Reason and Persuasion: Thinking Through Three Dialogues By Plato from Coursera

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Syllabus

Plato's Euthyphro I: Bad Dads, Good Arguments

We start with Plato's "Euthyphro", a short dialogue in which Socrates debates the nature of holiness with a priest, Euthyphro. (The Bad Dad is Euthyphro's. Maybe. If he's a murderer. Do you think he's a murderer?) But mostly the videos for this first week and general and introductory. Plato, Socrates. Who are they? How should I read? For more detail, click "Advice About Reading", under "Overview", below.

Plato's Euthyphro II: Two Problems

This is our second week reading "Euthyphro". (But we hardly got into it last week!) The two problems are: 1) Should Euthyphro do? 2) What is holiness? Mostly the dialogue concerns 2) but 1) is there for a reason. Suppose a friend asks you for advice: 'I think dad murdered someone. What should I do?' Probably you wouldn't pull down the dictionary and look up 'holiness', right? But why not? Food for thought. This lesson also contains quite a bit of background about ancient Greek religion and law.

Plato’s Meno: What is Virtue?

We're moving on to our next dialogue, Plato's "Meno". Meno is a slick fellow: sophist-in-training. He wants to know whether Socrates thinks virtue can be taught. Socrates doesn't even know what it is! Meno doesn't see the problem. He can talk about this stuff! But his tongue gets stung numb by the Socratic stingray. Overall, the dialogue has a peculiar virtue-geometry-virtue structure. And we meet two more characters: the boy, who learns geometry; the sturdy citizen, Anytus, who doesn't trust sophists. In this first "Meno" lesson, we don’t get past the poetry that introduces the geometry. (What's with that?) We consider difficulties defining ‘virtue’, and whether definitions are a good thing to ask for. We consider some oddities about virtue. Why does everything think they know what it is? And: is there any science around here?

Plato's Meno: Virtue - Geometry - Virtue.

We are still working on Plato’s “Meno”. This week we get to the geometry lesson and Socrates’ tentative definition/formula for success: virtue is mindfulness. That means: when you do things, you do them for the right reasons, and with knowledge of those reasons. That sounds good, but it’s kind of a high bar for humans to clear. Could it turns out that there is such a thing as virtue, only none of us have it?

Plato's Republic, Book I: Again, With Fathers and Sons

We move on to Plato's "Republic". The subject is justice. Socrates investigates the nature of justice by envisioning a kind of Utopia, an ideal society, in which justice shall be evident because it is writ large – in the fabric of the City – and small – in the interstices of our very Souls. But we don’t get to that in our actual Plato reading, which is only Book I of "Republic". That’s like Chapter 1. There are 10 Books in all. In Book I Socrates debates three figures – the father, son and the sophist – each of whom has rather inadequate notions of justice, so it seems. Why read Book I by itself (apart from the fact that we obviously don’t have time to read the whole thing?) It works pretty well as a stand-alone text. It’s self-contained, even though Book 2 cracks it open to start over again. (Maybe originally it was written to stand alone, and only later Plato wrote the rest as a sequel? That’s just guessing.) In my commentary, and in the video lectures, I try to tell you what you need to know about "Republic", as a whole, to help frame this first bit of it.

Plato's Republic, Book I: Thrasymachus.

We finish up “Republic”, Book I. We have gotten to Thrasymachus, the main attraction. He’s attractive-repulsive, as a person. ‘Justice is the advantage of the stronger!’ In this Lesson I lay out his views. I think it’s best to see him as suspended between a few theoretical possibilities, not really settled on one. But he’s definitely an egoist. But egoism and justice aren’t the same thing, are they? I relate the Thrasymachus material to the rest of “Republic”, in which a refined version of Thrasymachus’ view eventually receives a long, considerate response from Socrates. He builds Utopia to refute Thrasymachus. So the guy must be important.

