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PHL102Social Sciences2 Unitsintermediate

Ancient Philosophy

This course introduces students to the historical development of philosophical thought in Africa, Asia, and the Western world. It explores the etymology, meaning, and evolution of philosophy, examining its development in ancient Egypt, Babylon, India, China, and Greece. The course critically analyzes the Eurocentric underpinnings of philosophy and distinguishes it from religion and science. Students will engage with the ideas of key ancient philosophers and their contributions to various philosophical domains.

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156h
Study Time
13
Weeks
12h
Per Week
basic
Math Level
Course Keywords
Ancient PhilosophyAfrican PhilosophyAsian PhilosophyWestern PhilosophyEurocentrism

Course Overview

Everything you need to know about this course

Course Difficulty

Intermediate Level
Builds on foundational knowledge
65%
intermediate
➕
Math Level
Basic Math
📖
Learning Type
Theoretical Focus

Course Topics

Key areas covered in this course

1

Etymology of Philosophy

2

Ancient African Philosophy

3

Ancient Asian Philosophy

4

Ancient Western Philosophy

5

Ethics

6

Metaphysics

7

Epistemology

8

Logic

9

Cosmology

10

Aesthetics

11

Political Philosophy

12

Philosophy of Science

13

Philosophy of Religion

Total Topics13 topics

Ready to Start

No specific requirements needed

This course is designed to be accessible to all students. You can start immediately without any prior knowledge or specific preparation.

Assessment Methods

How your progress will be evaluated (5 methods)

Assignments

Comprehensive evaluation of course material understanding

Written Assessment

Tutor-Marked Assignments

Comprehensive evaluation of course material understanding

Written Assessment

Presentations

Team-based learning and peer interaction

Group Work

Forum Discussions

Team-based learning and peer interaction

Group Work

Final Examination

Comprehensive evaluation of course material understanding

Computer Based Test

Career Opportunities

Explore the career paths this course opens up for you

Philosopher

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Historian

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Political Analyst

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Policy Advisor

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Educator

Apply your skills in this growing field

Industry Applications

Real-world sectors where you can apply your knowledge

EducationResearchPublic PolicyConsultingAcademia

Study Schedule Beta

A structured 13-week journey through the course content

Week
1

Module 1: Philosophy: Meaning, Etymology and Evolution

4h

Unit 1: Meaning, Etymology and Evolution of Philosophy

2 study hours
  • •Read Unit 1: Understand the etymology and meaning of philosophy.
  • •Explore the evolution of philosophical ideas.
  • •Complete Self-Assessment Exercise 1.

Unit 2: General Issues on the Development of Philosophy

2 study hours
  • •Read Unit 2: Discuss the development of philosophy in ancient times.
  • •Identify the general trends in ancient philosophical ideas.
  • •Complete Self-Assessment Exercise.
Week
2

Module 1: Philosophy: Meaning, Etymology and Evolution

5h

Unit 3: The Eurocentric Undergirding of Philosophy

3 study hours
  • •Read Unit 3: Analyze the Eurocentric perspective in philosophy.
  • •Question the assumption that Thales is the father of philosophy.
  • •Complete Self-Assessment Exercise 1 and 2.

Unit 4: Distinguishing Philosophy from Religion and Science

2 study hours
  • •Read Unit 4: Distinguish philosophy from religion and science.
  • •Understand the role of philosophy in both religion and science.
  • •Complete Self-Assessment Exercise 1 and 2.
Week
3

Module 2: Some Philosophers in Ancient Africa

3h

Unit 1: On the Nature of Ancient African Philosophy

3 study hours
  • •Read Unit 1: Understand the debate over ancient African philosophy.
  • •Familiarize yourself with the distinctive character of ancient African philosophy.
  • •Complete Self-Assessment Exercise 1 and 2.
Week
4

Module 2: Some Philosophers in Ancient Africa

3h

Unit 2: The Ideas of Ptah Hotep

3 study hours
  • •Read Unit 2: Understand Ptah Hotep's ideas on moral and political philosophy.
  • •Justify the position of apologists on ancient African philosophy.
  • •Complete Self-Assessment Exercise.
Week
5

