and to formulate their own interpretation in the context of these options.
Assessment : 
Requirements: • regular attendance • regular preparation • active participation in discussions • Presentation of papers from the secondary literature throughout the term • 3500‐word term paper Assessment: • 20% class participation (discussions); 20% presentations; 60% term paper
Full description: 

                                                            Weekly Schedule
Week 1
Overview –ontologies and theories of categories
Week 2
Parmenides
Parmenides Poem, selections
Week 3
Atomism
Democritus, selections
Week 4
Plato – Sophist
Plato, Sophist, selections
Week 5
Plato – Sophist, cont.
Week 6
Plato – Philebus
Plato, Philebus, selections
Week 7
Aristotle – Categories
Aristotle, Categories, 1–5
Week 8
Aristotle – Categories, cont.
Aristotle, Categories, 6–7, 10
Week 9
Aristotle – Focal meaning of being
Metaphysics IV 1–2
Week 10
Epicurus – basic constituents and concomitants
Selections from Long‐Sedley
Week 11
Stoicism – ontology and the four kindsof beings
Selections from Long‐Sedley
Week 12
Categories and traditional grammar
Frede on traditional grammar