Moral Psychology

We're done with Plato! Well, not really. The point is to prove we'll never be done with him! But we're moving on to contemporary moral psychology. This lesson is on moral psychology. How does the moral mind think – work, function? The moral brain. (Psychologists are natural scientists. They figure your mind is your brain although that identification can get puzzling, we shall see.) I discuss one figure in particular: Jonathan Haidt. A popular writer, with good ideas. Also, some bad ones (I say) so that makes it livelier. He knocks Plato. I try to knock back, sometimes on Plato’s behalf. Plato is obviously very concerned with moral psychology. So many colorful, mythic images of all that! Haidt ventures more than a short distance into philosophy, when he sallies forth to correct philosophers, ancient and modern, for doing bad psychology. All very interesting. And I hope, like me, you find having a bit of Plato under your belt, at this point, helps you to organize your thoughts, see positions and patterns. In the first lesson I compared studying Plato to learning chess gambits. No one knows how to win, outright. But some strategies are more ... winning. (But there are always standard defenses.) l A lot of scientific progress has been made in the study of the human mind. But there are a lot of deep, stubbornly un-dissolved conceptual mysteries hereabouts. That means a lot of ancient debate patterns – same old lines, same old counters to the old lines - stay relevant. It’s important to be able to say: hey, we learned something new today! But also: ah, this debate is a version of that old thing we’ve been batting back and forth for centuries! (Even though it’s got new stuff stuck on – fMRI data, or what have you.) Being able to see the old and the new isn’t everything, but it’s a start. Let’s get started.

Ethics and Ethnos

One more week on moral psychology. We’re almost done! This week we’re still talking about Jonathan Haidt, but then I shift to consider as well, the work of another psychologist, who is also a philosopher (by training): Joshua Greene. I talk about his popular book, "Moral Tribes: Emotion, Reason, and the Gap Between Us And Them". (By ‘popular’ I mean: written for a popular, i.e. non-scholarly specialist audience. I think it sold ok, too. But I don’t really have knowledge of that.) Per the title, it’s about tribalism, which is a big theme in "Reason and Persuasion", from "Euthyphro" to "Republic". Aristotle said we are political animals, by which he meant: living in a Greek style polis is the best! But you know what’s way more popular? Being an ethnic animal. (Greek ethnoi = tribe.) We have an instinct to stick with ‘our own’: family, friends, party, country. How much do we know about what’s going on in the brain, when we are like that? How should the facts about our instincts figure in our moral philosophies?

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Teaches an accessible and actionable philosophical method to challenge your own beliefs

Develops an ability to engage with and interpret complex philosophical texts, especially Plato's dialogues

Suitable for beginners and advanced students alike, as it offers unique perspectives on familiar philosophical concepts

Provides a comprehensive exploration of Platonic philosophy through a variety of lenses, including moral psychology and ethics

Leverages contemporary moral theory and moral psychology to make ancient philosophical concepts more relevant and relatable

Taught by an experienced instructor with a research background in philosophy, offering deep insights into the subject matter

Reviews summary

Plato's dialogues: thoughtful and engaging

Learners say that this course, Plato's Dialogues, is an engaging and thought-provoking introduction to Plato's philosophy. They note that the high-quality lectures given by Professor Holbo are clear and well-organized, often using easy-to-understand analogies and even humor. Students mention that this course includes challenging but fair quizzes and exams. Overall, reviews for this course are largely positive and many recommend it as a good starting point for anyone interested in philosophy.

Clear and entertaining exploration of Plato's dialogues

"All excelen jobs"

"This is my first complete philosophy course."

"Its much better than just picking up the books"

Thought-provoking quizzes and exams encourage critical thinking

"Mindwracking experience and very nice readings"

"Definitely engaging my curiosity mind to a new level"

"Challenging quizzes but regardless interesting"

Well-organized lectures led by an engaging professor

"Taught me how to think"

"Excellent content with an engaging and informative delivery from Prof Holbo"

"John Holbo is an outstanding Professor who has successfully managed to explain"

Activities

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Read "The Republic"

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Gain a deeper understanding of Plato's political philosophy and its relevance to modern society.

