"Know thyself!" - How Socrates Can Change Your Life

Socrates is arguably the most influential and the most compelling philosopher in Western philosophy. We look at his understanding of truth and sophistry, the nature of existence, self-knowledge, flourishing and ethics, and his astonishing legacy. We also examine his life and death as recorded by his most brilliant student, Plato.

DELIVERY MODE

• Face-to-Face

SUGGESTED READING

• Russell, Bertrand, A History of Western Philosophy
• Plato, The Life and Death of Socrates
• Taylor, C., Hare RM., and Barnes J., Greek Philosophers: Socrates, Plato, Aristotle
• Taylor, C, Socrates: A Very Short Introduction
• Vlastos, G, Socrates, Ironist and Moral Philosopher

COURSE OUTLINE

• Who is Socrates?
• Against the Sophists
• "Know thyself!"
• On ethics

LEARNING OUTCOMES

By the end of this course, students should be able to:

1. Understand the question of self-knowledge according to Socrates
2. Understand truth and Sophistry according to Socrates
3. Understand the nature of Socratic ethics and the nature of flourishing