Course Schedule – Fall 2023 / Old Courses / SOCRATES AND THE PROBLEM OF PHILOSOPHY

Coordinators: Sandy Kessler, Steve Allen

What role should philosophy play in our public and private lives? In our class, we will consider this question by examining the character and ideas of Socrates as they appear in the writings of Plato, Aristophanes, Nietzsche and contemporary authors.

Issues we will discuss include whether philosophy is necessary for a good life, whether there is an inherent conflict between philosophy and religion, whether philosophy undermines or strengthens the moral foundations of society and, finally, whether philosophy can, in fact, help us understand the nature of reality.

B WEEK / WEDNESDAY / 10:30 AM – 12:00 PM

Other Classes:

• THEATER TALKBACK
• SOCIAL EVENTS
• FOOD: BEYOND JUST CALORIES
• INVISIBLE MAN BY RALPH ELLISON
• ELIZABETH GASKELL
• WEEK IN PARIS
• CREATIVE WORKSHOP
• EMILY DICKINSON CIRCLE
• SYMPOSIUM
• RUSSIAN GEOGRAPHY
• CONTEMPORARY BRITISH CULTURE
• AUSTRALIA – THE LAND DOWN UNDER
• HUCKLEBERRY FINN
• AGING
• FASCINATING ISLANDS
• BLACK WOMEN’S VOICES
• THE NOBEL PRIZES
• READING EDITH WHARTON
• WOMEN IN GREEK DRAMA
• THE NEAR EAST
• HISTORY OF GERMANY
• A PASSAGE TO INDIA
• INDIE FILMS
• SLAVERY’S ROLE IN U.S. CAPITALISTIST DEVELOPMENT
• RISE AND FALL OF THE BRITISH EMPIRE
• READING THE RABBIS
• RACE RELATIONS IN AMERICAN POLITICAL THOUGHT
• MYTHOLOGY
• LITERARY HEROINES
• HOWARDS END
• HOUSE OF MIRTH
• FABULOUS FIFTIES
• READING BLACK LIVES
• BORDERS AND BOUNDARIES
• MOZART’S WOMEN
• ANTISEMITISM: PAST, PRESENT, FACTS, MYTHS
• AFRICAN CONTINENT
• PRESENTER’S SHOWCASE
• INVENTIONS THAT CHANGED THE WORLD
• ACTING CLASS
• LAW & ORDER
• POINT OF VIEW
• MODERN OPERA
• MOVERS & SHAKERS
• GREAT CONVERSATIONS
• ORAL INTERPRETATION OF POETRY

• Go to Courses Page