Meet the Stoics, Skeptics, and Epicureans, and learn about the intellectual milieu of the Greco-Roman World into which Christianity was born.
How to get the most out of Hellenistic Philosophy With Sam Nicholson:
- First, read the course materials below before the first class meeting.
- Then have a notebook ready and available for class notes each live session.
- Read assignments before class meetings
- Watch that week’s recording if you need to revisit information from our live session.
- Do the assignments, quizzes, and any extra work assigned for that week.
- 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.
Special Notes: All course materials are available for FREE.
Total classes: 6
Duration per class: 55 minutes
Prerequisite: None
Suggested Grade Level: 9th to 12th grade
Suggested High School Credit: ½ semester credit for Philosophy or Hellenistic Philosophy
Instructor: Dr. Sam Nicholson
Instructor Email: scn8v@virginia.edu
Course Description: What is true wisdom? Is it achieved through resignation to the designs of fate, the rational pursuit of pleasure, or the judicious suspension of all belief? The major schools of Hellenistic philosophy attempted to answer all of these questions and more, proposing philosophical paths to enlightenment and happiness accessible only through the study of philosophy. These schools had a major impact upon the culture and religion of the Greco-Roman World, and the Early Christians grappled with many of their specific claims and proposals as their own theology grew into maturity. In this course, will cover the essential elements of each Hellenistic school, examining clearly how they converge with and diverge from the Catholic understanding of wisdom and happiness.
Course Outline:
Class One: Introduction, Socratic Background
Class Two: Stoicism: Enchiridion of Epictetus
Class Three: Stoicism: Meditations of Marcus Aurelius
Class Four: Epicureanism: Epicurus: Principal Doctrines
Class Five: Epicureanism: Epicurus: Principal Doctrines
Class Six: Skepticism: Sextus Empiricus "Outlines of Pyrrhonism”
Course Materials: All course materials will be made available from free online resources.
Homework: Homework will involve daily reading assignments from primary and secondary texts. These texts are short but dense and will require the student to read slowly and, in some cases, to go back and re-read. Expect to spend no less than an hour and a half per class reading. There will be three automated quizzes, one mid-term, and one final exam.
- Teacher: Sam Nicholson