[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”Course Hero” _builder_version=”4.16″ use_background_color_gradient=”on” background_color_gradient_stops=”#02a2c8 0%|#FFFFFF 100%” background_color_gradient_start=”#02a2c8″ background_color_gradient_end=”#FFFFFF” background_enable_image=”off” background_blend=”overlay” custom_padding=”16px|0px|1px|0px||” animation_style=”slide” animation_direction=”top” animation_intensity_slide=”2%” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}” da_is_popup=”off” da_exit_intent=”off” da_has_close=”on” da_alt_close=”off” da_dark_close=”off” da_not_modal=”on” da_is_singular=”off” da_with_loader=”off” da_has_shadow=”on” da_disable_devices=”off|off|off”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_image src=”https://originalsite.merlinccc.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/Philosophy-through-Geometry.png” title_text=”Philosophy through Geometry” _builder_version=”4.16.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][/et_pb_image][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.16″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_divider color=”#02a2c8″ divider_weight=”23″ _builder_version=”4.16″ box_shadow_style=”preset1″ global_colors_info=”{}”][/et_pb_divider][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”15px|||||” global_colors_info=”{}” da_is_popup=”off” da_exit_intent=”off” da_has_close=”on” da_alt_close=”off” da_dark_close=”off” da_not_modal=”on” da_is_singular=”off” da_with_loader=”off” da_has_shadow=”on” da_disable_devices=”off|off|off”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.16.0″ _module_preset=”default” min_height=”340px” custom_margin=”-43px|||||” custom_padding=”||0px|||” global_colors_info=”{}”]
Ancient authors tell us that, at the door to Plato’s Academy, there was a sign which read “Let no one who does not geometrize enter here.” Regardless of the literal truth of that story, the practice of geometry clearly held an important place in the Academy, and in the ancient Greek philosophical tradition more generally. Over the course of four weeks together, we explored some of the reasons why.
This exploration combined hands-on, practical, collaborative work in doing geometry, with philosophical reading and reflection on what we’re doing, and why it matters. This was not a “math class.”
Each and every week, we combined four different elements: Practical exercises in geometry, short readings from the dialogues of Plato, ideas drawn from other ancient philosophers like Aristotle, Euclid, Iamblichus, and Proclus, and lively & active conversation and collaboration, as a community of learners, exploring together the interplay of these philosophical and geometrical themes.
Detailed topics & handouts from each week are provided below, as well as supplementary readings & resources (downloadable as pdfs below).
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[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ specialty=”on” padding_top_2=”0px” admin_label=”Course Chapters” _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_margin=”|||” custom_padding=”0px||2px|||” global_colors_info=”{}” da_is_popup=”off” da_exit_intent=”off” da_has_close=”on” da_alt_close=”off” da_dark_close=”off” da_not_modal=”on” da_is_singular=”off” da_with_loader=”off” da_has_shadow=”on” da_disable_devices=”off|off|off”][et_pb_column type=”2_3″ specialty_columns=”2″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” parallax__hover=”off” parallax_method__hover=”on” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_row_inner use_custom_gutter=”on” gutter_width=”4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_margin=”-80px|||” custom_padding=”0px|||” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column_inner saved_specialty_column_type=”2_3″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” parallax__hover=”off” parallax_method__hover=”on” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_blurb title=”Week 1″ image=”https://originalsite.merlinccc.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/coding-icon_4.jpg” icon_placement=”left” image_icon_width=”64px” content_max_width=”1100px” admin_label=”Chapter” _builder_version=”4.16″ header_font=”|on|||” header_text_color=”#2e2545″ header_line_height=”1.5em” body_text_color=”#585858″ body_font_size=”16px” body_line_height=”1.9em” background_color=”#ffffff” custom_margin=”|||” custom_padding=”30px|40px|30px|40px” animation_style=”zoom” animation_direction=”bottom” animation_intensity_zoom=”20%” animation_starting_opacity=”100%” box_shadow_style=”preset2″ box_shadow_horizontal=”0px” box_shadow_vertical=”0px” box_shadow_blur=”60px” box_shadow_color=”rgba(71,74,182,0.12)” image_max_width=”64px” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”]
Tuesday, March 8th
Topic: The Geometric Ethos
In-Class Readings: Selections from Plato’s Meno and Phaedo.
- Learning as recollection.
- Simple geometric constructions: circles, triangles, hexagons.
