The Pre-Socratics: The Origins of Western Philosophy

Studying Philosophy is one of the greatest adventures the human spirit can experience.

I say this from personal experience. Learning about the birth of philosophy gives us a vital foundation for understanding how philosophical problems have developed throughout Western history.

Becoming aware of the human questions that surround us—and discovering how our very being is deeply embedded in the history of Western thought—is a fascinating experience.

The study of the History of Philosophy offers us knowledge and understanding of how thought has evolved. As this knowledge becomes part of us, it puts us in a position to glimpse the inner labyrinths of the human soul and the society around us.

The thought of Classical Greece is one of the cradles of Western Culture. We are so deeply connected to, and our lives so influenced by, what happened during that historical period that returning to it becomes a necessity of the human spirit.

This philosophy course is designed to show the reasons for and importance of the history of philosophy, the nature of this field of study, and the birth of philosophy from its very beginnings in Ancient Greece. The course is based on the work of English historian of philosophy Frederick Copleston, S.J., as well as the reflections and contributions of Xavier Zubiri, Eric Voegelin, and Anthony Kenny. Other sources will also be used to complement our journey.

Studying philosophy is an invitation to consciousness—

An invitation to our own history.
An invitation to understand the substance from which we are made.

This course is ideal for theologians, psychologists, professionals in the humanities, and anyone interested in learning and deepening their understanding of Greek wisdom.

In this course, you will learn:

• The fundamental concepts of Pre-Socratic philosophy: Physis, Arche, Logos, Nous, Psyche

• How to study the History of Philosophy

• Why the History of Philosophy matters

• The various interpretations of Pre-Socratic thought

• Core concepts such as Being, Becoming, the One and the Many

• The teachings of key Pre-Socratic thinkers such as: Thales of Miletus, Pythagoras, Heraclitus, Parmenides, Democritus, Anaxagoras, and others.

If you truly want to understand the thinking of Plato and Aristotle, the Pre-Socratics are an essential starting point. In them, we uncover the roots of Western Metaphysics.

Enroll now and begin your journey into the origins of Western thought!