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Acquire and read the book.
Read the book one chapter at a time.
Summarise each chapter in your own words.

Follow an online course on ancient Greek philosophy

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Gain foundational knowledge of ancient Greek philosophy and its influence on Plato's work.

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Enroll in the course and complete the lessons and assignments.
Participate in online discussions and connect with other learners.

Read "Reason and Persuasion"

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Solidify learning and increase retention by reading a work related to concepts covered in the course.

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Acquire and read the book.
Read the book one chapter at a time.
Summarise each chapter in your own words.

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Answer discussion questions

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Practice the Socratic method of argumentation and critical thinking.

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Choose a discussion question on the course discussion board.
Write a concise answer that responds to the question and provides arguments.
Respond to other students' answers and engage in constructive dialogue.

Create logic puzzles based on Platonic concepts

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Develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills through the creation of logic puzzles.

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Review the basic concepts of logic and reasoning.
Identify a Platonic concept to base your puzzle on.
Create a puzzle that challenges learners to apply the concept and solve a logical problem.

Host a study group

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Lead a discussion-based review of course materials to reinforce understanding.

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Find a group of fellow students interested in forming a study group.
Choose a topic or section of the course to focus on.
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Meet regularly to discuss the material and engage in group learning.

Write a blog post about a Platonic concept

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Research the concept thoroughly.
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Career center

Learners who complete Reason and Persuasion: Thinking Through Three Dialogues By Plato will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Philosopher

A Philosopher studies and analyzes fundamental questions about existence, knowledge, ethics, and the nature of reality. This course, \"Reason and Persuasion: Thinking Through Three Dialogues By Plato\", is highly relevant to a Philosopher as it delves into the core ideas of ancient Greek philosophy. The course explores the Socratic method, which emphasizes critical thinking and the pursuit of wisdom. Additionally, the study of Plato's dialogues provides a foundation for understanding the history of philosophy and its major themes.

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Lawyer

A Lawyer represents clients in legal matters, advocating for their rights and interests. This course, \"Reason and Persuasion: Thinking Through Three Dialogues By Plato\", is highly relevant to a Lawyer as it provides a foundation in logical reasoning and argumentation. The course explores the Socratic method, which encourages critical thinking and the ability to defend a position effectively. Additionally, the study of ancient Greek philosophy offers insights into the origins of Western legal systems.

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Judge

A Judge presides over court proceedings, ensuring that trials are fair and that the law is applied justly. This course, \"Reason and Persuasion: Thinking Through Three Dialogues By Plato\", provides a strong foundation for a Judge as it explores the principles of justice, fairness, and the rule of law. The course examines the Socratic method, which emphasizes critical thinking and the ability to reason logically. Additionally, the study of ancient Greek philosophy offers insights into the origins of Western legal systems and the concept of natural law.

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Professor

A Professor teaches undergraduate and graduate students at a college or university. Through lectures, group discussions, and assignments, the Professor conveys their knowledge in a specialized discipline and guides students in their coursework. This course, \"Reason and Persuasion: Thinking Through Three Dialogues By Plato\", is particularly relevant to a Professor as it provides insights into the Socratic method of questioning and argumentation. Additionally, the course delves into ancient Greek philosophy and its influence on modern thought, which can be invaluable for a Professor who teaches in the humanities.

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Politician

A Politician runs for and holds elected office in government, shaping policies and representing the interests of constituents. This course, \"Reason and Persuasion: Thinking Through Three Dialogues By Plato\", can be beneficial for a Politician as it provides a framework for understanding political ideologies and the art of persuasion. The course explores the Socratic method, which emphasizes critical thinking and the ability to articulate a position effectively. Additionally, the study of ancient Greek philosophy offers insights into the history of political thought and the foundations of democracy.

