Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D) in Ancient Philosophy

This program has several related aims:

• to introduce candidates to how the key ancient thinkers addressed the question of how human beings should secure the 'good life' and how to 'live well'.
• to develop an understanding of important concepts required for this endeavour, including 'good', 'pleasure', 'happiness', 'desire', and 'virtue'.
• to introduce to the candidate important texts written by the great thinkers of the period, namely: Plato, Aristotle, Epicurus and Epictetus.
• and to develop the necessary reasoning and analytical skills for accomplishing this.

The study of these ideas has more than mere academic interest, for the ancient thinkers set themselves the task of securing for their students 'the good life', that is, the capacity to live as well as one may in ways that are appropriate for rational and conscientious beings. The student on this program is therefore encouraged to appreciate in a significant sense what it means to be a philosopher (a 'lover of wisdom') and how living the 'philosophic life' contributes to one's well-being and to the development of one's humanity.

Graduate students of Ancient Philosophy will deepen their broad humanistic backgrounds, and will be expected to work independently and aggressively to identify and secure an understanding of the issues that seem most meaningful, the challenge of which will have the potential to stimulate the candidate to contribute to new knowledge in the discipline.

This endeavour will be pursued through a process of exploration and discovery that will inform students’ knowledge and further improve their analytical, critical, research and writing skills. A primary goal of graduate study is to facilitate recognition in the wider Humanities of the significance of Ancient Philosophy, and to identify various avenues by which mastery of the discipline might be cultivated.

The graduate program in Ancient Philosophy is suitable for students who intend to develop professional careers in a wide range of settings. The rigorous intellectual training that philosophy provides has value and appeal to employers in areas such as: teaching (most likely at the college level), course development and curricula design, research, civil service, local government, charities, information technology, solicitor’s firms, publishing, journalism, and so forth.

Entry into the PhD program requires a recognised Master's degree (preferably in Philosophy or another of the Humanities). Beyond the general requirements of Warnborough College, no other general pre-requisites are required.

This program is offered via distance learning. Individual programs can be structured in modular formats; can be project/research directed, or can combine both options. At the graduate level, students are expected to be highly self-motivated and capable of independent work.

Students may be exempt from certain modules in the curriculum, based on prior courses taken, and/or demonstrated knowledge of philosophy and related disciplines. Modules taken at any time during the student’s career may be counted, if they fulfil appropriate requirements.

Because of the enormous flexibility of the WU program, students may work with their mentor to structure their program in the context of their individual interests, and professional and academic goals.

Students can work with their mentor to create new modules and expand current modules into customised programs, suited to their interests and capabilities. Read the complete module descriptions for information as well as ideas – think of them as a set of guidelines, rather than rules. They will also give you ideas on areas you may wish to pursue most aggressively, in your graduate program.

80 credits, including a Doctoral Thesis, will be required for the PhD degree. In accordance with Warnborough College regulations, PhD candidates in Ancient Philosophy will need to fulfil the following requirements:

PART ONE: SURVEY OF THE PRIMARY SOURCES (4 credits each)

PH700 Good, pleasure and happiness
PH710 Knowledge and desire in virtue
PH720 The good of others
PH730 Virtue and happiness

PART TWO: KEY PHILOSOPHERS (4 credits each)

PH815 Plato
PH818 Aristotle
PH838 The Philosophy of Epicurus
PH841 The Philosophy of the Stoic Epictetus

PART THREE: RESEARCH PROJECT I (18 credits)

PH950 Short Dissertation

PART FOUR: RESEARCH PROJECT 2 (30 credits)

PH960 Thesis

PART ONE: SURVEY OF THE PRIMARY SOURCES

PH700: Good, Pleasure and Happiness

What is required for living well? What should we pursue as our ultimate end, our final good? What is eudaimonia ('happiness' or 'flourishing'), and how may we secure it? How does pleasure relate to happiness, and what contributes to pleasure? How do the virtues contribute to one's happiness? How do the 'goods of fortune' contribute to our happiness? How should we face death and evil?

PH710: Knowledge and Desire in Virtue

What are the virtues, and how do they contribute to our well-being? The four cardinal virtues of wisdom, bravery, temperance, and justice. The notion of virtue as a special skill, or craft. How what we desire relates to what we believe is good and bad. Rational and non-rational desires. Plato's division of the soul. Aristotle's notion of virtue as a mean. Weakness of will.

PH720: The Good of Others

Justice and our concern for the good of others. How do we benefit from being just? Morality, justice, and self-interest. Justice as a virtue. Friendship. Epicurus on virtue and justice.

