Syllabus
This course is divided into four parts: 1. The method of Plato’s early thought 2. Plato’s virtue theory 3. Plato’s aesthetic theory 4. Plato’s epistemological theory 1. The method of Plato’s early thought
(Week 1-2) 2. Plato’s virtue theory
(Week 3-8)
The Protagoras, the Gorgias 3. Plato’s aesthetic theory
(Week 9-10)
The Symposium 4. Plato’s epistemology
(Week 11-12)
The Theaetetus 5. Recapitulation
(Week 13)
Annotation
Plato is one of the most influential philosophers in the world. He not only founded a path for academic research for humanity and posterity, but also paved the road for the development of the philosophical theology of early Christianity. The study of philosophy begins with an investigation of Plato. The relevance of his philosophy is even more important to the current world of artificial intelligence. Therefore, this course will assist in the understanding of Plato’s philosophical views by means of reading his middle and late dialogues, to lay the foundations of an initial comprehension of Plato’s philosophical judgement.
The course will start with Plato’s virtue theory through his aesthetic thoughts to his epistemological doctrine.
The selected dialogues will include the Protagoras, the Gorgias, the Symposium and the Theaetetus. By the end of the course, students should begin to conduct an analysis of issues in the dialogues and be alert to the practicality of the analysis and criticism of these issues in the context of this modern digital technology century.