Course: Readings in Ancient Greek Philosophy II (Aristotle)

« Back
Course title Readings in Ancient Greek Philosophy II (Aristotle)
Course code KPF/B015
Organizational form of instruction Seminary
Level of course Bachelor
Year of study not specified
Semester Summer
Number of ECTS credits 2
Language of instruction Czech
Status of course Compulsory
Form of instruction Face-to-face
Work placements This is not an internship
Recommended optional programme components None
Lecturer(s)
  • Kroupa Daniel, Mgr. Ph.D.
  • Konrádová Veronika, Mgr. Ph.D.
Course content
The course consists of a long-term continuous reading of Aristotle's Nicomachean Ethics. In the first term, students will get acquainted with the nature of Aristotle's ethical thinking and its key concepts. In the next term, they will continue with the reading of Aristotle's text. The extent of the course will cover these topics: the character of ethical inquiry - the good - eudaimonia - arete - the "doctrine of the mean" - correct judgment - voluntary and involuntary - deliberation and choice - the freedom of action - the ethical and intellectual virtues - the nature of individual virtues - self-control and the weakness of the will - pleasure - friendship - political and contemplative life.

Learning activities and teaching methods
unspecified, unspecified
Learning outcomes
The course will follow the Readings of ancient philosophy I. The course is designed as a detailed tutorial reading of classical texts of ancient philosophy, particularly Aristotle's Nicomachean Ethics. Seminar readings will be supplemented with presentations of papers based on secondary literature comparing various interpretative approaches.
Students will acquire the following academic knowledge: - can explain the critical concepts of Aristotelian ethics - can read and interpret a primary text and confront it with the interpretation of the secondary literature - can explain hypotheses, methods and aims of Aristotle's inquiry in the Nicomachean Ethics - can explain the basic concepts of Aristotle's ethics in detail, his analysis of human behaviour and the structure of arete - can show the specifics of Aristotle's analysis in comparison with the broader context of Greek ethical thinking (Plato, the Stoics, etc.)
Prerequisites
Readings of ancient philosophy I.

Assessment methods and criteria
unspecified
75% participation in seminars is required. To obtain a credit: students work out a paper in written and orally presented form, using academic secondary literature (Czech, or foreign language), alternatively an essay on a given topic using primary and secondary sources.
Recommended literature
  • Anagnostopoulos, Georgios. A Companion to Aristotle. Malden, 2009.
  • Aristoteles. Etika Nikomachova.
  • Aubenque, Pierre. Rozumnost podle Aristotela. Praha, 2003.
  • Barnes, Jonathan. The Cambridge Companion to Aristotle. New York, 1995.
  • Broadie, Sarah. Ethics with Aristotle. New York, 1991.
  • Furley, David J. From Aristotle to Augustine. New York, 1999.
  • Gadamer, H. G. Idea dobra mezi Platónem a Aristotelem, Praha. 1994.
  • Graeser, Andreas. Řecká filosofie klasického období. Praha, 2000.
  • MacIntyre, A.. Ztráta ctnosti. Praha, 2005.
  • Nussbaum, Martha C. Křehkost dobra. Praha, 2003.
  • Pakaluk, Michael. Aristotle´s Nicomachean Ethics: an introduction. Cambridge, 2005.
  • Rezek, Petr (ed.). Spravedlnost jako zdatnost. Praha, 1996.
  • Synek, Stanislav. Lidská přirozenost jako úkol člověka: filosofická interpretace Etiky Nikomachovy. Praha, 2011.
  • Špinka, Š. Blaženost smrtelných bytostí: Aristotelés, in: Š. Špinka et al. (vyd.), Přístupy k etice I. Praha, 2014. ISBN 978-80-7007-430-5.
  • Tugendhat, E. Přednášky o etice. Praha, 2004.


Study plans that include the course
Faculty Study plan (Version) Category of Branch/Specialization Recommended year of study Recommended semester
Faculty: Faculty of Arts Study plan (Version): Philosophy (A14) Category: Philosophy, theology 1 Recommended year of study:1, Recommended semester: Summer