PH730: Virtue and happiness

The Stoic notion that virtue is sufficient for happiness. Why the virtuous person can suffer no harm. What counts as benefiting from our goods? Aristotle on the life of virtue. Epicurus and the notion that our happiness must be in our control and independent of external circumstances. Are external goods necessary for happiness? The Stoic notion of living a life in accord with nature. Rational agents, rational choice and the notion of directing our desires rationally. Happiness identified with the life of virtuous action. The Stoic notions of freedom from emotion and the distinction between what is really good and what is merely preferred.

PART TWO: KEY PHILOSOPHERS

Proceeding from the survey conducted in Part One, in this Part of the program students will chose to study in depth the texts of two, three, or four of the following key contributors to ancient philosophy.

PH815: Plato

Students taking this Module will study several of Plato's early dialogues, including the Apology of Socrates. Socrates on virtue and 'excellence of character', and his notion of philosophy as 'care of the soul'. What is the 'Socratic Method' of teaching? 'Socratic irony'. What is good, and what is happiness? Socrates on hedonism. Is virtue sufficient for happiness? Virtue as a craft. Socrates on justice.

PH818: Aristotle

Students taking this Module will study Aristotle's work, Nicomachean Ethics. The nature of eudaimonia ('happiness'). What is moral virtue (excellence of character), and how is it acquired? Aristotle's notion of human function, and his 'doctrine of the mean'. Voluntary, involuntary and non-voluntary actions. How is intemperance different from incontinence? Aristotle on friendship and contemplation.

PH838: The Philosophy of Epicurus

Students taking this Module will study the extant texts of Epicurus and other Epicurean texts and sources for Epicureanism. Hedonism and the notion that pleasure is the good and constitutive of eudaimonia ('happiness'). Epicurean philosophy and its aim to free us from fear and anxiety (especially from the fear of death). Ataraxia (tranquillity). Epicurus on desire, how to limit desire, and the notion of 'natural limits' to desire.

PH841: The Philosophy of the Stoic Epictetus

Students taking this Module will study Epictetus' Handbook as well as examine a range of Stoic extracts. How, according to the Stoics, do we secure eudaimonia ('happiness')? The Stoic notion of the good. Epictetus on what is 'in our power' and 'making correct use of impressions'. What is truly desirable? Stoics on extirpating 'the passions'. The role of God in Epictetus' philosophy. The Stoic notion of 'living in accord with nature'. Facing adversity as a Stoic.

The Process:

· Students acquire knowledge studying from generalised specific areas to special problems, issues and topics
· Students utilise their skills in critical and analytical thinking to identify potential areas of interest that will contribute to new knowledge
· Students utilise their research skills through supported, self-directed investigations to explore these areas of interest, and to develop methodological approaches
· Students demonstrate their ability to identify new and existing relationships and links to their subject matter, through these combined processes

Doctoral Thesis

Students will work with their mentor to establish the parameters for their independent research, the findings and conclusions of which will be the subject of their thesis. The Doctoral Thesis will be completed according to the guidelines and parameters set by Warnborough College.

The PhD in Ancient Philosophy is a comprehensive doctoral program. Students can complete the program in six terms or less. (A term is four months.) Depending upon exemptions, performance and the workload, it may take more or less time. Students should regard six terms as the average length of the program. Students may shorten that timetable by arranging for high-intensity customised research projects.

Upon satisfactory completion of all requirements, students will receive the Doctor of Philosophy in Ancient Philosophy degree. There are no other exit points in the program. Students will receive credit for modules they have successfully completed.

Students pursue the PhD in Ancient Philosophy via distance learning. Graduate students are expected to be resourceful, show initiative, and be able to work independently.

Students are required to obtain texts needed for successful completion of program projects, through libraries, on-line resources and/or bookstores.

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Note: All fees listed here refer to tuition only. It does not include ancillary expenses such as required materials (see above), textbooks, internet connections, postage, telephone calls, insurance and printing.

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Note: Please specify if you wish to do the program by RESEARCH or by INSTRUCTION (modular).

Program Director: Professor Keith Seddon

Professor Seddon’s area of expertise is Philosophy in general, but specifically Philosophy of Religion, Metaphysics, Ancient Philosophy, Stoic Ethics, Classical Chinese Philosophy (including Taoism), and Applied Philosophy. Until 1996 he was the Director of Studies and editor of The Philosopher for the Philosophical Society of England. He has taught a wide range of Liberal Arts topics in further education colleges and correspondence colleges. Since 1987, he has been actively mentoring students via distance learning for Warnborough College. Professor Seddon has had his work published in books, and has published numerous articles and reviews in several periodicals including: Practical Philosophy, the Volga Journal of Philosophy and Social Sciences, Philosophy Now, and The Philosopher.
Professor Seddon serves on the International Editorial Board of Practical Philosophy and is a Fellow of the Philosophical Society of England.

Please contact Professor Seddon at k.h.s@btinternet.com or admissions@warnborough.edu