The module focuses on Aristotle's philosophy of mind and moral psychology. After a brief introduction in the first week to the central tenets of his metaphysics and epistemology, the module will cover topics including Aristotle's views human nature and human flourishing, the kinds of cognitive capacities attributable to humans and non-human animals, the emotions, virtue ethics, the doctrine of the mean and learning to be good, weakness of the will, and vice. The central primary text will be the Nicomachean Ethics, although other texts will be consulted, notably de Anima. It is intended that students will learn to read passages from Aristotle’s works in ethics and psychology. They will develop the ability to evaluate the arguments proposed in the sources and to propose and assess different possible interpretations. They will be encouraged to reflect critically on the significance of the material. A sample syllabi, with the relevant primary texts, is as follows (selected secondary reading is also assigned each week):

Week 1

Introduction & metaphysics – overview of life and works, relation to Plato – and Aristotle’s metaphysics: hylomorphism, substance, the four causes, body and soul

Primary Text: Metaphysics, VII.1-4, 6, 10-11, 13, 15, 17; Physics II.1-9; III.1-3, VIII.6; de Anima, book 1.1, 1.4

Week 2

The soul & cognition

Primary Text: de Anima, books I-III, and (optional) de Motu Animalium, 6-11

Week 3

Phantasia & emotion

Primary Text: Rhetoric book II.1-10; de Anima, book III.3

Week 4

Understanding the ‘doctrine’ of the mean

Primary Text: Nicomachean Ethics, books II-III (especially II.1-9, III.5-12)

Week 5

The mean ‘relative to us’

Primary Text: Nicomachean Ethics, books II-III (especially II.1-9, III.5-12)

Week 6

The structure of habituation 

Primary Text: Nicomachean Ethics, I.13, II.1-4

Week 7

Habituation & action

Primary Text: (the same as for week 6) Nicomachean Ethics, I.13, II.1-4

Week 8

Virtue and Akrasia (weakness of the will)

Primary Text: Nicomachean Ethics, Nicomachean Ethics, VII.1-10

Week 9

Vice and moral conflict

Primary Text: Nicomachean Ethics, III. 2-5, 10-12, VII.7-8 (already read in week 8), IX.4

Week 10

Vice as a unified psychological state

Primary Text: (mostly the same as for week 9) Nicomachean Ethics, III. 2-5, 10-2, VII.7-8, IX.4

Philosophy Area C