Module 2: Some Philosophers in Ancient Africa

3h

Unit 3: The Ideas of Ọ̀r únmị̀ lạ̀

3 study hours
  • •Read Unit 3: Understand Ọ̀r únmị̀ lạ̀'s position on various topics.
  • •Familiarize yourself with another important ancient African philosopher.
  • •Complete Self-Assessment Exercise 1 and 2.
Week
6

Module 3: Philosophy in Ancient Africa

3h

Unit 1: Proverbs and Morality among Ancient Africans

3 study hours
  • •Read Unit 1: Understand the meaning and nature of proverbs.
  • •Understand how proverbs contribute to moral development.
  • •Complete Self-Assessment Exercise 1 and 2.
Week
7

Module 3: Philosophy in Ancient Africa

3h

Unit 2: Aesthetics among Ancient Africans

3 study hours
  • •Read Unit 2: Comprehend the relationship between artworks and their social significance.
  • •Be familiar with the approaches of ancient Igbo and Yorùbá to artworks.
  • •Complete Self-Assessment Exercise 1 and 2.
Week
8

Module 3: Philosophy in Ancient Africa

3h

Unit 3: The Mathematical Basis of Divination among Ancient Africans

3 study hours
  • •Read Unit 3: Understand the numbering pattern of ancient Africans.
  • •Be familiar with divination techniques among ancient Africans.
  • •Complete Self-Assessment Exercise 1, 2 and 3.
Week
9

Module 3: Philosophy in Ancient Africa

3h

Unit 4: Sexuality in Ancient African Beliefs

3 study hours
  • •Read Unit 4: Learn how traditional Africans viewed sexuality.
  • •Relate with how ancient Africans tolerated the third gender.
  • •Complete Self-Assessment Exercise 1 and 2.
Week
10

Module 3: Philosophy in Ancient Africa

3h

Unit 5: The Medical Philosophy of Ancient Africans

3 study hours
  • •Read Unit 5: Be familiar with the traditional Yorùbá idea of medicine.
  • •Draw semblances between this ancient system and contemporary medicine.
  • •Complete Self-Assessment Exercise.
Week
11

Module 4: Philosophy in Ancient Babylon, Egypt, India and China

6h

Unit 1: Philosophy in Ancient Babylon

3 study hours
  • •Read Unit 1: Know the development of philosophy in the ancient Mesopotamian society.
  • •Assess the contributions of the Babylonians to philosophy.
  • •Complete Self-Assessment Exercise.

Unit 2: Philosophy in Ancient Egypt

3 study hours
  • •Read Unit 2: Study the ancient Egyptian cosmology.
  • •Analyze the Egyptian moral system (Maat).
  • •Complete Self-Assessment Exercise 1 and 2.
Week
12

Module 4: Philosophy in Ancient Babylon, Egypt, India and China

6h

Unit 3: Philosophy in Ancient India

3 study hours
  • •Read Unit 3: Know the basic tenets of Hinduism.
  • •Assess the impact of Hinduism on the Indian society.
  • •Complete Self-Assessment Exercise.

Unit 4: Modern Science and Ancient Oriental "Scientific" Ideas

3 study hours
  • •Read Unit 4: Learn that Asian ideas on science anticipate modern physics.
  • •Appreciate ancient ideas for their contribution to knowledge.
  • •Complete Self-Assessment Exercise.
Week
13

Module 5: Philosophy in the Ancient Greek and Neighboring City-States

8h

Unit 1: Ionian/Miletian Thinkers

4 study hours
  • •Read Unit 1: Understand how Western philosophy started.
  • •Know the ideas of Thales, Anaximander and Anaximenes.
  • •Complete Self-Assessment Exercise 1, 2 and 3.

Unit 2: Pre-Socratic Philosophers

4 study hours
  • •Read Unit 2: Know the thoughts of individual pre-Socratic philosophers.
  • •Understand the ideological foundation of some philosophical problems.
  • •Complete Self-Assessment Exercise 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9.

This study schedule is in beta and may not be accurate. Please use it as a guide and consult the course outline for the most accurate information.

