161-053 The Good Life in Ancient Thought

This is an intensive two-week subject offered at the beginning of January. Timetabling will be such that this subject and 161-054 Human Life in Modern Thought can be taken concurrently. To be offered in alternate years. The subject dates and HECS/course fee census date for this subject change each year. Check your enrolment record for the correct census date for this subject.

Any two university subjects or equivalent, or permission from the Head of School or the subject coordinator.

The subject examines and critically compares a number of conceptions of good human life to be found in ancient Mediterranean philosophical and religious texts and traditions. These conceptions include those of Plato and Aristotle and their Greek successors the Stoics, Epicureans and Sceptics, and some from other sources such as the Roman, Jewish and Christian. Topics and themes include the nature of happiness and its relation to virtue, the varieties and significance of social life and relationships between the sexes, the relative importance of this-worldly and other-worldly goods, and the nature and causes of moral success and failure. Students will be expected to develop an understanding of these various conceptions, of important similarities and differences among them, of philosophical issues arising in and about them, and of their relevance to enduring questions concerning the quality of human life.

• be able to recognise philosophically important similarities and differences between views and issues arising in different texts and contexts;

• be able to apply the analytical skills developed in this subject to other philosophical and non-philosophical studies;

• be able to apply the critical skills developed in this subject to other philosophical and non-philosophical studies.

Two 2000-word essays due in March and April 50% each. Provision for earlier assessment can be made in approved cases, by special arrangement with the lecturer.

A subject reader will be available.