Tuesdays, 9am–11am, Radcliffe Humanities (Ryle Room)
Convened by Prof Alex Bown and Prof Simon Shogry
Meno’s Paradox is a puzzle about the possibility of inquiry: either we know what we’re inquiring into, making further inquiry pointless, or we do not, in which case it is impossible to recognise the target of our inquiry once it is found.
In this seminar, addressed to students in the MSt in Ancient Philosophy and BPhil students interested in ancient philosophy, we will investigate Meno’s Paradox, Plato’s solution(s) to it, as well as later responses from the Hellenistic philosophers (Epicureans, Stoics, and Pyrrhonian Sceptics).
We will also devote time to discussing general methodological questions arising from the study of the history of philosophy and consider various approaches to writing a successful essay in ancient philosophy.
Student presentations are strongly encouraged. A provisional schedule is below. The first week’s readings will be available on Canvas.
Week 1 - Welcome & Methodology
Menn, “The historical history of philosophy: a discussion with Michael Frede”.
“How to Write Papers in Ancient Philosophy” (advice document)
Week 2 - Socratic Definition and Knowledge
Plato, Euthyphro (all)
Plato, Meno (up to 80d)
Geach, “Plato’s Euthyphro: An Analysis and Commentary”
Week 3 - Meno’s Paradox & Recollection
Plato, Meno (80d-86c, 96d-end)
Fine, “Inquiry in the Meno”
Schwab, “Explanation in the Epistemology of the Meno”
Schwab and Bronstein, “Is Plato an Innatist in the Meno?”
Week 4 - Introduction to Epicurean Epistemology
Long and Sedley, Hellenistic Philosophers, chapters 14-18 (including commentary)
Asmis, “Epicurean Epistemology” (focus on “Canonic”, “Perception”, and “Belief”)
Week 5 - Preconceptions, Inquiry, and Definition in Epicureanism
Long and Sedley, Hellenistic Philosophers, chapters 19, 23 (including commentary)
Asmis, “Epicurean Epistemology” (focus on “Preconceptions”)
Fine, “Epicurean Inquiry”, in The Possibility of Inquiry
Week 6 - Introduction to Stoic Epistemology
Long and Sedley, Hellenistic Philosophers, chapters 39-41 (including commentary)
Frede, “Stoic Epistemology”
Week 7 - Preconceptions, Inquiry, and Definition in Stoicism
Crivelli, “Stoics on Definition” in Definition in Greek Philosophy
Fine, “Stoic Inquiry” in The Possibility of Inquiry
Week 8 - Sextus on Inquiry
Sextus Empiricus, Outlines of Pyrrhonism 1.1-34, 187-241
Fine, “Sceptical Inquiry 1” and “Sceptical Inquiry 2” in The Possibility of Inquiry
