PHIL 452 - Aristotle

Institution:

University of Massachusetts-Boston

Subject:

Description:

3 Credits "Aristotle died in 322 BC. He was sixty-two and at the height of his powers: a tireless scholar, whose scientific explorations were as wide-ranging as his philosophical speculations were profound; a teacher who inspired - and who continues to inspire - generations of pupils; a controversial public figure who lived a turbulent life in a turbulent world. He bestrode antiquity like an intellectual colossus. No man before him had contributed so much to learning. No man after him could hope to rival his achievements." Jonathan BarneAristotle' approach to philosophical problems is built around his down-to-earth common sense, his rationalism, his modest respect for ordinary people's intuitions and for the good ideas of other philosophers, his suspicion of mysticism, obscurity, and pretentiousness, and his keen observation and massive breadth of knowledge.In this class we will read a range of Aristotle's works, including selections from the Categories, Metaphysics, Physics, De Anima, Ethics, and Politics. We will examine his account of substance, his accounts of change, cause, time, and chance, and his thoughts on the mind-body problem; also, his famous ethical system, and his political theory. Our approach will be partly historical, partly critical. Working out the Aristotelian system can help us to understand the entire western philosophical tradition; but we will also examine and evaluate his ideas considered independently of their historical setting, and compare them to modern approaches to the same questions.

Credits:

3.00

Credit Hours:

Prerequisites:

Corequisites:

Exclusions:

Level:

Instructional Type:

Lecture

Notes:

Additional Information:

Historical Version(s):

Institution Website:

www.umb.edu

Phone Number:

(617) 287-5000

Regional Accreditation:

New England Association of Schools and Colleges

Calendar System:

Semester

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