Reason and Persuasion: Thinking Through Three Dialogues By Plato
- 4.5
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Approx. 33 hours to complete
Course Summary
Explore the philosophy of Plato through his dialogues in this course. Learn about his ideas on justice, virtue, and the ideal society.Key Learning Points
- Learn about Plato's philosophy through his dialogues
- Understand key concepts such as justice and virtue
- Explore the idea of the ideal society
Related Topics for further study
Learning Outcomes
- Understand Plato's philosophy
- Analyze dialogues for key themes and concepts
- Apply Plato's ideas to contemporary issues
Prerequisites or good to have knowledge before taking this course
- Basic knowledge of philosophy
- Interest in ancient Greek thinkers
Course Difficulty Level
IntermediateCourse Format
- Online
- Self-paced
- Video lectures
Similar Courses
- Aristotle's Ethics
- Philosophy of Mind
Related Education Paths
Notable People in This Field
- Plato Society of America
- The Philosophy Foundation
Related Books
Description
In this course we study the ancient, Socratic art of blowing up your beliefs as you go, to make sure they're built to last. We spend six weeks studying three Platonic dialogues - "Euthyphro", "Meno", "Republic" Book I - then two weeks pondering a pair of footnotes to Plato: contemporary moral theory and moral psychology.
Outline
- Plato's Euthyphro I: Bad Dads, Good Arguments
- Lesson 1 Part 1: Euthyphro and the Bad Dad
- Lesson 1 Part 2: What's it all about?
- Lesson 1 Part 3: Plato, Socrates, Dialogues, Masks
- Lesson 1 Part 4: Symposium, Socrates, Satyr
- Lesson 1 Part 5: Contradiction
- Lesson 1 Part 6: Let's Have An Argument
- Lesson 1 Part 7: What's Socrates LIke?
- Lesson 1 - Readings, and Let's Meet Our Players!
- About The Quizzes (for Lesson 1 and the rest of the Plato weeks)
- 1.1 Euthyphro and the Bad Dad
- 1.2 What's It All About?
- 1.3 Plato, Socrates, Dialogues, Masks
- 1.4 Symposium, Socrates, Satyr
- 1.5 Contradiction
- 1.6 Let's Have An Argument!
- 1.7 What's Socrates Like?
- Euthyphro Quiz 1
- Euthyphro Quiz 2
- Plato's Euthyphro II: Two Problems
- Lesson 2 Part 1: Agony Aunts
- Lesson 2 Part 2: Mystery Machines
- Lesson 2 Part 3: Meeting Euthyphro
- Lesson 2 Part 4: Thinking Straight, Thinking in Circles
- Lesson 2 Part 5: Mantis & Mess
- Lesson 2 Part 6: What Is Holiness?
- Lesson 2 Part 7: What Is Holiness? Continued?
- Lesson 2 Part 8: Divine Service Industry
- Lesson 2 Readings - and More Thoughts About Personalities
- 2.1 Agony Aunts
- 2.2 Mystery Machines
- 2.3 Meeting Euthyphro
- 2.4 Thinking Straight, Thinking In Circles
- 2.5 Mantis and Mess
- 2.6 What Is Holiness?
- 2.7 What is Holiness, Continued
- 2.8 Divine Service Industry
- Euthyphro Quiz 3
- Euthyphro Quiz 4
- Plato’s Meno: What is Virtue?
- Lesson 3 Part 1: Self-Help
- Lesson 3 Part 2: What's Wrong With Euthyphro?
- Lesson 3 Part 3: Virtue, Geometry, Virtue (Persephone, Pain & Gain)
- Lesson 3 Part 4: Does Anyone Know What Virtue Is?
- Lesson 3 Part 5: What Is Virtue?
- Lesson 3 Part 6: The Socratic Fallacy?
- Lesson 3 Part 7: Science? & Does Anyone Want What Is Bad?
- Lesson 3 Readings; and Let's Meet Our Players!
- 3.1 Self-Help
- 3.2 What's Wrong with Euthyphro?
- 3.3 Virtue, Geometry, Virtue (Persephone, Pain & Gain)
- 3.4 Does Anyone Know What Virtue Is?
- 3.5 What Is Virtue?
- 3.6 The Socratic Fallacy?
- 3.7 Science? & Does Anyone Want What Is Bad?
- Meno Quiz 1
- Meno Quiz 2
- Plato's Meno: Virtue - Geometry - Virtue.
- Lesson 4 Part 1: Is Ethics LIke Math?
- Lesson 4 Part 2: Ethics, Math, Certainty & Surprise
- Lesson 4 Part 3: How Useful Is The Socratic Method?
- Lesson 4 Part 4: The Geometry Lesson
- Lesson 4 Part 5: How To Teach Math
- Lesson 4 Part 6: Virtue As Mindfulness?
- Lesson 4 Part 7: Formulas For Success?
- Lesson 4 Readings, and Further Thoughts On Personalities
- 4.1 Is Ethics Like Math?
- 4.2 Ethics, Math, Certainty and Surprise
- 4.3 How Useful Is The Socratic Method?
