Ανακοινώσεις μαθήματος HELLENISTIC EPISTEMOLOGY

Thank you for your essays.

Fri, 06 Feb 2026 10:17:03 +0300

Dear all,

Thank you very much for submitting your essays and for posting them on the e-class (no worries if you weren’t able to post them there—sending them by email is fine).

I really appreciate your kind messages about the course. Ιt was a real pleasure for me to have you in class. I found our time together very rewarding; you are a great team!

We are starting to read your texts with real interest, and you will receive feedback soon (but not too soon!).

Best regards,
Anna

Regarding your essay submissions

Mon, 26 Jan 2026 12:23:43 +0300

Dear all,

In addition to sending your essays by e-mail to Katerina,

please also upload them to the “Assignments” section in e-class, so that I can have them all gathered in one place. This will make things much easier for me.

As you work on your essays, please also remember to make use of—and refer carefully to—the primary sources.

Enjoy the process of thinking and writing!

I’m looking forward to reading your work.

Best regards,
Anna

take home exam

Sat, 24 Jan 2026 23:21:11 +0300

Dear all,

here are the exam questions! Please send your replies by Monday 2nd of February.

all the best,

Anna and Katerina

Please give your replies on two of the six following topics, making sure that you cover two of the Hellenistic schools.

Identify and briefly describe the Epicurean criteria of truth. Next, elaborate the Epicurean doctrine that all aistheseis (sense-impressions or sensations or perceptions) are true. What does ‘true’ mean in this context?
What are the preconceptions in Epicureanism? What is their role in Epicurean epistemology and scientific methodology?
How did the Stoics deal with Meno’s paradox?
Does the Stoic criterion of truth withstand the criticism raised by the Academic Sceptics?
Were Arcesilaus and Carneades committed to the theses they argued for, or did they argue in a dialectical way? Present the evidence found in Sextus and in Cicero’s Academica, and argue for the interpretation that you find more convincing.
Do the Pyrrhonians abolish the criterion of truth? What is the strategy and target of the Pyrrhonian arguments against it? What is the Pyrrhonian answer to the inactivity (apraxia) objection?

presentations.3

Wed, 14 Jan 2026 23:06:03 +0300

Dear all,

just a brief note to say that your presentations were great today! I am sorry I had to leave quickly without stressing it enough. Thank you also to those of you who have already sent me their handouts/power points.

Stay warm!

Katerina

all the very best,

Katerina

presentations.2

Mon, 12 Jan 2026 14:42:15 +0300

... just to clarify what is required of you during the presentations.

You have 10 minutes to present: the thesis put forward in the article, the author's main argument/s supporting this thesis, your views about the author's thesis and argumentation.

Also, to ask questions after the presentations of your fellow students.

See you on Wednesday at 10.00!

best wishes,

Katerina

presentations

Sat, 10 Jan 2026 12:24:14 +0300

Happy New Year!

I send you the list of presentations and their order.

The idea is that we start at 10.00, each presentation lasts 10 min. and 10 min. discussion.

Please respect this time schedule, otherwise we will be at the University till very late...

See you on Wednesday!

best wishes,

Katerina

Alonso: Long, A. A. 1988. ‘Socrates in Hellenistic philosophy’, Classical Quarterly38: 150–171
Supriya: Morel, P.-M. 2025. ‘Justifying without explaining. Epicurus on enargeia’, in Begründen und Erklären im antiken Denken: Akten des 7. Kongresses der Gesellschaft für antike Philosophie 2022, S, Föllinger, 409–28. Berlin.
Lin: Nijs, W. 2024. ‘Medicina ancilla philosophiae: The Epicurean remedy for the fear of a childless life’, in Epicureanism and Scientific Debates: Epicurean Tradition and its Ancient Reception, vol. 2, ed. F. Masi et al., 141–76. Leuven.
Loukas: Frede, M. 1993–4. ‘The Stoic conception of reason’, in Hellenistic Philosophy, vol. II, 50-63, ed. K. Boudouris, 50–63. Athens.
Shiyi: Caston, V. 1999. ‘Something and nothing: The Stoics on concepts and universals’, Oxford Studies in Ancient Philosophy17: 145–213.
Alvise: M. Frede, M. 1994. ‘The Stoic notion of a lekton’, in Language: Companions to Ancient Thought, vol. 3, ed. S. Everson, 109–28. Cambridge.
Feng: M. Jackson‑McCabe, M. 2004. ‘The Stoic theory of implanted preconceptions’, Phronesis 49: 323–47.
Kellys: Sandbach, F. 1971. ‘Phantasia kataleptike’, in A. A. Long (ed.), Problems in Stoicism, ed. A. A. Long, 9–21. London.
Kai: Brennan, T. 1996. ‘Reasonable impressions in Stoicism’, Phronesis41: 318–34.
Marina: Frede, M. 1983. ‘Stoics and skeptics on clear and distinct impressions’, in The Skeptical Tradition, ed. M. Burnyeat, 65–93. Berkeley.
Eleonora: Sedley, D. 1982. ‘On signs’, in Science and Speculation, ed. J. Barnes et al., 239–72. Cambridge.
Tintti: Cooper, J. 2004. ‘Arcesilaus: Socratic and sceptic’, in his Knowledge, Nature, and the Good, 81–103. Princeton.
Xing Hao: Obdrzalek, S. 2006. ‘Living in Doubt: Carneades’ pithanon reconsidered’, Oxford Studies in Ancient Philosophy 31: 243–79.
Lalya: Fleisher, K. 2020. ‘New evidence on Carneades: reasons for his avoidance of writing and an epistemological pun’, Oxford Studies in Ancient Philosophy 59: 265–97.
Olga: Burnyeat, M. 1983. ‘Can the skeptic live his skepticism?’, in his The Skeptical Tradition, 117–48. Berkeley.
Sofia: Barnes, J. 1982. ‘The beliefs of a Pyrrhonist’, The Cambridge Classical Journal 28: 1–29.

