PHIL20040 Greek Philosophy
University of Melbourne · Level 2 · 12.5 points · Not running in 2026.
- No final exam: all coursework
Is PHIL20040 hard?
PHIL20040: About average. Not running in 2026, so it isn't on the lists. Makes it easier: No final exam. Makes it harder: Reviewers say it takes a lot of time. The easier and harder points roughly balance out.
What you learn
Ancient Greek philosophy from the Presocratics to Plato's Republic and Aristotle: justice, democracy, change and what the world is made of.
After it you can
- Interpret key Greek philosophical texts
- Explain Plato's and Aristotle's main ideas
- Place ideas in their historical setting
What you need first
None
How it’s assessed
Reports and essays 100%
Student reviews and ratings
Summarised from 4 students on StudentVIP (2018–2020)
- Reviewers from 2018 and 2020 enjoyed it, from Plato and the Sophists to Aristotle's ethics and the Stoics; one switched major because of it. Video explanations helped newcomers to old texts.
- In 2020 the lectures were long and content-heavy (one reviewer spent about four hours a week on notes), readings were heavy, and so many texts were covered that few got detailed discussion.
- Tutorials were friendly and good for discussion, and assignments are manageable if you engage with the content and attend.
A summary of public reviews, not scored here.
Taken this subject? Rate it anonymously (difficulty, workload, marking, would you recommend it) and leave a tip for next year's students. Rate PHIL20040
Quick answers
- When is PHIL20040 offered?
- Not running in 2026.
- What do I need before taking PHIL20040?
- No prerequisites.
- Does PHIL20040 have a final exam?
- No, there is no final exam. Assessment: Reports and essays 100%.
- Is PHIL20040 hard?
- From 4 student reviews on StudentVIP: Reviewers from 2018 and 2020 enjoyed it, from Plato and the Sophists to Aristotle's ethics and the Stoics; one switched major because of it. Video explanations helped newcomers to old texts.
- What do students say about PHIL20040?
- Reviewers from 2018 and 2020 enjoyed it, from Plato and the Sophists to Aristotle's ethics and the Stoics; one switched major because of it. Video explanations helped newcomers to old texts. In 2020 the lectures were long and content-heavy (one reviewer spent about four hours a week on notes), readings were heavy, and so many texts were covered that few got detailed discussion. Tutorials were friendly and good for discussion, and assignments are manageable if you engage with the content and attend.
- Can I take PHIL20040 as breadth?
- Yes, for: Bachelor of Biomedicine, Bachelor of Commerce, Bachelor of Design, Bachelor of Fine Arts (Acting), Bachelor of Fine Arts (Animation), Bachelor of Fine Arts (Dance), Bachelor of Fine Arts (Film and Television), Bachelor of Fine Arts (Music Theatre), Bachelor of Fine Arts (Production), Bachelor of Fine Arts (Screenwriting), Bachelor of Fine Arts (Theatre), Bachelor of Fine Arts (Visual Art), Bachelor of Science.
- Can I rate PHIL20040?
- Yes. If you've taken it, rate it anonymously on this page (difficulty, workload, marking, would you recommend it) and leave a tip for next year's students. Averages show once 3 students have rated it; tips are checked before they appear.
Source: University of Melbourne Handbook 2026
Always confirm in the official Handbook.
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