- 4.4 The Geometry Lesson
- 4.5 How To Teach Math
- 4.6 Virtue As Mindfulness?
- 4.7 Formulas For Success?
- Meno Quiz 3
- Meno Quiz 4
- Plato's Republic, Book I: Again, With Fathers and Sons
- Lesson 5 Part 1: Money, What Is It Good For?
- Lesson 5 Part 2: Plato's Republic
- Lesson 5 Part 3: Going Down To Piraeus
- Lesson 5 Part 4: Cephalus
- Lesson 5 Part 5: Polemarchus 1
- Lesson 5 Part 6: Polemarchus 2
- Lesson 5 Part 7: Putting the Pieces Together
- Lesson 5 - Readings; and Let's Meet Our First Two Players!
- 5.1 Money, What Is It Good For?
- 5.2 Plato's Republic
- 5.3 Going Down to Piraeus
- 5.4 Cephalus
- 5.5 Polemarchus I
- 5.6 Polemarchus 2
- 5.7 Putting the Pieces Together
- Republic Quiz 1
- Republic Quiz 2
- Plato's Republic, Book I: Thrasymachus.
- Lesson 6 Part 1: Practicing Justice
- Lesson 6 Part 2: Preaching Injustice
- Lesson 6 Part 3: Practicing Justice 2
- Lesson 6 Part 4: The Game of Wrong
- Lesson 6 Part 5: The Ring of Gyges
- Lesson 6 Part 6: Man and Beast
- Lesson 6 Part 7: Medical Improvement
- Lesson 6 Part 8: Justice, Inside & Out
- Lesson 6 Part 9: The Sociological Imagination
- Lesson 6 - Readings; and, Finally, We Get To The Main Event!
- 6.1 Practicing Justice
- 6.2 Preaching Injustice
- 6.3 Practicing Justice 2
- 6.4 The Game of Wrong
- 6.5 The Ring of Gyges
- 6.6 Man And Beast
- 6.7 Medical Improvement
- 6.8 Justice, Inside & Out
- 6.9 The Sociological Imagination
- Republic Quiz 3
- Republic Quiz 4
- Moral Psychology
- Lesson 7 Part 1: Why Read Ancient Philosophy?
- Lesson 7 Part 2: Emotional Dogs, Rational Tails
- Lesson 7 Part 3: Many Masters, One Slave?
- Lesson 7 Part 4: Can 'Ick' Imply Ought?
- Lesson 7 Part 5: Systems & Platforms
- Lesson 7 Part 6: Snakes On A Brain
- Lesson 7 Part 7: Tree Falls
- Lesson 7 Part 8: The Epimethean Script?
- Lesson 7 Readings
- 7.1 Why Read Ancient Philosophy?
- 7.2 Emotional Dogs, Rational Tails
- 7.3 Many Masters, One Slave?
- 7.4 Can 'Ick' Imply Ought?
- 7.5 Systems and Platforms
- 7.6 Snakes On A Brain!
- 7.7 Tree Falls
- 7.8 The Epimethean Script
- Ethics and Ethnos
- Lesson 8 Part 1: How To Read Ancient Philosophy
- Lesson 8 Part 2: The Myth Of Glaucus
- Lesson 8 Part 3: It's...Complicated
- Lesson 8 Part 4: From Glaucus To Glaucon
- Lesson 8 Part 5: Being An Animal
- Lesson 8 Part 6: Moral Tribes 1, As Moral Hazards
- Lesson 8 Part 7: Moral Tribes 2, Currency Exchanges
- Lesson 8 Part 8: Explaining Away
- Lesson 8 Part 9: Truths & Trolleys
- Lesson 8 Part 10: Reforming Our Systems
- 8.1 How to Read Ancient Philosophy
- 8.2 The Myth of Glaucus
- 8.3 It's ... Complicated!
- 8.4 Glaucus to Glaucon
- 8.5 Being An Animal
- 8.6 Moral Tribes 1, New Pastures As Moral Hazards
- 8.7 Moral Tribes 2, Common Currency
- 8.8 Explaining Away
- 8.9 Truths and Trolleys
- 8.10 Reforming Our Systems
- Lesson 8 Readings
Summary of User Reviews
Discover the philosophy of Plato through his famous dialogues in this comprehensive course on Coursera. Students have praised the course for its engaging and accessible approach to the subject matter. One key aspect that many users thought was good is the professor's ability to make the material interesting and relevant to modern life.Pros from User Reviews
- Engaging and accessible approach to the subject matter
- Professor's ability to make the material interesting and relevant to modern life
- In-depth analysis of Plato's dialogues
- Clear and concise explanations of complex concepts
- Interactive quizzes and discussions
Cons from User Reviews
- Lack of diversity in perspectives presented
- Limited focus on other philosophers and philosophical schools
- Some technical issues with the online platform
- No opportunity for personalized feedback from the professor
- Course may be too advanced for beginners in philosophy
John Holbo, Associate Professor
4.5 Raiting
Reason and Persuasion: Thinking Through Three Dialogues By Plato
- 4.5
-
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In this course we study the ancient, Socratic art of blowing up your beliefs as you go, to make sure they're built to last....