Happy New Year & Article Presentations

Fri, 02 Jan 2026 14:30:15 +0300

Dear all,

Happy New Year! I hope 2026 has started well for you! Wishing you health and plenty of enjoyment along the way.

I would also like to take this opportunity to update you on the article presentations for our seminar. So far, the assignments are as follows:

Feng	M. Jackson‑McCabe, “The Stoic Theory of Implanted Preconceptions,” Phronesis, Vol. 49, No. 4 (2004),  323–347.
Marina	M. Frede, “Stoics and Skeptics on Clear and Distinct Impressions,” in The Skeptical Tradition, ed. Myles Burnyeat, University of California Press, Berkeley 1983, 65‑93.
Olga	M. Μ. Burnyeat, “Can the skeptic live his skepticism?”, in M. Burnyeat (ed.), The Skeptical Tradition, Berkeley, 1983, 117-48.
Jiankai	T. Brennan, “Reasonable Impressions in Stoicism,” Phronesis 41, no. 3, 1996, 318–334.
Alvise	M. Frede, “The Stoic Notion of a Lekton,” in Language, St. Everson, Companions to Ancient Thought Vol. 3, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1994,  109–128
Alonso	A. A. Long, “Socrates in Hellenistic Philosophy,” Classical Quarterly 38, no. 1, 1988, 150–171
Tintti	J. Cooper, “Arcesilaus: Socratic and Sceptic”, in his Knowledge, Nature, and the Good, Princeton 2004, 81-103
Shiyi	V. Caston, “Something and Nothing: The Stoics on Concepts and Universals,” Oxford Studies in Ancient Philosophy 17 (1999): 145–213
Sofia	J. Barnes, “The Beliefs of a Pyrrhonist”, The Cambridge Classical Journal, 28, 1982, 1-29.

All of the above papers have been uploaded to the e-class documents, so you can all take a look.

If you have not yet informed us of your chosen article, please do so at your earliest convenience so that we can finalize the schedule.

Looking forward to seeing you again and discussing your presentations!

Best regards,
Anna

14.1.2026

Tue, 16 Dec 2025 14:48:00 +0300

Dear all,

I arranged today that we have the classroom on 14.1.2026 from 9.00 to 18.00 for your presentations. I booked it from 9-12 and Panayiotis was kind enough to move his class elsewhere.

Of, course we do not have to start that early. We can start from 10.00 and continue until 18.00 with break/s.

I hope you have some restful and pleasant days during the holidays!

all the best,

Katerina

Updated Schedule for Our Upcoming Classes

Wed, 26 Nov 2025 20:37:26 +0300

Dear all, good evening.

Just a quick message to make sure we’re all on the same page about our rescheduled classes.

First class on the Skeptics: Wednesday, 3 December, 9:30–12:00.
Second class: Wednesday, 10 December, 9:30–12:00.
Third class: Tuesday, 16 December, 16:30–19:00.
Fourth class: Wednesday, 17 December, 9:30–12:00.

After Christmas, we’ll have your presentations, all on the same day as suggested — Wednesday, 14 January (two three-hour sessions, depending on room availability).

See you next Wednesday,
Anna

Michael Sandel, 20.11.2025 at 14.00

Tue, 18 Nov 2025 16:41:00 +0300

https://www.uoa.gr/anakoinoseis_kai_ekdiloseis/proboli_ekdilosis/to_ekpa_stin_poli_omilia_toy_kathigiti_politikis_filosofias_toy_harvard_k_michael_sandel

TODAY!!!

Tue, 14 Oct 2025 13:14:47 +0300

We meet today as usual at 15.15!

best wishes, Katerina