SEMINAR IN THE HISTORY OF PHILOSOPHY: SOCRATES AND THE SOCRATIC TRADITION
PHIL 40253

Blake E. Hestir
Office: 223 Reed Hall
Phone: 817 257 6374
Email: B.Hestir@tcu.edu

1. Required Texts

a. Thomas Brickhouse and Nicholas Smith, The Philosophy of Socrates, Boulder: Westview Press, 2000.
b. Euthydemus
c. Five Dialogues
d. Gorgias
e. Ion and Hippias Major
f. Laches and Charmides
g. Protagoras

2. Course Description and Objectives

Socrates is recognized as one of the world’s great teachers and the father of Western philosophy. But ironically Socrates professed not to know anything worthwhile, never wrote anything, and was executed by the people of Athens for impiety and corrupting the youth. Much of what we know about Socrates the philosopher comes from Plato, who apparently spent time following Socrates and reconstructing some of his conversations in written dialogue form. These dialogues, Plato’s so-called Socratic dialogues, present Socrates as a relentless seeker of wisdom and virtue who, despite his claims to ignorance with respect to virtue, formulated a certain philosophical methodology and accepted certain philosophical views which are worth considering in depth. Although Plato’s own philosophy moves beyond Socrates’ in profound ways, it is deeply inspired by Socrates. The course offers you the opportunity to develop and express an understanding of Socrates’ methodology and philosophy, as well as Socrates’ influence on Plato’s philosophy. We will begin with a close reading of a variety of the Socratic dialogues and proceed into a few of Plato’s middle dialogues which show significant Socratic influence.

3. Course Requirements

1. Response Papers: 200 pts. (best 10 out of 11)
2. Seminar Tutorial paper: 200 pts.
2. Tutorial presentation and defense: 100 pts.

You will be required to write eleven short response papers roughly one-two pages each, depending on the topic. Topics will be announced in class. The papers must be double-spaced, typed (if not, the total points possible for the paper is ten points). Typically these papers will require you to analyze or outline a particular argument or philosophical view.

You will be required to write a tutorial paper this semester. Topics will be announced in class. The papers are to be an analysis of some philosophical problem or topic in one or more of the dialogues we shall read. For example, I might have you write a paper on Socrates’ views on hedonism or his views on knowledge and virtue, etc. Once the paper is finished each of you will schedule an outside-of-class, individual tutorial session with me. In the tutorial, I will read a draft of the paper, ask you pertinent questions, make comments, and ask you to defend your views. After the tutorial, you may make any revisions you like before you submit the paper for a final grade. The paper must be double-spaced, typed and between 10-15 pages in length. I will require you to use outside sources; they must be cited in a bibliography in current MLA or Chicago Manual of Style format. Ultimately, these papers should reflect your ability to interpret and philosophically analyze and criticize the texts of Plato and any secondary literature you use.

4. Students With Disabilities

If you require accommodation for a disability (physical, learning, or otherwise), please contact the Coordinator of Academic Services for Students with Disabilities (Center for Academic Services) as soon as possible. Once I have received a letter from the Coordinator’s office which outlines need-specific accommodations, we can then arrange fair procedures targeted to your learning requirements.

5. Attendance Policy
You are required to attend class and participate, although I will not be grading you on attendance.

6. Academic Conduct
I strictly uphold the TCU Academic Conduct Policy published in the TCU Undergraduate Studies Bulletin and on the web at http://catalog.tcu.edu, click on the “Student Policy” link.

7. Schedule of Readings and Assignments

Week I (1/12-14): Introduction
Reading: Apology of Socrates
Week II (1/21): Socrates and the Duty to Athens
Reading: Crito
Week III (1/26-28): The Search for the Definitions of the Virtues: Piety
Reading: Euthyphro
Week IV (2/2-4): The Search for the Definitions of the Virtues: Moderation
Reading: Charmides
Week V: (2/9-11) The Search for the Definitions of the Virtues: Courage
Reading: Laches
Week VI (2/16-18): Socratic Egoism and Hedonism
Reading Protagoras
Week VII (2/23-25): The Unity of Virtue
Reading: Protagoras
Week VIII (3/1-3): Socrates and the Sophists
Reading: Euthydemus
Week IX (3/8-10): Socrates on Poetry
Reading: Ion
Week X (3/22-24): Can Virtue Be Taught?
Reading: Meno
Week XI (3/29-31): Criticisms of Hedonism
Reading: Gorgias
Week XII (4/5-7): Criticisms of Hedonism
Reading: Gorgias
TUTORIALS
Week XIII (4/12-14): Plato’s Gift to Socrates: The Theory of Forms
Reading: Phaedo
Week XIV (4/19-21): The Immortality of the Soul
Reading: Phaedo
Week XV (4/26-28): Summary and Evaluation
TUTORIAL PAPER DUE
Finals Week: Free

8. Bibliography of Some Helpful Secondary Reading

a. Hugh Benson, ed., Essays on the Philosophy of Socrates, Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1992.
b. Thomas Brickhouse and Nicholas Smith, Plato’s Socrates, Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1994.
c. W. K. C. Guthrie, Socrates, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1971.
d. Terence Irwin, Plato’s Ethics, Oxford: Oxford university Press, 1995.
e. George Rudebusch, Socrates, Pleasure, and Value, Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2000.
f. Paul van der Waerdt, The Socratic Movement, Ithaca and London: Cornell University Press, 1994.
g. Gregory Vlastos, Socrates: Ironist and Moral Philosopher, Cambridge and Ithaca: Cambridge and Cornell University Presses, 1991.
h. ________, Socratic Studies, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1994.
i. ________, ed., The Philosophy of Socrates, Garden City, N.Y.: Doubleday, 1971.

9. Useful Library and Web Resources for Philosophical Research

The following publications and databases may be found in the Mary Couts Burnett Library, or on the web at: http://libnt1.is.tcu.edu/resguides/resguide.asp?ID=10

a. The Philosopher’s Index.Provides indexing and abstracts from books and journals of philosophy and related fields.
b. Encyclopedia of Classical Philosophy (1997). Reference work on the philosophy of Greek and Roman antiquity. Over 270 signed articles. Ranges from the dawn of philosophy in Ionia in 6th century B.C.E. to the decline of the Academy in Athens in the 6th century B.E. (Reference Room, B163 .E53 1997)
c. Philosophy: a Guide to the Reference Literature (2nd ed., 1997) Annotated bibliography of several hundred reference resources, both special and generalized. Emphasis is on English-language works. (Reference Desk, Z7125 .B97 1997)
d. Research Guide to Philosophy (1983). Covers the history of philosophy form the ancient Greeks to the 20th century. Discusses the major areas of philosophy; Reference Works at the back list bibliographies, dictionaries & encyclopedias, digests & handbooks, directories, a dissertation index, and several series. (Reference Room, B52 .T5 1983)
e. The Philosopher's Guide to Sources, Research Tools, Professional Life, and Related Fields (1980). Comprehensive bibliography, some with brief annotations, of research resources in philosophy. (Main Stacks, Z7125 .D445)