ancient foundations

outcome

Explain how the Greek problems of change, multiplicity, universals, and knowledge generated the major ancient schools, and compare the Platonic and Aristotelian alternatives.

early greeks

Thales, Heraclitus, Parmenides, Pythagoreans, Zeno

capability

Explain why change and multiplicity became the starting problems; distinguish flux, monism, and paradox.

atomists, sophists, socrates

Atomists, Sophists, Socrates, early Plato

capability

Connect atomism to determinism, Sophism to relativism, and the Socratic method to conceptual inquiry.

plato

Forms, particulars, the Good, divided line, cave, soul, ethics, organic state

capability

Reconstruct Forms, particulars, the Good, divided line, cave, soul, ethics, and organic state.

aristotle

realism, knowledge, definitions, change, psyche, senses, ethics, politics

capability

Explain Aristotle's answer to Forms, axioms, definitions, potentiality/actuality, and four causes; connect form/matter, Prime Mover, sensory evidence, virtues, ultimate good, and state.

hellenistic schools

Epicurus, Stoics, Skeptics, Plotinus

capability

Explain how later schools responded to instability, desire, determinism, skepticism, and religious Platonism.

phase problem

problem

Can change, multiplicity, and objective knowledge coexist?