PY4679 Plato’s Dialogues

Academic year

2025 to 2026 Semester 2

Further information on which modules are specific to your programme.

Key module information

SCOTCAT credits

30

The Scottish Credit Accumulation and Transfer (SCOTCAT) system allows credits gained in Scotland to be transferred between institutions. The number of credits associated with a module gives an indication of the amount of learning effort required by the learner. European Credit Transfer System (ECTS) credits are half the value of SCOTCAT credits.

SCQF level

SCQF level 10

The Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF) provides an indication of the complexity of award qualifications and associated learning and operates on an ascending numeric scale from Levels 1-12 with SCQF Level 10 equating to a Scottish undergraduate Honours degree.

Planned timetable

TBC

This information is given as indicative. Timetable may change at short notice depending on room availability.

Module coordinator

Dr M R Hampson

Dr M R Hampson
This information is given as indicative. Staff involved in a module may change at short notice depending on availability and circumstances.

Module Staff

Dr Margaret Hampson, Dr Jason Carter

This information is given as indicative. Staff involved in a module may change at short notice depending on availability and circumstances.

Module description

To this day, all philosophic truth is Plato rightly divined; all philosophic error is Plato misunderstood” (James Ferrier, Professor Emeritus St Andrews). This module goes back to the source material – Plato’s dialogues. Plato’s dialogues are philosophical and literary masterpieces—covering topics from ethics, metaphysics, epistemology, moral psychology, philosophy of art, philosophy of language, political philosophy, and much more—deserving of our continued close attention. From year to year, this module will variously offer: a close reading of an individual dialogue, cover-to-cover (e.g. Theaetetus, Euthydemus); or a survey of several dialogues on a key theme in Platonic philosophy (e.g. Lysis, Symposium, Phaedrus on love and friendship; Protagoras and Laws on moral education). It may also incorporate the reception of Plato’s thought, comparative studies with other philosophical traditions and contemporary philosophical issues.

Relationship to other modules

Pre-requisites

BEFORE TAKING THIS MODULE YOU MUST PASS PY1012

Assessment pattern

Coursework - 100%

Re-assessment

Coursework = 100%

Learning and teaching methods and delivery

Weekly contact

1x2hr Lecture (x10 weeks), 1x1hr tutorial (x10 weeks)

Scheduled learning hours

30

The number of compulsory student:staff contact hours over the period of the module.

Guided independent study hours

266

The number of hours that students are expected to invest in independent study over the period of the module.

Intended learning outcomes

  • Understand and engage with key themes in Plato’s dialogues.
  • Engage in close reading of primary material (in translation)
  • Analyse and critically evaluate arguments
  • Relate this material to contemporary philosophical issues and debates.
  • Discuss philosophical material clearly in a group setting