PHV427 Ancient Cosmology and Cosmonogy: Selected Chapters

Faculty of Arts
Autumn 2023
Extent and Intensity
2/0/0. 3 credit(s). Type of Completion: k (colloquium).
Taught in person.
Teacher(s)
PhDr. Josef Petrželka, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Guaranteed by
PhDr. Josef Petrželka, Ph.D.
Department of Philosophy – Faculty of Arts
Supplier department: Department of Philosophy – Faculty of Arts
Timetable
Wed 10:00–11:40 A11, except Wed 15. 11.
Prerequisites (in Czech)
! PH0216 Cosmology and Pre-Socratics
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is only offered to the students of the study fields the course is directly associated with.
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
there are 23 fields of study the course is directly associated with, display
Course objectives
The course introduces the oldest ancient conceptions of the cosmos (and its genesis).
It shows the progress in ancient understanding of the cosmos as whole.
It draws attention to some inspiring analogies between ancient and contemporary approach to cosmology.
Learning outcomes
After the completion of the course, students should be able to:
- describe selected ancient conception of the cosmos;
- characterize the ancient approach to cosmology;
- describe progress in ancient conceptions of cosmos;
- list some analogies between steps of ancient and modern cosmologies.
Syllabus
  • 1. The question of sources.
  • 2. Mythological cosmogonies.
  • 3. Cosmological ideas of Milesians.
  • 4. Pythagorean ideas about the Universe (the Cosmos).
  • 5. Heraclitus.
  • 6. The Eleatics.
  • 7. Posteleatics cosmologies.
  • a) Anaxagoras. b) Empedocles. c) Atomists.
  • 8. Plato.
  • 9. Aristotle.
Literature
    recommended literature
  • Zlomky předsokratovských myslitelů. Translated by Karel Svoboda. Vyd. 2. Praha: Nakladatelství Československé akademie věd, 1962, 200 s. URL info
  • PLATÓN. Timaios ;Kritias. 3. opr. vyd. Praha: Oikoymenh, 2008, 127 s. ISBN 80-86005-07-0. info
  • ARISTOTELÉS. O nebi ; O vzniku a zániku. Edited by Aristotelés. 1. vyd. Bratislava: Pravda, 1985, 275 s. info
  • ARISTOTELÉS. Metafysika. Translated by Antonín Kříž. Vyd. 1. V Praze: Jan Laichter, 1946, 498 s. URL info
  • KIRK, Geoffrey S. and John, E. RAVEN. Předsókratovští filozofové: Kritické dějiny s vybranými texty. 1st ed. Praha: OIKOYMENH, 1994. Dějiny filozofie, sv. 1. ISBN 80-7298-110-2. info
  • Diels, H., Kranz, W., Die Fragmente der Vorsokratiker, 6.vydání, Hildesheim 1985.
  • Mansfeld, J., Die Vorsokratiker I, II, Stuttgart 1989
Teaching methods
Lectures. On-line texts. Slides and quizzes in the ELF (https://elf.phil.muni.cz/23-24/ (the course will be available at the start of the semester).

Key for log in: kosmologie23
Assessment methods
Oral exam - discussion on cosmological and cosmogonical views of two selected ancient thinkers from this list:
1. Anaximandros
2. Anaximenes
3. Pythagoreans
4. Heraclitus
5. The Eleatics
6. Empedocles
7. Anaxagoras
8. The atomists
9. Plato
10. Aristotle
You have to prepare a written aid, which should help you in the colloquium.
You can replace the preparation of one topic with a registered activity in classes.
Further, it is necessary to pass all the tests in the ELF! (Just for your self-control, the results of the tests will not be relevant in the colloquium.)
Language of instruction
Czech
Further comments (probably available only in Czech)
Study Materials
The course is taught once in three years.
Information on the extent and intensity of the course: kombinovaná forma: 16 hodin/semestr.
Teacher's information
http://www.phil.muni.cz/fil/antika/kosmologie/
The course is also listed under the following terms Autumn 2020.
  • Enrolment Statistics (recent)
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