Skidmore College Department of Classics

CC 100: English Vocabulary--From Greek and Latin. 1 credit
In this course students will explore the heritage of Greek and Latin in the English language, with particular emphasis on technical terminology from a variety of disciplines. Students will learn how to break down English words into their Greek and Roman components, and to generate English words from these same elements. This course is of interest to all students in the humanities, sciences, and social sciences, who wish not only to expand their vocabularies, but also to understand the ongoing evolution of English. Prerequisite: None. Does not count toward the Classics major or minor. Curley.

CC 365: Women in Antiquity. 3 credits
Did matriarchy exist in Bronze Age Greece? How was the Lesbian poet Sappho viewed by her contemporaries? Were Athenian women allowed out-of-doors or were they confined to their homes? Could Roman women own property, have affairs, get divorced? These are a few of the questions we will consider as we look at the role and status of women in classical antiquity. Through readings and visual images culled from primary sources in literature, history, epigraphy, art and archaeology, we will examine the question of whether women had control over their lives in political or economic ways and what kind of influence they had on their world.

CC 371, 372: Independent Study. 3 credits
Individual research in any aspect of classics not available in existing course offerings, which results in a written work. Supervised by a member of the classics faculty. Prerequisite: Approval of the chair. Department.

CC 390: Thesis. 3 credits
The senior student will undertake a substantial advanced research project in any aspect of classics which will result in a written thesis of approximately fifty pages. Supervised by a member of the classics faculty. Prerequisite: Approval of the chair. Department.

CC 399: Professional Internship in Classics. 3 or 6 credits
Professional experience at an advanced level for juniors and seniors with substantial academic and cocurricular experience in the major field. With faculty sponsorship and departmental approval, students may extend their educational experience into such areas as education, communication, the arts, libraries and law and government. Does not count toward the major. Must be taken S/U.

GO 303: Classical Political Thought. 3 credits
The development of Western political thought through the ancient and medieval periods. Primary attention is given to the writings of Plato and Aristotle. Selected Greek, Roman, and medieval thinkers may also be considered. Topics to be discussed include the activity of philosophy, the relation of ethics and politics, justice and the rule of law. Prerequisite: GO 103 or permission of the instructor. Burns.

GO 351: Topics in Political Thought: Thucydides. 3 credits
Thucydides' War Between the Peloponnesians and the Athenians is an account of a war that took place from 432-404B.C., a war in which democratic Athens nearly defeated oligarchic Sparta in a bid to become rulers of the Greek world. Thucydides intended this work to serve as a guide for future ages, "something useful.a possession for all time." We will carefully examine the deeds and speeches of the war as narrated by Thucydides in order to find solid guidance in the face of permanent problems and issues of political life. Some of those problems and issues are: What are the causes of a war and the conditions of peace? Are human beings compelled to pursue their own advantage over and against the self-sacrifice that justice demands? What are the arguments for and against imperialism? What are the arguments for and against oligarchy and democracy? Prerequisite: GO103 or permission of instructor. Burns.

LS2 156: The Good Life in Ancient Greek Philosophy and Literature. 3 credits
An examination of ancient Greek views of what it means to live a morally good and happy life from the distinct perspectives of the poet and of the philosopher. Some of the basic questions explored in this course are: What is the relationship between human excellence and human happiness? To what extent is living a good life something within our power? What role do external factors play in the good life? The authors studied are Homer, Plato, Aristotle, Aristophanes, Sophocles and Aeschylus. Prerequisite: None. Gonzalez.

PH 203: History of Greek Philosophy. 3 credits
A basic grounding in the history of Western philosophy through reading and discussion of selected works of Plato and Aristotle. Prerequisite: None. Gonzalez.

PH 327A: Plato. 3 credits
An in-depth examination of the philosophy of Plato. Prerequisite: PH 203 or permission of the instructor. Gonzalez.

PH 327B: Great Philosophers: Aristotle. 3 credits
A course in-depth in the work of this great philosopher. Prerequisite: PH 203 or permission of the instructor. Gonzalez.

RE 330: Advanced Topics in Religion: Ancient. 4 credits
The study of a selected special topic in ancient Roman religion. Recent topics have included "Death and the Afterlife in the Ancient World." Prerequisite: One course in Religion or the approval of the instructor.