Summer School Short Course: An Introduction to Greek Philosophy
Meet some of history's greatest thinkers and discover the core tenets of ancient Greek philosophy in this short course for the Hellenic Museum's 2027 Annual Summer School.
Time & Location
04 Jan 2027, 3:00 pm AEDT – 08 Jan 2027, 4:30 pm AEDT
Hellenic Museum or Online, 280 William St, Melbourne VIC 3000, Australia
Event Details
Join the Hellenic Museum and Dr Christopher Gribbin at the tenth annual Summer School. Spend a week exploring the spectacular and fascinating world of the ancient Greeks and Romans in this series of informative, relaxed and entertaining short courses, where anyone is welcome!
About this course
Over a 300-year period, Greek thinkers like Pythagoras, Socrates, Plato and Aristotle developed powerful new ways of looking at the world. Their work would become the basis of European philosophy as they tackled fundamental questions we still debate today. This course traces the ideas of the first Greek philosophers, from their conflict with religion to their debates about morality and the development of radical new ways of thinking. The course provides an overview of what ancient Greek philosophy is about, how it developed and what it has to say to us today.
Session times and topics
This course consists of 5 sessions over 5 days, delivered in-person or online at 3.00–4.30PM daily (AEDT). People taking part online can participate live or watch recorded lectures at a time of their convenience. Sessions will cover:
The First Philosophers: the Milesians, Heraclitus, Zeno, the Mystics and the Sophists
Socrates and the Question No-one Can Answer
Plato, Skeptics and Cynics
THE Philosopher: Aristotle
The Epicureans and Stoics on How to Live a Good Life
Please note: this is a slightly longer course, with each session running for a duration of 90 minutes (all other courses run for 60 minutes).
About the presenter
Dr Christopher Gribbin is a public historian, specialising in ancient Greece and Rome. He has a particular interest in understanding how people make sense of the world, whether through religion, philosophy, myth, art or architecture.
Christopher is an Adjunct Lecturer at La Trobe University and has also lectured at Melbourne and Monash universities. He founded the University of Melbourne’s Classics Summer School in 2002 and ran it for 15 years. He has run the Hellenic Museum Summer School since 2018.
Christopher is actively involved in bringing the ancient world to the community in a meaningful and entertaining way. He regularly talks to community groups, professional organisations and school groups. He has worked on special events with the Hellenic Museum, Humanities 21, the National Gallery of Victoria and Melbourne Museums. He has developed educational products with the ABC and the History Teachers’ Association of Victoria. He also records podcasts and leads cultural tours visiting ancient sites with Australians Studying Abroad.
He is well regarded as a clear and enthusiastic teacher who loves to share his passion about the ancient world with the community. Find out more about Christopher.
Explore other courses
There are four courses on offer in 2027. Visit the Summer School hub to explore individual courses, or bundle and save with a four-subject pass.
FREE LECTURE: Secluded or Active? Reconstructing Women’s Lives in Ancient Athens
Get a taste of what's to come at this free talk presented by your Summer School lecturer, Dr Christopher Gribbin. Were ancient Athenian women hidden away at home, or were they active members of their community? The answer is complicated. This talk will look at evidence from historians, legal cases, literature, vase paintings and the remains of ancient houses to explore what we can really know about the role and status of women in ancient Athens.
11AM Sunday 29 November, online or in-person at the Hellenic Museum. Bookings essential – click here to reserve your free place.
Tickets
Single Course Enrolment
Please note, this course has a slightly higher fee due to its extended duration (90 minutes per session, compared to 60 minutes for other courses).
From $185.00 to $215.00
$215.00
$185.00
Total
$0.00