In this series, our courses range from a gradual introduction to the Ancient Greek alphabet and key terms as part of a reading of ancient philosophers to detailed readings of advanced Greek texts. Our courses are listed by level of difficulty and preparation:

BEGINNERS (No preparation in Ancient Greek)

Ancient Greek and the First Philosophers: This course introduces the basics of the Greek alphabet and vocabulary as part of a study of origin of philosophy in Ancient Greece. It has two Parts of six weeks each.

Learning Greek with Plato: This course studies a beginner’s text in Ancient Greek. It takes place over one year in six parts of 5 or 6 weeks duration each.

INTERMEDIATE (Have completed a beginner’s textbook or course, usually lasting one year)

Plato’s Meno in Ancient Greek: We read Plato’s Meno line by line, reinforcing the grammar we have learned. This course has two Parts of 10-12 weeks duration.

Intermediate Ancient Greek Courses: These courses study a single work in Ancient Greek with the assistance of vocabulary and commentaries to fully understand the vocabulary and syntax.

ADVANCED (EXPERIENCED IN INTERMEDIARE courseS AND ABLE TO USE ADVANCED COMMENTARIES)

Advanced Ancient Greek Courses: These courses study more difficult works in Ancient Greek with the assistance of advanced commentaries.

OUR Introductory courses are taught in partnership with the Platonic Academy of Melbourne (PAM).

Ancient Greek and the First Philosophers, Part I: Thales to Heraclitus

Level: iNTRODUCTORY, DURATION: 6 WEEKS

Ancient Greek writings stand at the head of the major traditions of poetry, philosophy, history, political theory, mathematics, philology, theology, literary criticism, and many other disciplines (even the words describing them derive from the Greek). Learning the Ancient Greek language opens up the broader horizons of the original sense of the terms that describe our own world. In particular, our world is dominated by science, an activity that is dependent upon the discovery of the notion of nature (physis, φύσις) by the early Greek philosophers.

This course will discuss key fragments of thinkers from Thales down to Heraclitus, the first great philosopher of whose works we have substantial remains. Heraclitus has remained of vital importance to later thinkers from Plato down to Heidegger and we will devote a number of sessions to his thought.

We will use the key words of the first philosophers in our introduction to the Ancient Greek language and for our discussion of the original meaning of philosophy.

No previous knowledge of the Greek alphabet or the Greek language is required. No previous knowledge of these philosophers is required.

Ancient Greek and the First Philosophers, Part II: Parmenides to Socrates

Level: iNtermediate, DURATION: 6 WEEKS

This course will start with Parmenides, and the thinkers who followed him down to Socrates. Parmenides marks a watershed in the history of thought by articulating clearly for the first time the deepest questions of being and intelligibility, questions which have had a decisive influence on classical and modern philosophy which has not succeeded in resolving them.

We will continue our introduction to the Ancient Greek language using words and sentences of the first philosophers.

Learning Greek with Plato, Parts I through 6

Level: iNtermediate, DURATION: 5 or 6 WEEKS

Our course textbook introduces the elements of Greek grammar while guiding us through a reading of passages from the but important dialogue of Plato, the Meno. In order to make progress, students need find time between classes to memorise some of the vocabulary and word forms. Over a series of six courses we complete the textbook, with the prospect of participating in a future course reading the whole dialogue in its original language. This first course brings you much closer to Plato’s writings than you could ever achieve in reading only translations. 

“Plato is the greatest prose writer of our tradition. His dialogues are widely recognised as infinitely subtle works of art conveying profound reflections on human existence. Plato seems to have fulfilled his own criterion for writing by composing texts in which every word is in its necessary place with the result that each reader takes away an interpretation that does justice to his or her own nature. But one can only gain full access to Plato’s art and thought by learning the language in which he wrote.”

Martin Black (lecturer)

Plato's Meno in Ancient Greek, parts I and ii

Level: INTERMEDIATE, DURATION: 10 WEEKS

These courses is designed for people who have studied a beginner’s text in Ancient Greek. We will read Plato’s Meno in the Greek while continuing to revise our comprehension of the Greek Grammar.