2022-2023 Academic Catalog

Dec 07, 2025

2022-2023 Academic Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

PHIL 123 - Socrates and Athens

Why did the Athenians execute Socrates, one of the greatest philosophers of antiquity and, indeed, of human history? This course will explore that question from a variety of perspectives. We’ll begin with the writings of ancient historians to set the context, and then we’ll explore the complicated cross-currents of Athenian political and moral attitudes through political pamphlets, coutroom oratory, comic plays, model speeches by ancient “sophists”, and tragic theater. In the process, we’ll take a deep look at some of the main representations of Socrates by the writers Plato and Xenophon; and we’ll pay special attention to his trial, trying to assess just how his intellectual views may have led to his conviction.

Course Designation/Attribute: VP

Anticipated Terms Offered: Annually