Kevin Stilley

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January 24, 2017 by kevinstilley

Aristotle [lecture slides]



































Filed Under: Blog, Education, History, Philosophy, Politics Tagged With: Ancient Western Civilization, Aristotle, Ethics, Philosophy, Plato, Politics

March 31, 2013 by kevinstilley

Plato – Lectures by Ronald Nash

Plato & Socrates – 15 minutes

The Forms of Plato – 44 minutes

Plato’s Dualism – 39 minutes

Plato’s Rationalism – 45 minutes

Appraisal of Plato’s Philosophy – 42 minutes

Filed Under: Blog, Epistemology, History, Philosophy, Politics Tagged With: dualism, Epistemology, Greek Philosophy, metaphysics, Plato, Rationalism

March 31, 2013 by kevinstilley

Early Western Philosophy – Lectures by Ronald Nash

Milesian Philosophers – 30 minutes

Heraclitus, Pythagoras, Parmenides – 41 minutes

Plato & Socrates – 15 minutes

Aristotle – 9 minutes

Hellenistic Philosophy – 16 minutes

Stoicism – 38 minutes

Hedonism – 21 minutes

Filed Under: Blog, Epistemology, History, Philosophy Tagged With: Aristotle, Cynics, Greek Philosophy, Hedonism, Hellenistic Philosophy, Milesian, Parmenides, Plato, Pythagorus, Socrates, Stoicism, Thales

October 21, 2012 by kevinstilley

Research Assistance Request

On occasion I have seen the following quote attributed to Plato, but I think it is an error that may have begun with a mis-attribution in Elbert Hubbard’s Scrapbook (published in 1923) and which has been passed down through the generations :

“A bad man is wretched amidst every earthly advantage: a good man—troubled on every side, yet not distressed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed.”

I have read through the whole corpus of Plato’s dialogues without coming across anything similar. Further, an internet search turns up nothing of substance.

The quote is almost identical to what we find in Paul’s epistle to the Corinthians;

We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed— (2 Corinthians 4:8-9)

I suspect that Hubbard misunderstood a footnote in Ebenezer Cobham Brewer’s A Guide to Grecian History, Mythology and Literature which was published in 1859 (Period IV Appendix, Section 2.4, page 356). While trying to explain Plato’s moral philosophy Brewer conflated a description of Plato’s anthropology with a quote from Scripture.

I would be very appreciative if anyone can provide any related information.

Filed Under: Blog, Front Page, Quotes Tagged With: Apostle Paul, Elbert Hubbard, Plato, quotations, Quotes

October 4, 2012 by kevinstilley

Plato – select quotes

A woman is only a lesser man.
~ Plato, in The Republic, bk. 5, 455e

Access to power must be confined to those who are not in love with it.

Any city, however small, is in fact divided into two, one city of the poor, the other of the rich; they are at war with one another, and in either they are many smaller divisions, and you would be altogether beside the mark if you treat them as a single state.
~ Plato, in The Republic, Bk. 4, 423.

Every man has had kings and slaves, barbarians and Greeks, among his ancestors.
~ Plato, in Theaetetus, 155

False words are not only evil in themselves, but they infect the soul with evil.

I think that the pleasure is to be deemed natural which arises out of the intercourse between men and women; but that the intercourse of men with men, or of women with women, is contrary to nature, and that the bold attempt was originally due to unbridled lust.
~ Plato, in The Laws, Bk. 1, 636

Mankind censure injustice fearing that they may be the victim of it, and not because they shrink from committing it.
~ Socrates, in Plato’s The Republic, Bk. 1, 334c.

Shall we carelessly allow children to hear any casual tales which may be devised by casual persons, and to receive into their minds ideas for the most part the very opposite of those which we shall wish them to have when they are grown up?
~ Socrates, in Plato’s Republic

The difficulty, my friends, is not to avoid death, but to avoid unrighteousness; for that runs faster than death.
~ Socrates, in Plato’s Apology

Knowledge without justice ought to be called cunning rather than wisdom.

Wise men speak because they have something to say; Fools because they have to say something.

__________

RELATED

  • Plato Lectures by Ronald Nash

All European philosophy is but a footnote to Plato.
~ Alfred North Whitehead

Filed Under: Blog, Philosophy, Politics, Quotes Tagged With: Ethics, law, Philosophy, Plato, Political Science, quotations, Quotes

July 5, 2012 by kevinstilley

Textbooks for Fall 2012

Students in my classes at Southwestern, here are the textbooks that we will be using this semester. Please use the isbn to get the exact edition. It might cost you a few extra $ to get the edition specified but it will make your study and our discussion much easier.

