First-Year Writing Seminar (101-8-22)

Topic

Plato on Love and Death

Instructors

Claire Elizabeth Kirwin

Meeting Info

Kresge 3438 Philosophy Sem. Rm: Mon, Wed 2:00PM - 3:20PM

Overview of class

In this class, we will read four classic dialogues by Plato: the Apology, Phaedrus, Symposium, and Phaedo. We will explore Plato's treatment of two fundamental aspects of the human experience—love, and death—and the way he sees both of these topics as connected to the practice of philosophy. For Plato, love is the impetus that drives us towards philosophy (indeed, the word 'philosophy' literally means 'love of wisdom'); philosophy, in turn, is a kind of preparation for dying. Our engagement with these texts will be the jumping-off point for a series of structured writing assignments, aimed at developing and refining your academic writing skills.

Class Materials (Required)

Five Dialogues: Euthyphro, Apology, Crito, Meno, Phaedo
by Plato / Grube, G. M. (Translator) / Cooper, John M. (Ed.) (9780872206335) Hackett

Symposium
by Plato / Nehamas, Alexander / Woodruff, Paul (Translators) (9780872200760) - 89
HACKETT

Phaedrus
by Plato / Nehamas, Alexander (Translator) / Woodruff, Paul (Translator) (9780872202207) - 95
HACKETT

Class Notes

Final paper

Class Attributes

WCAS Writing Seminar

Enrollment Requirements

Enrollment Requirements: Weinberg First Year Seminars are only available to first-year students.