Philosophy through the Ages, Part 1

According to the ancient Greeks, philosophy means the love of wisdom. More broadly, philosophy is a journey undertaken by those who wish to understand fundamental truths about themselves, the world in which they live, and their relationships to the world and to each other. This course is the first in a series exploring the history of this collective journey, beginning with the ancient Greeks. We start with Thales of Miletus (585 BCE), regarded as the first Western philosopher and mathematician, who addressed the First Cause. We then explore how Plato, Socrates, and Aristotle expanded the scope of philosophy during the Classical period to address not only the First Cause but also the individual's moral and ethical obligation to self-improvement for its own sake and the good of the greater community. We end with Augustine, who wrote about the nature of human society, justice, the nature and role of the state, the relationship between church and state, just and unjust war, peace, and the Fall of Rome. The instructor has a service dog that will be present during class. This course uses the Hybrid format which allows students to participate remotely and/or in the classroom.