Early Western Civilization – HIS 1103

  • THE HISTORY OF THE ANCIENT WORLD: FROM THE EARLIEST ACCOUNTS TO THE FALL OF ROME, by Susan Wise Bauer – isbn. 039305974X
  • HISTORIANS’ FALLACIES : TOWARD A LOGIC OF HISTORICAL THOUGHT, by David Hackett Fischer – isbn. 0060904984
  • MYTHOLOGY, by Hamilton – isbn. 0316341517

Early Western Civilization Seminar – IDE 1103

  • NICHOMACHEAN ETHICS, by Aristotle – isbn. 0911589031 (unavailable most places, will probably need to purchase through the campus bookstore, or it is possible the edition may change)
  • METAPHYSICS, by Aristotle – isbn. 0140446192
  • THE ART OF RHETORIC, by Aristotle – isbn. 0140445102
  • POETICS, by Aristotle – isbn. 0140446362
  • REPUBLIC, by Plato – isbn. 0872201368
  • TIMAEUS AND CRITIAS, by Plato – isbn. 0140455043
  • GREEK TRAGEDIES, VOLUME 1, by Grene & Lattimore – isbn. 0226307905
  • A STUDENT’S GUIDE TO LIBERAL LEARNING, by Schall – isbn. 1882926536
  • HANDBOOK FOR WRITERS, by Troyka – isbn. 0136028608

Filed Under: Blog, Books, History, Philosophy Tagged With: Aristotle, classic, Great Books, Plato, SWBTS, western civilization

February 18, 2012 by kevinstilley

Happiness in Aristotle’s Ethics

Aristotle opens this work with the claim that “Every art and every inquiry, and similarly, every action and every intention is thought to aim at some good.”  Is he right? (page 1)

There are three major streams of inquiry in western philosophy; (1) metaphysics, (2) epistemology, (3) axiology.   What questions/answers do these streams represent?  Which of these is illustrated in Aristotle’s Ethics? (page 1)

When Aristotle speaks of virtue, to what is he referring?

What, according to Aristotle, is “the good”? (page 1)  How does his terminology relate to that of Plato?  (pages 5-6) Do they both have the same definition of “The Good”?

Why does Aristotle say that a young man is not a proper student of politics?  (page 3)  Do you agree with Aristotle?

What does Aristotle believe to be “the highest of all goods achievable by action”? (page 3)  How comfortable are you with this truth claim?

Describe Aristotle’s concept of “happiness.” (page 3, 8) Building on his definition of happiness he writes, “then the good for a man turns out to be an activity of the soul according to virtue, and if the virtues are many, then according to the best and most complete virtue.  And we should add ‘in a complete life’, for one swall does not make a spring, nor does one day; and so too one day or a short time does not make a man blessed or happy.”  What is his point(s)? (page 10)

We will be reading about Plato’s ethical system later in the course.  For now, it is sufficient to note that while “happiness” was at the center of Aristotle’s system of ethics, “justice” was at the center of Plato’s system of ethics (and, of course “The Good”).   Around what would you build your own system of ethics?

Aristotle describes “three kinds of life [people].”  What are they?  Can you describe them?  (pages 4-5) 

Why does the life of a money-maker not make a fourth category?  (page 5)

When describing his disagreement with the Platonists, Aristotle says that “it is sacred to honor truth above friendship.”  Have you ever been put in a position where you had to make this choice? How does this tension exist in the various elements of your life?  Family?  Academic?  Theology?

What does Aristotle mean when he says that man is by nature political?  (page 9)

Would Aristotle participate in a small-group ministry?

Aristotle notes three kinds of good?  What are they?  Which does he say is the most important?  (page 11)

Aristotle’s ethical sytem emphasizes action.   Why?  (page 12)  How does this compare and contrast with a New Testament ethic?

Aristotle puts forward the question as to “whether happiness is acquired by learning or by habit or by some other form of training, or wheter it comes to us by some divine providence or even by luck.”  Do theologians agree on the answer to this question?  What do you think?

Why do you have to wait till the end of a man’s life to determine whether or not he is happy?  Who is the Solon that Aristotle is referring to? (page 14)  Do we then base happiness on a man’s fortunes?  (page 15)  Would Aristotle approve of the premises behind the Sermon on the Mount?

When comparing justice and happiness, which does Aristotle say is more praised and which is more godlike or better? 

What does Aristotle believe about the relationship between religion and politics?  (page 18)

Filed Under: Blog, Books, History, Philosophy Tagged With: Aristotle, Blessed, happiness, Plato, Politics, virtue

February 17, 2011 by kevinstilley

Revised Schedule – Early Western Civilization Seminars

Students, below you will find a revised reading/discussion schedule that takes into consideration the days we were closed for inclement weather.

* * * * * * * * * *
Tentative Schedule  (revised 2/17/2011)

IDE 1103-B IDE 1103-A Topic Assignment Due Today
January 13 January 14 Introduction to Course Please print out and bring your syllabus to this class session.
January 18 January 19 Discussion of Reading Read: A Students Guide To Liberal Learning

 

Turn In: Reading Report

January 20 January 21 Discussion of Poetics – Language for discussing literature. Read: Poetics  (It is not necessary to read the Introduction, but it might be helpful to do so if you can find the time.)

