THE
DEAD PHILOSOPHERS'
SOCIETY
Winter Term 2002

PHILOSOPHY THROUGH THE AGES

Welcome, or welcome back, to Aiglon College's Philosophy Option!

If you wish to refer to any previous terms' readings, you can find them by clicking HERE for the autumn 2000 sessions, HERE for winter 2001, HERE for summer 2001 and HERE for autumn 2001 (last autumn).
THIS term we will do something slightly different from usual. The option is aimed principally at the L6th, who take it as a General Studies option, but I hope it will still be of interest to all of you.

We will take a tour through the history of philosophical thought, dwelling on those questions which remain unanswered. During our trip, we will pass from the ancient Greeks, via India, through the great philosophers of Europe right up to the present day. Some of the topics will need quite a lot of presentation from me or Mr Lawson - others will involve just a little. This will be especially useful for those taking A level or AS level philosophy, all of whom are invited whether or not you signed up for the option.

We begin, instead of with the usual lecture by me on the great philosophical questions (which many of you know by heart), with... um... a lecture by me on the very origins of philosophy in the West. There will be lots of time for questions and discussion, but please don't be put off - I put a lot of time into making the powerpoint presentation!

I look forward to seeing you all on Tuesday.

WEEK 1 - HOMER AND THE PRESOCRATICS

WEEK 2 - SPARTANS AND HEDONISTS

WEEK 3 - PLATO AND ARISTOTLE

WEEK 4 - CHRISTIANITY AND GNOSTICISM

WEEK 5 - PLOTINUS

WEEK 6 - DESCARTES AND CERTAINTY

WEEK 7 - FROM BUDDHISM TO BERKELEY

WEEK 8 - SEVEN POINTS OF VIEW

List of contributors :

Guy Padfield
Alan Lawson
CONTACT THE DEAD PHILOSOPHERS' SOCIETY

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