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Journalist

A Journalist investigates and reports on current events and issues, providing information to the public. This course, \"Reason and Persuasion: Thinking Through Three Dialogues By Plato\", can be beneficial for a Journalist as it strengthens their ability to critically analyze information and present it in a clear and unbiased manner. The course explores the Socratic method, which emphasizes questioning and logical reasoning, skills crucial for accurate and ethical reporting.

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Psychologist

A Psychologist studies human behavior and mental processes, conducting research and providing therapy. This course, \"Reason and Persuasion: Thinking Through Three Dialogues By Plato\", can be helpful for a Psychologist as it provides a foundation in critical thinking and the examination of human nature. The course explores the Socratic method, which emphasizes questioning and self-examination, skills essential for psychological research and therapy. Additionally, the study of ancient Greek philosophy offers insights into the origins of Western psychology and the concept of the soul.

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Sociologist

A Sociologist studies human societies and social behavior, analyzing social structures, institutions, and cultural practices. This course, \"Reason and Persuasion: Thinking Through Three Dialogues By Plato\", can be beneficial for a Sociologist as it provides a foundation in critical thinking and the examination of human nature. The course explores the Socratic method, which emphasizes questioning and logical reasoning, skills essential for sociological research and analysis. Additionally, the study of ancient Greek philosophy offers insights into the origins of Western sociology and the concept of social contract.

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Anthropologist

An Anthropologist studies human societies and cultures, analyzing their origins, development, and diversity. This course, \"Reason and Persuasion: Thinking Through Three Dialogues By Plato\", can be helpful for an Anthropologist as it provides a foundation in critical thinking and the examination of human nature. The course explores the Socratic method, which emphasizes questioning and logical reasoning, skills essential for anthropological research and analysis. Additionally, the study of ancient Greek philosophy offers insights into the origins of Western anthropology and the concept of cultural relativism.

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Teacher

A Teacher educates and instructs students at various levels, from primary school to university. This course, \"Reason and Persuasion: Thinking Through Three Dialogues By Plato\", can be beneficial for a Teacher as it provides insights into the Socratic method of teaching and learning. The course explores the importance of questioning, critical thinking, and dialogue in fostering intellectual growth. Additionally, the study of ancient Greek philosophy offers a foundation for understanding the Western educational tradition.

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Theologian

A Theologian studies religious beliefs, practices, and texts, seeking to understand their meaning and significance. This course, \"Reason and Persuasion: Thinking Through Three Dialogues By Plato\", can be helpful for a Theologian as it provides a foundation in critical thinking and the examination of fundamental questions. The course explores the Socratic method, which emphasizes questioning and logical reasoning, skills essential for theological research and analysis. Additionally, the study of ancient Greek philosophy offers insights into the origins of Western theology and the concept of the divine.

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Policy Analyst

A Policy Analyst researches, analyzes, and evaluates public policies, providing recommendations to policymakers. This course, \"Reason and Persuasion: Thinking Through Three Dialogues By Plato\", can be helpful for a Policy Analyst as it provides a framework for understanding the principles of public policy and the art of persuasion. The course explores the Socratic method, which emphasizes critical thinking and the ability to articulate a position effectively.

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Social Worker

A Social Worker helps people navigate social and economic challenges, providing support and resources. This course, \"Reason and Persuasion: Thinking Through Three Dialogues By Plato\", can be helpful for a Social Worker as it provides a framework for understanding human behavior and social issues. The course explores the Socratic method, which emphasizes empathy and the ability to listen actively. Additionally, the study of ancient Greek philosophy offers insights into the origins of Western ethical thought and the concept of social justice.

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Historian

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Writer

A Writer creates written content for various purposes, such as articles, books, marketing materials, and website content. This course, \"Reason and Persuasion: Thinking Through Three Dialogues By Plato\", can help a Writer develop strong arguments and convey them effectively through writing. The course explores the Socratic method of questioning, which encourages critical thinking and clear expression. Additionally, the study of ancient Greek philosophy provides a foundation for understanding the Western intellectual tradition and its impact on modern writing.

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