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2. Course Overview
Comprehensive Description: Leveraging the prose of one of Antiquity’s most brilliant stylists, this course aims to refine students’ philological mastery while exploring complex theoretical questions. The seminar is conducted entirely in Ancient Greek (immersion method). Participants are expected to engage with the text beforehand to facilitate in-class discussions on interpretive guidelines and noteworthy passages. To ensure a nuanced understanding of Socratic thought, the instructor will introduce supplemental texts from Plato and contemporary authors, alongside targeted vocabulary exercises designed to internalize Attic forensic and philosophical terminology.
Course Units:
Unit I: The figure of Socrates and the Athenian judicial system (Excerpts from Diogenes Laertius).
Unit II: The exordium (prooimion) and proposition (prothesis) (17a1–19a7).
Unit III & IV: Refutation (lysis) of the "old accusers": Negative and positive components (19a8–24b2).
Unit V: Refutation (lysis) of the "new accusers" (24b3–28b2).
Unit VI & VII: The digressions (parekbaseis): Addressing objections (28b3–34b5).
Unit VIII: The peroration (epilogos) (34b6–35d8).
Unit IX & X: The second and third speeches: Verdict and final reflections (35e1–42a5).
3. Proficiency & Requirements
Language Level:
Framework Reference: Designed for students who have completed Athenaze Vol. II or possess an equivalent command of Attic prose.
General Description: Advanced level. Students must be capable of navigating complex syntactic structures, summarizing content, and maintaining a conversation in Ancient Greek within a fully immersive environment.
Estimated Self-Study Time:
Time Commitment: 3–4 hours per week.
Preparation Type: Critical reading of the assigned Greek text is mandatory prior to each session to ensure active participation in the seminar's dialectic.
4. Materials & Bibliography
Required Textbooks:
Primary Text: Platonis Opera, ed. J. Burnet, Vol. 1 (Oxford University Press).
Disclaimer: The acquisition of the physical or digital editions of the required textbooks is mandatory for course participation. Please ensure materials are secured prior to the first session.
Selected Further Reading:
T.C. Brickhouse & N.D. Smith, Plato’s Socrates (Oxford, 1994).
E. de Strycker & S.R. Slings, Plato’s Apology of Socrates: A Literary and Philosophical Study (Leiden, 1994).
G. Vlastos, Socrates, Ironist and Moral Philosopher (Cambridge, 1991).
5. ATTENDANCE, CERTIFICATION AND RECORDINGS
By enrolling, you agree to our standard academic regulations. These guidelines include the minimum attendance required to earn a Certificate of Completion, policies regarding lesson recording availability, mandatory parental consent for minors, and intellectual property protections. Please read our complete Attendance, Certifications, and Recordings Policy here for full details on attendance, certifications, session recordings, user privacy, intellectual property rights, and special learning accommodations.
