Squeaker, the talking pig, on the cardinal virtues: φρόνησις, ἀνδρεία, δικαιοσύνη, σωφροσύνη (Plutarch: Moralia)
250,00 €
5 in stock
Description
Since 1960s various animal right movements, activists, writers and philosophers have been calling our attention to the abuse, mistreatment and exploitation of animals in the food, medical, cosmetic and even entertainment industry, their reasoning being based on the fact that humans cannot justly deny rights to other species. Surprisingly, all the arguments advanced by animal advocates of our era have been more or less anticipated by Greek philosophers (e.g. Xenocrates of Chalcedon (396 – 314 BC), Plutarch, Porphyry).
In our reading and (if you like) conversation sessions Squeaker, the talking pig, accompanied by Odysseus and Circe (no, I am not making these up, honestly, they are the characters of the Plutarchan dialogue we shall start with) will discuss and defend his thesis that animals are both intellectually and morally superior to humans.
Not yet convinced that Plutarch was serious writing his treaties? Just wait till you see his defense of a meat-free lifestyle!
We shall read and discuss the following treatises by Plutarch:
“Only a few persons now dispute that animals possess some power of reasoning.”
Charles Darwin, The Descent of Man
“It is better to be a human being dissatisfied than a pig satisfied; better to be Socrates dissatisfied than a fool satisfied. And if the fool, or the pig, is of a different opinion, it is only because they only know their own side of the question.”
John Stuart Mill, Utilitarianism
“You have just dined, and however scrupulously the slaughterhouse is concealed in the graceful distance of miles, there is complicity.”
Ralph Waldo Emerson
For Whom Is This Course?
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- intermediate to advanced learners of Ancient Greek
- students interested in speaking Ancient Greek
Prerequisites
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- good knowledge of Ancient Greek (at least one year of university studies or equivalent)
- experience speaking the language is welcome but not necessary
Language of Instruction
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- Ancient Greek
Time & Date
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- Friday, 19:00-20:30 Central European Time
- From January 31, 2024, to April 4, 2024
Teacher
Registration
To register, please put the class into your digital shopping card and proceed to checkout. Alternatively, you can also send us an email: info@argos-didaskei.com
FAQ
We use the Erasmian pronunciation of Ancient Greek.
Classes are capped at six students.
We will meet on Zoom or Teams. The teacher will send you the meeting link before the first session.
After you have paid you will receive a confirmation email. A week before the class starts, the teacher will send you the meeting link as well as other useful information.
We are currently offering the following payment methods: bank transfer (US or SEPA), Wise, PayPal, credit card.
You can cancel your registration any time via email. If you cancel before a class has started, you will receive a full refund of the course fee you have paid minus a ten percent administration fee. If you have to cancel a class that has already started, you will receive a partial refund in direct proportion to the number of classes that you have attended minus the ten percent administration fee. For example: If you have to cancel half way in of a course, you will receive a 50% refund minus 10% percent of the originally paid course fee.
Feel free to write us an email: info@argos-didaskei.com
