Introduction                                                                                                               (approx. 1 1/2 weeks)

Symposium                                                                                                               (approx. 5 weeks)

Midterm Examination

Phaedrus                                                                                                                  (approx. 5 weeks)

Conclusion                                                                                                                (approx. 1 class)
 

COURSE TOPIC:  gender and metaphysics in Plato's dialogues on love (er†s).

COURSE GOALS:  increased understanding of the course topic; increased self-awareness.

COURSE TEXTS:  The course texts are available from the University Bookstore:

Robin Waterfield, translator.  Plato:  Symposium.  Oxford:  Oxford University Press.

R. Hackforth, translator.  Plato's Phaedrus.  Cambridge:  Cambridge University Press.

COURSE REQUIREMENTS:
Readings as assigned
Participation in class discussions
Class attendance
Four quizzes
Two papers (approx. 8 pp.)
Mid-term examination (after our reading of the Symposium)
Final examination (Monday, May 10, 12:00n to 2:00pm)
Supplementary reading

ESSAYS:  Essays will be typed (double-spaced).  They will have a title and a title page.  They will be in finished form and with~out errors in grammar, spelling and punctuation.  All quota~tions will be accompanied by a reference in parentheses.  Standard form for reference to Plato is the name of the dialogue, abbreviated, followed by the line number.  For example:  (Sym. 191a) or (Phdr. 258b).

Essays will be evaluated on the following basis:
    1.  Do you have the parts mentioned above (introduction, body, conclusion)?
    2.  Do you fulfill the functions mentioned above (state thesis, explain it, argue for it, summarize or highlight)?
    3.  Is the thesis you are writing about an interesting and important one?
    4.  Does your explanation of the thesis show that it is an interesting and important one?  Does your explanation make the
         basic concepts and terms in your essay clear to the reader?
    5.  Are your arguments clear and convincing to the reader?
    6.  Do you use specific examples from the text you are writing about to make your arguments stronger?  Do you use direct
         quotations from the text you are writing about to make your arguments stronger?
    7.  Does your conclusion add something to the essay as a whole?
    8.  Is the essay typed (double-spaced)?  Does it include a title and a title page?  Is it in finished form and without errors in
         grammar, spelling and punctuation?  Are all quotations accompanied by a reference in parentheses?

EXAMINATIONS:  The examinations will have two sections, an informational section and an essay section, each worth 50 points.  The mid-term examination will be held after we complete our discussion of the Symposium.  The final examination will be Monday, May 10, 12:00n to 2:00pm.

QUIZZES:  The format and date of quizzes will be announced.  The purpose of quizzes is to aid students in their reading.

SUPPLEMENTARY READING:  Each student will select some supple~mentary reading to do for the course and will arrange to meet with the instructor to discuss what reading he or she wishes to do and how he or she wishes to include the reading in graded assignments for the course.

Some suggested supplementary reading includes:

Cultural history:  Courtesans and Fishcakes:  The Consuming Passions of Classical Athens, James Davidson, St. Martin's Press

Sexuality:  Greek Homosexuality, K.J. Dover, Harvard University Press; Before Sexuality:  The Construction of Erotic Experience in the Ancient Greek World, Halperin, Winkler and Zeitlin, Princeton U. Press (esp. "Why is Diotima a Woman?" by David Halperin); "Laying Down the Law:  The Oversight of Men's Sexual Behavior in Classical Athens," available from instructor; Bisexuality in the Ancient World, Eva Cantarella, Yale University Press; Courtesans and Fishcakes (above); Xenophon, The Dinner-Party (in Xenophon:  Conversations of Socrates, Tredennick and Waterfield, Penguin Classics)

Feminist interpretations of Plato:  Feminist Interpretations of Plato, Nancy Tuana, Pennsylvania State University Press (e.g., "Sorcerer Love" by Luce Iragaray); "Women, Dirt and Desire," Ann Carson, in Before Sexuality (above); "Feminism in Ancient Philosophy:  The Feminist Stake in Greek Rationalism," Sabina Lovibond (available from instructor, not for circulation)

Philosophic connections:  Plato's Lysis (on friendship), Charmides (on moderation), Alcibiades Major (on human being), Hippias Major (on the beautiful) (all included in Plato:  The Complete Works, Cooper)

Alcibiades:  Plato, Alcibiades Major; Xenophon, Memoirs of Socrates (in Xenophon:  Conversations of Socrates, above); etc.

EVALUATION:  Grades will be based on the papers, examinations, and quizzes weighted equally (1/3 each).  Excellent class participation may raise your grade somewhat over the mathematical average, at the discretion of the instructor.

Late papers will lose a letter grade for each class session they are late.  There are no make-up examinations or quizzes except in the case of serious illness or emergency.  There will be no extra credit work.  The student will be held responsible for knowing what goes on in class.  Absences will not excuse you from knowing due dates of papers and schedules for quizzes and examinations.

The grading scale is:  94-100, A; 90-93 A-; 87-89 B+; 84-86 B; 80-83 B-; 77-79 C+; 74-76 C; 70-73 C-; 67-69 D+; 64-66 D; 60-63 D-; below 60, F.

It is the instructor's policy that cheating, plagiarism or submission of written work for this course which was submitted in another course merits a course grade of 'F'.

CLASS FORMAT:  This class will be a combination of lecture and discussion.  The discussion will be, generally, guided discussion rather than general discussion.

Lectures and discussion will refer to course texts.  Students will need to bring the relevant course texts to class if the are to benefit from lectures and discussions.

ATTENDANCE:  Much of the important work in this course goes on in class.  Students are expected to be in attendance except in cases of illness or emergency, to be present for the entire fifty minute period and not to make appointments that conflict with class sessions.

STUDYING:  Many students will find they do better work in this course if they study together with other students.

GRADUATE STUDENTS:  Graduate students will write longer papers (15 pp.) and will be graded on a higher level.  During the first week of classes, graduate students should take the initiative to schedule an appointment to meet with the instructor during the second or third week for discussion of their work for the course.

DISABILITY POLICY:  The Department of Philosophy is committed to equal opportunity in education for all students, including those with documented physical or learning disabilities.  According to University policy, a student with a documented disability is required to contact his or her instructors during the first week of each semester to discuss accommodations appropriate to ensure equity in grading, classroom experiences and out-of-class assignments.  Each instructor will meet with the student and Student Services Center staff members to formulate a written plan for appropriate accommodations, if they are required.

My office hours are Monday and Wednesday, 10:00-11:00am, or by appointment.  Please feel free to come by to discuss the course topics or your progress in the course.  I am happy to meet with you at some other time if it is more convenient.  If you wish to make an appointment to see me at some other time, call:  784-6742, -6846.

If you try to get in touch with me and cannot, leave a note with your phone number so that I can call you.