 

Turn In: Reading Report

January 25 January 26 Discussion of Agamemnon Read: Agamemnon

 

Turn In: Reading Report

 

January 27 January 28 Discussion of Prometheus Bound Read: Prometheus Bound

 

Turn In: Reading Report

 

February 1 February 2 Campus Closed – Weather Campus Closed – Weather
February 3 February 4 Campus Closed – Weather Campus Closed – Weather
February 8 February 11 Discussion of Oedipus the King Read: Oedipus the King

 

Turn In: Reading Report

 

  February 9 Campus Closed – Weather Campus Closed Weather
February 10 February 16 Discussion of Antigone Read: Antigone

 

Turn In: Reading Report

 

February 15 February 18 Happiness Read: Ethics, Book A

 

Turn In: Reading Report

 

February 17 February 23 Virtue Read: Ethics, Books Beta, Gamma, Delta, Epsilon, Zeta & Eta

 

Turn In: Reading Report

 

February 22   Friendship Read: Ethics, Books Theta & Iota

 

Turn In: Reading Report

February 24   Pleasure Read: Ethics, Book Kappa

 

Turn In: Reading Report

 

 

  February 25 Friendship & Pleasure Read: Ethics, Books Theta & Iota

 

Turn In: Reading Report

Read: Ethics, Book Kappa

 

Turn In: Reading Report

 

March 1 March 2 Discussion of Republic, books 1-3 Read: Republic, books 1-3

 

Turn In: Reading Report

 

March 3 March 4 Discussion of Republic, books 4-6 Read: Republic, books 4-6

 

Turn In: Reading Report

March 8 March 9 Discussion of Republic, books 7-8 Read: Republic, books 7-8

 

Turn In: Reading Report

March 10 March 11 Discussion of Republic, books 9-10 Read: Republic, books 9-10

 

Turn In: Reading Report

March 14-18 March 14-18 Spring Break Spring Break
March 22 March 23 Discussion of Timaeus Read: Timaeus
March 24 March 25 The instructor will be lecturing on Metaphysics Books Alpha & Beta. You will be reading these sections as preparation for the presentations you will be giving, but no Reading Reports are required.  Please bring your book to class.

Turn In: Essay, Research Paper or Dialogue

March 29 March 30 Meet in groups to prepare presentations. Meet in groups to prepare presentations.
March 31 April 1 Group Projects

  • Group 1 – Gamma & Epsilon (with a nod to Delta)
  • Group 2 – Zeta, Eta, Theta
  • Group 2 – Iota, Lambda
Group Presentations (no reading reports required for this material)
April 5 April 6 The instructor will be lecturing on the whole of Aristotle’s Metaphysics. Read: Review any sections of the book that were unread. (no reading reports required for this material)

 

April 7 April 8 Discussion of Rhetoric, Sections 1 thru 4 Read: Rhetoric, Sections 1 thru 4

 

 

April 12 April 13 Discussion of Rhetoric, Sections 5 & 6 Read: Rhetoric, Sections 5 & 6

 

 

April 14 April 15 Discussion of Rhetoric Sections 7 & 8 Read: Rhetoric, Sections 7 & 8

 

Turn In: Reading Report

 

April 19 April 20 Discussion of Rhetoric, Sections 9 & 10 Read: Rhetoric, Sections 9 & 10

 

 

April 21 April 22 No Class No class
April 26 April 27 Review For Final Exam  Review For Final Exam 
May 4 – 8:00 May 4 – 10:00 Final Examination Final Examination In Class

Filed Under: Blog, Books, History, Philosophy Tagged With: Aristotle, classics, Greek Drama, Liberal Education, Plato, western civilization

January 19, 2011 by kevinstilley

Diairesis and Prohairesis

Plato's ManDiogenes Laertius has handed down to us some fascinating source material in his work Lives of Eminent Philosophers. The historical background he provides for Paul’s address on Mars Hill is extremely enlightening, and yet it seems to be completely ignored by most expositors of the book of Acts. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Blog, Philosophy Tagged With: Ancient Western Civ, Anthropology, Blog, critical thinking, decisions, definitions, Diogenes, logic, philosophers, Philosophy, Plato, taxonomy, VeggieTales

January 9, 2011 by kevinstilley

IDE1103 Final Exam Review

Below are a few of the items that you should be familiar with as you prepare to take your final exam for Early Western Civilization Seminary – IDE1103:

* * *

What are the three genres of rhetoric: exhortation and deterrence, legal(forensic), praise and blame

Did Aristotle believe that pleasure was the greatest good?

According to Aristotle what role does reciprocity play in friendship?

According to Aristotle, could you be friends with God?

What are Aristotle’s two kinds of virtues?  (intellectual, ethical)

What is Aristotle’s understanding of character development?

What role does excess and deficiency play in Aristotle’s view of virtue?

What are Aristotle’s three conditions that make a person’s actions those of a virtuous person?

What is a non-essential property?

What are Aristotle’s Four Causes?

Possible Matching:

  • Substance
  • Prime Mover
  • Tragedy
  • Comedy
  • Epic
  • Ethos
  • Pathos
  • Logos

Filed Under: Blog, Philosophy Tagged With: Aristotle, Ethics, metaphysics, Plato, poetics, rhetoric

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