Simon Fraser University
Engaging the World

Course Outlines

Spring 2026 - PHIL 350 D100

Ancient Philosophy (3)

Class Number: 6744

Delivery Method: In Person

Overview

  • Course Times + Location:

    Jan 5 – Apr 10, 2026: Wed, 2:30–5:20 p.m.
    Burnaby

  • Prerequisites:

    One prior philosophy course (not including PHIL 105, PHIL 110, PHIL 310, PHIL 314, or PHIL 315).

Description

CALENDAR DESCRIPTION:

Examines central philosophical themes and figures in ancient philosophy. Topics may include justice, knowledge, the good life, time, change, appearance and reality, the nature of God, and others. Historical readings will be the central focus and may include works by Plato, Aristotle, Thales, Anaximander, Pythagoras, Parmenides and others.

COURSE DETAILS:


Ancient Greek philosophy: this course surveys a selection of philosophical writings from Ancient Greece, mostly from the classical period. The focus will be on the works of Plato and the so-called “presocratics,” including works from historians and playwriters contemporary with Plato. We will seek to precisely understand the theses advanced by those philosophers as well as the philosophical method they are deploying, and furthermore to situate them in their historical context.

COURSE-LEVEL EDUCATIONAL GOALS:

The educational goal of this course is to develop a deeper understanding of the core concepts of logical methodology, including:

  • To appreciate the origins and complexity of the core concepts of philosophical methodology.
  • To reflect an understanding of the way in which philosophers have both disagreed with each other and built upon each other’s work across schools of thought.
  • To establish connections between various writers’ views about philosophy and their views about their society and science broadly construed.
  • To become familiar with the philosophical doctrines of some of the historically most impactful philosophers.

Grading

  • Participation (see notes below) 25%
  • Three small in-class writing assignments (3 x 15%) 45%
  • Final exam: an essay written in class during the exam period, with prompt requesting an examination of one of Plato’s philosophical theses 30%

NOTES:

Participation (25%) taking two forms:

  • Weekly written participation to our discussion board, including raising questions for discussion and contributing to discussions arising from other students’ questions. (20%)
  • In-class participation. (5%)


Attendance will be mandatory.

Materials

REQUIRED READING:

Readings will be distributed in PDF on Canvas or links will be provided to free text repositories.

A hard copy of the relevant Platonic dialogues covered in this course can be obtained in this volume for only $11.95:
“Socratic Dialogues: Meno, Euthyphro, Apology, Crito, Phaedo,” A. Bailey (ed), C. Woods & R. Pack (Trans.), Broadview Press, 2024.


REQUIRED READING NOTES:

Your personalized Course Material list, including digital and physical textbooks, are available through the SFU Bookstore website by simply entering your Computing ID at: shop.sfu.ca/course-materials/my-personalized-course-materials.

Department Undergraduate Notes:

Thinking of a Philosophy Major or Minor? The Concentration in Law and Philosophy? The Certificate in Ethics? The Philosophy and Methodology of Science Certificate?
Contact the PHIL Advisor at philcomm@sfu.ca   More details on our website: SFU Philosophy

Registrar Notes:

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY: YOUR WORK, YOUR SUCCESS

At SFU, you are expected to act honestly and responsibly in all your academic work. Cheating, plagiarism, or any other form of academic dishonesty harms your own learning, undermines the efforts of your classmates who pursue their studies honestly, and goes against the core values of the university.

To learn more about the academic disciplinary process and relevant academic supports, visit: 


RELIGIOUS ACCOMMODATION

Students with a faith background who may need accommodations during the term are encouraged to assess their needs as soon as possible and review the Multifaith religious accommodations website. The page outlines ways they begin working toward an accommodation and ensure solutions can be reached in a timely fashion.