Classics 095 Emperor and Slave

Schedule:

Readings to be completed the day they are listed. Assignments due the day listed.

• September
• 1st, T: Introduction: Epictetus
• Epictetus, Discourses Book 1 discourse 1 (abbreviated as 1.1) (Of the things which are in our power, and not in our power)
  
• 3rd, R
  
• Epictetus, Discourses 1.2 and 1.3
• Letters 1 due from Group 1 (last names beginning A-N)
  
• 8th, T
• Epictetus, Discourses 1.4 and 1.5
• Background Reading (to be read more than once): Epictetus' Enchiridion
  
• Letters 1 due from Group 2 (last names beginning O-Z)
  
• 10th, R
• Epictetus, Discourses 1.6 and 1.7
  
• Letters 2 due from Group 1 (last names beginning A-N)
  
• 15th, T
• Epictetus, Discourses 1.8 and 1.9
• Admiral Stockdale and Epictetus
• Letters 2 due from Group 2 (last names beginning O-Z)
  
• 17th, R
• Epictetus, Discourses 1.10 and 1.11
  
• Letters 3due from Group 1 (last names beginning A-N)
  
• 22nd, T
• Epictetus, Discourses 1.12 and 1.13 and 1.14
• Marcus Aurelius' Meditations book I
  
• Letters 3due from Group 2 (last names beginning O-Z)
  
• 24th, R
• Epictetus, Discourses 1.15 and 1.16 and 1.17
  
• Letters 4 due from Group 1 (last names beginning A-N)
  
• 29th, T
• Epictetus, Discourses 1.18 and 1.19 and 1.20
  
• Marcus Aurelius' Meditations book II
  
• Letters 4 due from Group 2 (last names beginning O-Z)
  
• October
  
• 1st, R (Prof. Bailly is absent: Pam Gardner, Director of Career Services visits class (and collects daily comments, which may be about her presentation))
• 6th, T
• Midterm:
• Be ready to explain Discourses 17, 18, and 19 in particular.
  
• 8th, R
• Epictetus, Discourses 1.21 and 1.22 and 1.23
  
• GRADED LETTER 5 due from Group 1 (last names beginning A-N)
• This letter will be graded, so make it good. Think hard about what I value: argumentation and unity as well as analysis of Epictetus.
  
• A GRADED letter should not be more than 300 words long: every word should count.
• You may revise a previous letter, taking advantage of my comments, or embark on a new letter: the topic is your to choose, and that is part of the assignment.
  
• 13th, T
• Epictetus, Discourses 1.24 an 1.25 and 1.26
  
• Marcus Aurelius' Meditations book III
  
• GRADED LETTER (see notes on OCT. 8th) due from Group 2 (last names beginning O-Z)
• 15th, R
• Epictetus, Discourses 1.27 and 1.28
• Read Candide by Voltaire
  
• 20th, T
• Epictetus, Discourses 1.29 and 1.30
• Marcus Aurelius' Meditations book IV
  
• 22nd, R
• Epictetus, Discourses 2.1-2
• 27th, T
• Epictetus, Discourses 2.3-4
• Marcus Aurelius' Meditations book V
• GRADED LETTER (see notes on OCT. 8th) 7 due from all class members
• 29th, R
• Epictetus, Discourses 2.5-6
• Is and Ought
  
• November
• 3rd, T
• Epictetus, Discourses 2.7-8
• Marcus Aurelius' Meditations book VI
  
• Informal Letters due from everyone (Prof. Bailly won't comment on these at all: bring one for Prof. Bailly and two for classmates)
  
• REMEMBER THAT WE MEET IN CALKIN 322 on THURSDAY!
  
• 5th, R
• Paper due (no letters due)
• MEET IN CALKIN 322 to Watch (part of) Gladiator: we can stay in that room until 2:15, which allows us to watch more of the film than we could if we met in Waterman 456. Apologies to those who have a class at 1.
  
• 10th, T
• Epictetus, Discourses 2.9-10
• Marcus Aurelius' Meditations book VII
  
• Letters 9 due from Group 1 (last names beginning A-N)
  
• 12th, R
• Epictetus, Discourses 2.11-12
• Letters 9 due from Group 2 (last names beginning O-Z)
• 17th, T
• Epicurus' Principal Doctrines.
• Introduction to Epicureanism
• Epictetus, Discourses 2.13-14
• Marcus Aurelius' Meditations book VIII
• Letters 10 due from Group 1 (last names beginning A-N)
  
• 19th, R
• Epicurus, Letter to Menoeceus
  
• lengthier treatment of Epicurus and Epicureanism.
  
• Epictetus, Discourses 2.15-16
• Letters 10 due from Group 2 (last names beginning O-Z)
• 24th, T
  
• Epictetus, Discourses 2.17-18
  
• Marcus Aurelius' Meditations book IX
• Letters 11 due from Group 1 (last names beginning A-N)
  
• December
• 1st, T
• Epictetus, Discourse 2.19-20
• Marcus Aurelius' Meditations book X
  
• Letters 11due from Group 2 (last names beginning O-Z)
• 3rd, R
• Epictetus, Discourses 2.21-22
• GRADED LETTER (see notes on OCT. 8th) due from Group 1 (last names beginning A-N)
  
• 8th, T
• Epictetus, Discourses 2.23-24
• Marcus Aurelius' Meditations book XI-XII
  
• GRADED LETTER (see notes on OCT. 8th) 12 due from Group 2 (last names beginning O-Z)
• 10th, R, 11:45-2:45
• Epictetus, Discourses 2.25-26
• Final in same room as class