This required course introduces ancient philosophy through topics ranging from nature, art, poetry, and politics to love, death, ethics and metaphysics. Students should expect to engage with questions such as: what constitutes a good life? What happens when we die? Are gods human inventions? Is there a difference between lovers and friends? And what about the pursuit of truth? Does philosophy involve falling in love with so-called reality or remaining its more neutral voyeur? Readings will be selected from the fragments and texts of various ancient thinkers, including Sappho, Heraclitus, Parmenides, Plato, Aristotle, Lucretius, Marcus Aurelius and others.

This required course is an introduction to the major themes and important texts of ancient philosophy, covering such philosophers as Heraclitus, Parmenides, Plato, and Aristotle.