Classical Studies V

The online course, designed for high school students aged 16-18, delves into the philosophical ideas of ancient Greece and Rome, spanning a full academic year worth 1.0 credit. Prerequisites include a strong reading ability and completion of Material Logic. Students will explore the histories and literature of these ancient civilizations, beginning with the pre-Socratic philosophers and their search for the cosmos' first cause. The course then focuses on the works of Plato and Aristotle before covering Christian philosophical thought through Boethius' "The Consolation of Philosophy" and culminating in St. Thomas Aquinas' writings in epistemology, metaphysics, ethics, and anthropology.

Key texts include "A History of Philosophy, Volume I: Greece and Rome" by Frederick Copleston, S.J., "The Last Days of Socrates" by Plato, "The Nature of the Gods" by Cicero, "A Consolation of Philosophy" by Boethius, and "A Shorter Summa" by Peter Kreeft, along with the beta version of Memoria Press' Classical Metaphysics Student Study Guide and Teacher Guide. Students will also require a USB headset microphone for class participation. The course focuses on History, while also drawing from English, Religious Studies, and Other, as it covers philosophical texts and theories.