Early Greek Philosophy

The course offers an advanced introduction to key thinkers in Early Greek Philosophy, including Thales, Xenophanes, Parmenides, Melissus, Heraclitus, Anaxagoras, the atomists Leucippus and Democritus, and Protagoras. Early Greek philosophers asked questions about appearances and reality, nature, the human capacity to gain knowledge, perception, disagreement, and the different ways of life that people consider “natural.” They formulate arguments of perennial interest on what should be considered fundamental, whether motion can only be explained if there is void, the nature of knowledge, and whether relativism is compelling. The class is inspired by recent research that addresses this period and novel questions that have emerged.