(Recorded Course) Virtue and Vice: Ancient Philosophy for Modern Catholics with Sam Nicholson

NOTICE: This is an older course recorded with Adobe Connect and/or Vimeo recordings. We are currently working to replace the recordings with new Zoom recordings.  Please don't hesitate to email us at homeschoolconnections@gmail.com with any questions.

How to get the most out of this course virtue and Vice: Ancient Philosophy for Modern Catholics With Sam Nicholson, Ph.D:

  • Check into moodle regularly to see which readings have been assigned, and to find external links to course materials.

  • Have a notebook ready and available for class notes each live session. Make sure you follow the lectures carefully.

  • Read assigned readings, and re-read them if necessary. Contact the instructor via email with any questions you have about the readings or lectures.

  • Watch that week’s recording if you need to revisit information from our live session. Download the slides and review them along with your notes.

  • Do the assignments, quizzes, and any extra work assigned for that week. Pay close attention to the deadlines for any graded assignments.

  • Be sure to contact the instructor if you have any questions about the readings or the assignments. 

  • Once the course is completed to the parent's and professor’s satisfaction, there is a Certificate of Completion at the end to be filled in for your records.

Total Classes: 12

Duration: 55 minutes

Prerequisite: None, other than a desire to learn new and exciting ideas.

Suggested Grade Level: 9th to 12th grade

Suggested Credit: One full semester Philosophy

Instructor: Sam Nicholson, Ph.D.

Instructor Email: scn8v@virginia.edu

 

Course Description: Philosophy is a vital subject for Catholic students. In this course, we will explore some of the prominent moral theories of antiquity, as expressed in the writings of Plato, Aristotle, Epicurus, and Epictetus. Sound too lofty? Well, it isn’t -- Professor Nicholson will take you through the subject step by step and help you grow in love for philosophy and see how it fits into your life today.

Together, we will examine the ways in which some of these moral theories anticipated an understanding of morality and virtue that were incorporated into the early Church. We will also explore ways in which Christian teaching would eventually correct, perfect, and incorporate elements of these theories into its account of the moral life as articulated by St. Augustine and St. Thomas Aquinas.

Weekly Outline:

  • Class 1-2: Plato: Euthyphro

  • Class 3-4: Plato: Protagoras, Phaedo (excerpts)

  • Class 5-7: Aristotle: Nicomachean Ethics

  • Class 8: Epicurus: Basic Writings

  • Class 9-10: Epictetus: Enchiridion

  • Class 11-12: St. Thomas Aquinas: On Virtue

Course Materials: It is recommended that you purchase the relatively inexpensive Hackett editions of the following books:

  • Plato: Five Dialogs

  • Aristotle: Nicomachean Ethics,

  • Epictetus: Enchiridion,

  • Others will be made available free online; in fact every text that is available online free of charge will be posted on moodle.

Homework: Weekly readings, and bi-weekly homework exercises. There will be quizzes every three weeks, a final examination, and an optional paper assignment. Expect to do between one to two hours of reading per class session.

 

If you have any questions please contact us at homeschoolconnections@gmail.com.