Image 1 of 1
Image 1 of 1
Image 1 of 1
Image 1 of 1
Instruction Language: Ancient Greek
Day & Time: Mondays, 13:00–14:30 EDT / 19:00–20:30 (CET/CEST).
Course Duration:
Start Date: June 29
End Date: August 31
Lesson Structure:
Duration: 90 minutes per session
Total Instructional Hours: 15 hours total
Abstract: This seminar offers a philological and philosophical examination of the Ancient Greek concept of philia through the close reading of primary texts by Plato and Aristotle.
Comprehensive Description: Students will analyze and compare pivotal passages from Plato and Aristotle concerning the nature, scope, and purpose of friendship. The course addresses fundamental questions: Is philia inherently reciprocal, or can it exist unilaterally? Are the eudaimones—those who have achieved self-sufficiency—in need of friends, or does their virtue preclude such a requirement? By engaging with these works in the original Ancient Greek, participants will refine their command of philosophical vocabulary and prose style. Furthermore, the course aims to develop the student’s ability to navigate complex grammatical structures and idiomatic expressions while engaging in rigorous philosophical inquiry.
Language Level:
Framework Reference: Designed for students who have completed the first volume of Athenaze or have attained an equivalent level of proficiency.
General Description: Open to intermediate and advanced students of Ancient Greek who are proficient in reading simple prose and capable of participating in discussions conducted in the target language.
Estimated Self-Study Time:
Time Commitment: Students should expect to devote 2–4 hours per week to independent study to ensure adequate preparation for each session.
Preparation Type: Participants are required to translate and analyze the assigned texts prior to each class, arriving prepared to discuss philological nuances and philosophical implications.
Required Textbooks:
Primary Texts: Aristotle’s Nicomachean Ethics; Plato’s Lysis.
Disclaimer: The acquisition of the physical or digital editions of the required textbooks is mandatory for course participation. Please ensure materials are secured prior to the first session.
Further Reading:
For historical contextualization: G.W.F. Hegel, Lectures on the History of Philosophy, Part One, Section One, Chapter III: “The Philosophy of Plato” and “The Philosophy of Aristotle.”
Secondary Literature: John von Heyking, “Hermes as Eros in Plato’s Lysis”; Mavis Biss, “Aristotle on Friendship and Self-Knowledge: The Friend Beyond the Mirror.”
Instruction Language: Ancient Greek
Day & Time: Mondays, 13:00–14:30 EDT / 19:00–20:30 (CET/CEST).
Course Duration:
Start Date: June 29
End Date: August 31
Lesson Structure:
Duration: 90 minutes per session
Total Instructional Hours: 15 hours total
Abstract: This seminar offers a philological and philosophical examination of the Ancient Greek concept of philia through the close reading of primary texts by Plato and Aristotle.
Comprehensive Description: Students will analyze and compare pivotal passages from Plato and Aristotle concerning the nature, scope, and purpose of friendship. The course addresses fundamental questions: Is philia inherently reciprocal, or can it exist unilaterally? Are the eudaimones—those who have achieved self-sufficiency—in need of friends, or does their virtue preclude such a requirement? By engaging with these works in the original Ancient Greek, participants will refine their command of philosophical vocabulary and prose style. Furthermore, the course aims to develop the student’s ability to navigate complex grammatical structures and idiomatic expressions while engaging in rigorous philosophical inquiry.
Language Level:
Framework Reference: Designed for students who have completed the first volume of Athenaze or have attained an equivalent level of proficiency.
General Description: Open to intermediate and advanced students of Ancient Greek who are proficient in reading simple prose and capable of participating in discussions conducted in the target language.
Estimated Self-Study Time:
Time Commitment: Students should expect to devote 2–4 hours per week to independent study to ensure adequate preparation for each session.
Preparation Type: Participants are required to translate and analyze the assigned texts prior to each class, arriving prepared to discuss philological nuances and philosophical implications.
Required Textbooks:
Primary Texts: Aristotle’s Nicomachean Ethics; Plato’s Lysis.
Disclaimer: The acquisition of the physical or digital editions of the required textbooks is mandatory for course participation. Please ensure materials are secured prior to the first session.
Further Reading:
For historical contextualization: G.W.F. Hegel, Lectures on the History of Philosophy, Part One, Section One, Chapter III: “The Philosophy of Plato” and “The Philosophy of Aristotle.”
Secondary Literature: John von Heyking, “Hermes as Eros in Plato’s Lysis”; Mavis Biss, “Aristotle on Friendship and Self-Knowledge: The Friend Beyond the Mirror.”