[/et_pb_blurb][et_pb_blurb title=”Week 2″ image=”https://originalsite.merlinccc.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/coding-icon_4.jpg” icon_placement=”left” image_icon_width=”64px” content_max_width=”1100px” admin_label=”Chapter” _builder_version=”4.16″ header_font=”|on|||” header_text_color=”#2e2545″ header_line_height=”1.5em” body_text_color=”#585858″ body_font_size=”16px” body_line_height=”1.9em” background_color=”#ffffff” custom_margin=”|||” custom_padding=”30px|40px|30px|40px” animation_style=”zoom” animation_direction=”bottom” animation_intensity_zoom=”20%” animation_starting_opacity=”100%” box_shadow_style=”preset2″ box_shadow_horizontal=”0px” box_shadow_vertical=”0px” box_shadow_blur=”60px” box_shadow_color=”rgba(71,74,182,0.12)” image_max_width=”64px” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”]
Tuesday, March 15th
Topic: Limit and the Unlimited
In-Class Readings: Selections from Aristotle’s Metaphysics, Book I; and from Plato’s Philebus.
- The Pythagorean “Table of Opposites”
- Point, line, plane, and figure
- Parallels and perpendiculars.
[/et_pb_blurb][et_pb_blurb title=”Week 3″ image=”https://originalsite.merlinccc.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/coding-icon_4.jpg” icon_placement=”left” image_icon_width=”64px” content_max_width=”1100px” admin_label=”Chapter” _builder_version=”4.16.0″ header_font=”|on|||” header_text_color=”#2e2545″ header_line_height=”1.5em” body_text_color=”#585858″ body_font_size=”16px” body_line_height=”1.9em” background_color=”#ffffff” custom_margin=”|||” custom_padding=”30px|40px|30px|40px” animation_style=”zoom” animation_direction=”bottom” animation_intensity_zoom=”20%” animation_starting_opacity=”100%” box_shadow_style=”preset2″ box_shadow_horizontal=”0px” box_shadow_vertical=”0px” box_shadow_blur=”60px” box_shadow_color=”rgba(71,74,182,0.12)” image_max_width=”64px” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”]
Tuesday, March 22nd
Topic: The Divided Line and the Golden Section
In-Class Readings: Selections from Plato’s Republic, Book VI (and, time permitting, from Plato’s Timaeus).
- Different kinds of “knowing”
- Geometric and harmonic proportions
[/et_pb_blurb][et_pb_blurb title=”Week 4″ image=”https://originalsite.merlinccc.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/coding-icon_4.jpg” icon_placement=”left” image_icon_width=”64px” content_max_width=”1100px” admin_label=”Chapter” _builder_version=”4.16.0″ header_font=”|on|||” header_text_color=”#2e2545″ header_line_height=”1.5em” body_text_color=”#585858″ body_font_size=”16px” body_line_height=”1.9em” background_color=”#ffffff” custom_margin=”|||” custom_padding=”30px|40px|30px|40px” animation_style=”zoom” animation_direction=”bottom” animation_intensity_zoom=”20%” animation_starting_opacity=”100%” box_shadow_style=”preset2″ box_shadow_horizontal=”0px” box_shadow_vertical=”0px” box_shadow_blur=”60px” box_shadow_color=”rgba(71,74,182,0.12)” image_max_width=”64px” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”]
Tuesday, March 29th
Topic: Traditional Methods of Proof
In-Class Readings: Selections from Plato’s Republic, Book VII; and from Euclid’s Elements, Book I.
- The ordering of the various sciences
- “Elements” in geometry and beyond
[/et_pb_blurb][/et_pb_column_inner][/et_pb_row_inner][/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_3″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” padding_top__hover=”0px” parallax__hover=”off” parallax_method__hover=”on” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_blurb title=”David Nowakowski” url=”#” image=”https://originalsite.merlinccc.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/nowakowski-scaled.jpg” image_icon_width=”100px” admin_label=”Instructor” _builder_version=”4.16″ header_font=”|700|||||||” header_text_color=”#2e2545″ header_line_height=”1.5em” body_text_align=”left” body_text_color=”#585858″ body_font_size=”16px” body_line_height=”1.9em” background_color=”#ffffff” text_orientation=”center” custom_margin=”-80px|||” custom_padding=”30px|40px|30px|40px” animation_style=”zoom” animation_direction=”bottom” animation_intensity_zoom=”20%” animation_starting_opacity=”100%” box_shadow_style=”preset1″ box_shadow_vertical=”0px” box_shadow_blur=”60px” box_shadow_color=”rgba(71,74,182,0.12)” image_max_width=”100px” global_colors_info=”{}”]
Instructor
David is a philosopher and educator in the Helena area whose professional work is dedicated to helping people of all ages and backgrounds access, understand, and apply the traditions of ancient philosophy to their own lives. Read full profile…
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E-Mail: david@merlinccc.org
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View, download, and print the course description here.
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View, download, and print readings & resources here.
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