How Do You Survive An Ancient Philosophy Class?
Ancient philosophy can be either fascinating or mind-numbingly difficult, depending on what you’re expecting. If this is your first philosophy class, you may find yourself drowning in deep, confusing waters. Here are some survival tips for those who don’t seem to know what’s going on. Remember that there are two barriers to understanding ancient philosophy. The first is a large historical gap, more than 2000 years difference. The second is cultural. Greek and Roman philosophy was developed centuries before anything like a modern, scientific, or even Christian world view. If it all seems like a strange and alien way of thinking, it is! Plato and Aristotle are the keys to ancient philosophy. You’ll not only spend the most time reading them, but you can also create a mental map of the class material by comparing and contrasting the other material you read to these two men. Spend time getting a handle on them first before tackling more minor figures. If you’re having trouble figuring out P
