PLATO AND NIETZSCHE: JUSTICE AND REBELLION
PHI3PNJ
2019
Credit points: 15
Subject outline
It has been said that all western philosophy is a footnote to Plato. In his masterpiece, The Republic, Plato addresses some of the most fundamental questions of human existence: what is it to be? What is the place of human beings in the world? What does it mean to know? What is the nature of reality? Surprisingly, Plato's strategy is to invite us to participate, along with his teacher Socrates, in a thought experiment aimed at designing a just society. In the process of asking what justice is we discover answers to the meaning and conditions of our being in the cosmos. In this subject we will first trace Plato's philosophical journey and then consider Nietzsche's radical challenge to the Platonic tradition through and exploration of his ideal of the life affirming reevaluation of all values in Thus Spoke Zarathustra.
School: School of Humanities & Social Sciences
Credit points: 15
Subject Co-ordinator: George Vassilacopoulos
Available to Study Abroad Students: Yes
Subject year level: Year Level 3 - UG
Exchange Students: Yes
Subject particulars
Subject rules
Prerequisites: nil
Co-requisites: N/A
Incompatible subjects: PHI2PAM, PHI3PAM
Equivalent subjects: N/A
Special conditions: N/A
Learning resources
Readings
| Resource Type | Title | Resource Requirement | Author and Year | Publisher |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Readings | The Republic | Prescribed | Plato | Penguin |
| Readings | Thus Spoke Zarathustra (Parts 1 & 2 ) | Prescribed | Nietzsche | Penguin |
Graduate capabilities & intended learning outcomes
01. Interpret and critically compare Plato and Nietzsche's claims about justice, truth or living affirmatively.
- Activities:
- Identify and make a note of one idea or claim in the set texts that you believe reveals the authors' view on the question, use your notes to contriute to on-line forum discussions.
- Related graduate capabilities and elements:
- Literacies and Communication Skills(Writing,Cultural Literacy)
- Literacies and Communication Skills(Writing,Cultural Literacy)
- Inquiry and Analytical Skills(Critical Thinking,Creative Problem-solving,Inquiry/Research)
- Personal and Professional Skills(Autonomy and independence,Ethical behaviour,Adaptability Skills,Study and Learning Skills)
- Discipline -Specific Knowledge and Skills(Discipline-Specific Knowledge and Skills)
02. Locate, review and evaluate an idea or line of argument from Plato or Nietzsche's intellectual and cultural contexts and demonstrate your understanding of its relevance today.
- Activities:
- Choose one of the discussion questions from LMS subject resources, think about the question, re-read the relevant set text, conduct a library/internet search and write your own response.
- Related graduate capabilities and elements:
- Literacies and Communication Skills(Writing,Cultural Literacy)
- Literacies and Communication Skills(Writing,Cultural Literacy)
- Inquiry and Analytical Skills(Critical Thinking,Creative Problem-solving,Inquiry/Research)
- Inquiry and Analytical Skills(Critical Thinking,Creative Problem-solving,Inquiry/Research)
- Inquiry and Analytical Skills(Critical Thinking,Creative Problem-solving,Inquiry/Research)
- Personal and Professional Skills(Autonomy and independence,Ethical behaviour,Adaptability Skills,Study and Learning Skills)
- Personal and Professional Skills(Autonomy and independence,Ethical behaviour,Adaptability Skills,Study and Learning Skills)
- Discipline -Specific Knowledge and Skills(Discipline-Specific Knowledge and Skills)
03. Outline and critically assess one of Plato or Nietzsche's claims about justice, truth, or ideal humanity.
- Activities:
- After reading the assigned passage, identify the main argument and set out its premises and conclusion in standard form. Then make a note of the weaknesses in the premises or their connections.
- Related graduate capabilities and elements:
- Literacies and Communication Skills(Writing,Cultural Literacy)
- Literacies and Communication Skills(Writing,Cultural Literacy)
- Inquiry and Analytical Skills(Critical Thinking,Creative Problem-solving,Inquiry/Research)
- Inquiry and Analytical Skills(Critical Thinking,Creative Problem-solving,Inquiry/Research)
- Inquiry and Analytical Skills(Critical Thinking,Creative Problem-solving,Inquiry/Research)
- Personal and Professional Skills(Autonomy and independence,Ethical behaviour,Adaptability Skills,Study and Learning Skills)
- Personal and Professional Skills(Autonomy and independence,Ethical behaviour,Adaptability Skills,Study and Learning Skills)
- Personal and Professional Skills(Autonomy and independence,Ethical behaviour,Adaptability Skills,Study and Learning Skills)
- Personal and Professional Skills(Autonomy and independence,Ethical behaviour,Adaptability Skills,Study and Learning Skills)
- Discipline -Specific Knowledge and Skills(Discipline-Specific Knowledge and Skills)
Melbourne, 2019, Semester 1, Blended
Overview
Online enrolment: Yes
Maximum enrolment size: N/A
Enrolment information:
Subject Instance Co-ordinator: George Vassilacopoulos
Class requirements
Lecture/SeminarWeek: 10 - 22
One 2.0 hours lecture/seminar per week on weekdays during the day from week 10 to week 22 and delivered via blended.
Unscheduled Online ClassWeek: 10 - 22
One 2.0 hours unscheduled online class per week from week 10 to week 22 and delivered via online.
Assessments
| Assessment element | Comments | % | ILO* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Task 1 Blog posts and replies to other students or on-line journal (1600 words) | 40 | 01, 02, 03 | |
| Task 2: Staged research essay stage one: annotated bibliography and proposal (800 words) | 20 | 01, 02, 03 | |
| Task 2 Staged research essay stage two: Essay (1600) | 40 | 01, 02, 03 |