Postgraduate Course: Themes in Greek and Roman intellectual history (PGHC11350)
Course Outline
| School | School of History, Classics and Archaeology |
College | College of Humanities and Social Science |
| Course type | Standard |
Availability | Available to all students |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 11 (Postgraduate) |
Credits | 20 |
| Home subject area | Postgraduate (School of History and Classics) |
Other subject area | None |
| Course website |
None |
Taught in Gaelic? | No |
| Course description | The course is intended to focus on a single significant aspect of, or problem in, Greek and/or Roman intellectual history: this will be studied with close attention to the sources available, and the range of possible methodologies and approaches. The intention is that students will deepen their knowledge of Greek and Roman intellectual and cultural history, at an advanced level, and will be given exposure to a range of sources and approaches which they can make us of in their own future work in Classics. |
Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
| Pre-requisites |
|
Co-requisites | |
| Prohibited Combinations | |
Other requirements | None |
| Additional Costs | None |
Information for Visiting Students
| Pre-requisites | None |
| Displayed in Visiting Students Prospectus? | No |
Course Delivery Information
| Not being delivered |
Summary of Intended Learning Outcomes
After successfully completing the course, students will be able to:
* demonstrate an in-depth knowledge of the topic studied;
* independently identify and pursue research topics in Greek and Roman intellectual history;
* exhibit an understanding for different conceptual approaches to the study of Greek and Roman intellectual history;
* analyze and contextualize primary source material;
* arrive at independent, well-argued, well-documented and properly referenced conclusions in their coursework essay;
* demonstrate their skills in group discussion and oral presentations;
* demonstrate their written skills, their analytical and theoretical skills in coursework.
* prepare and present their work in seminars and workshops.
|
Assessment Information
| The courses will be normally assessed by means of one essay (ca. 3,500-5000 words). In addition, each student will be asked to give one in-class presentation and participate actively in discussion in class. |
Special Arrangements
| None |
Additional Information
| Academic description |
Not entered |
| Syllabus |
Next year the topic will be 'Ancient Pessimism'. Topics discussed will include:
1. Pessimism: A modern phenomenon? Leopardi, Burckhardt, Nietzsche, Camus et al.
2. His Dark Materials: Theology of the Iliad
3. Metaphysical and cultural pessimism in Hesiod
4. Existential pessimism 1: Greek Lyric and Pre-Socratic philosophy
5. Existential pessimism 2: Sophocles & Herodotus
6. Anthropological and political pessimism: Euripides & Thucydides
7. The invention of Optimism or Plato's Denial of Tragedy
8. Cultural pessimism in Rome: Sallust, Lucretius, Horace
9. Was Vergil a Pessimist?
10. Pessimism and Stoicism in the Age of Nero
11. Pessimists, Pagans, and Christians in the Age of Anxiety
Topics in future years may include:
¿ Injustice of Zeus: Greek theology from Homer to Plato
¿ Sophistic Movement
¿ Creationism and its critics in antiquity
¿ Atheism and ancient theories of religion
¿ Ancient philosophies of history
¿ Ancient ideas on language and its origin
¿ Political thought in antiquity
|
| Transferable skills |
Not entered |
| Reading list |
Indicative Bibliography
Bibliography will vary from year to year depending on the topic studied each year. |
| Study Abroad |
Not entered |
| Study Pattern |
Not entered |
| Keywords | Not entered |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Dr Michael Lurie
Tel: (0131 6)50 3588
Email: |
Course secretary | Ms Rosie Edwards
Tel: (0131 6)50 3782
Email: |
|
|
University Homepage