Course PDF Material

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Study Tips & Exam Preparation

Expert tips to help you succeed in this course

1

Create a timeline of key philosophers and their major contributions from each module

2

Develop concept maps linking philosophical ideas across different regions (Africa, Asia, Greece)

3

Practice explaining core concepts (e.g., Maat, Karma, Apeiron) in your own words

4

Focus on understanding the arguments for and against Eurocentrism in philosophy

5

Review the distinctions between philosophy, religion, and science, providing examples

6

Prepare summaries of the main ethical and metaphysical views of each philosopher

7

Practice essay questions comparing and contrasting different philosophical perspectives

8

Review all TMAs and discussion forum contributions for key insights and areas for improvement

9

Allocate study time proportionally to the weight of each module in the final examination

10

Create flashcards for key terms and concepts to aid memorization

11

Form a study group to discuss and debate challenging philosophical ideas

12

Practice time management during mock exams to improve speed and accuracy

13

Identify and revisit areas of weakness based on self-assessment exercises and feedback from tutors

14

Focus on understanding the arguments for and against the existence of ancient African philosophy

15

Practice explaining the mathematical concepts underlying ancient African divination systems

16

Review the ethical implications of different philosophical views on sexuality and social justice

17

Prepare summaries of the main ethical and metaphysical views of each philosopher

18

Practice essay questions comparing and contrasting different philosophical perspectives

19

Review all TMAs and discussion forum contributions for key insights and areas for improvement

20

Allocate study time proportionally to the weight of each module in the final examination

21

Create flashcards for key terms and concepts to aid memorization

22

Form a study group to discuss and debate challenging philosophical ideas

23

Practice time management during mock exams to improve speed and accuracy

24

Identify and revisit areas of weakness based on self-assessment exercises and feedback from tutors

25

Focus on understanding the arguments for and against the existence of ancient African philosophy

26

Practice explaining the mathematical concepts underlying ancient African divination systems

27

Review the ethical implications of different philosophical views on sexuality and social justice

28

Create concept maps linking Units 3-5 database concepts

29

Practice SQL queries from Units 7-9 weekly

30

Review all TMAs and discussion forum contributions for key insights and areas for improvement

31

Allocate study time proportionally to the weight of each module in the final examination

32

Create flashcards for key terms and concepts to aid memorization

33

Form a study group to discuss and debate challenging philosophical ideas

34

Practice time management during mock exams to improve speed and accuracy

35

Identify and revisit areas of weakness based on self-assessment exercises and feedback from tutors

36

Focus on understanding the arguments for and against the existence of ancient African philosophy

37

Practice explaining the mathematical concepts underlying ancient African divination systems

38

Review the ethical implications of different philosophical views on sexuality and social justice

39

Create concept maps linking Units 3-5 database concepts

40

Practice SQL queries from Units 7-9 weekly

41

Review all TMAs and discussion forum contributions for key insights and areas for improvement

42

Allocate study time proportionally to the weight of each module in the final examination

43

Create flashcards for key terms and concepts to aid memorization

44

Form a study group to discuss and debate challenging philosophical ideas

45

Practice time management during mock exams to improve speed and accuracy

46

Identify and revisit areas of weakness based on self-assessment exercises and feedback from tutors

47

Focus on understanding the arguments for and against the existence of ancient African philosophy

48

Practice explaining the mathematical concepts underlying ancient African divination systems

49

Review the ethical implications of different philosophical views on sexuality and social justice

50

Create concept maps linking Units 3-5 database concepts

51

Practice SQL queries from Units 7-9 weekly

52

Review all TMAs and discussion forum contributions for key insights and areas for improvement

53

Allocate study time proportionally to the weight of each module in the final examination

54

Create flashcards for key terms and concepts to aid memorization

55

Form a study group to discuss and debate challenging philosophical ideas

56

Practice time management during mock exams to improve speed and accuracy

57

Identify and revisit areas of weakness based on self-assessment exercises and feedback from tutors

58

Focus on understanding the arguments for and against the existence of ancient African philosophy

59

Practice explaining the mathematical concepts underlying ancient African divination systems

60

Review the ethical implications of different philosophical views on sexuality and social justice

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