Duration
30h Th
Number of credits
Lecturer
Language(s) of instruction
French language
Organisation and examination
Teaching in the second semester
Schedule
Units courses prerequisite and corequisite
Prerequisite or corequisite units are presented within each program
Learning unit contents
In ancient Greece, the term 'anarchy' was used to describe a situation where there was no leader, or a power vacuum. Over time, it came to be used by philosophers to describe a political state of affairs, and to reflect on the foundations of politics and on ways of living in the city-state. In contrast, they raised the issue of polyarchy - the difficulty of imagining several parties, whether individuals, entities or principles, exercising power together without it effectively leading to a situation that we would today describe as anarchic. This line of thought constantly intersects with metaphysics, ethics and politics, and it is this that we wish to explore in this course. The question is: how does one's relationship to the principle(s) determine one's behaviour?
The lectures will be organised around three themes, or more precisely, three schools of thought, which will enable us to explore different facets of this relationship.
- Cynicism as a radically anarchic way of life
- Stoicism as an ethics founded on an immanent principle
- Neoplatonism as a school of thought in which the absoluteness of the principle seems to dissolve ethics.
Learning outcomes of the learning unit
Prerequisite knowledge and skills
None
Planned learning activities and teaching methods
The class will take the form of a seminar. From week to week, students will be invited to read (ancient) texts and articles that will serve as a basis for discussion.
Mode of delivery (face to face, distance learning, hybrid learning)
Face-to-face course
Course materials and recommended or required readings
Platform(s) used for course materials:
- eCampus
- MyULiège
Further information:
Further information:
eCampus provides access to the notes and texts.
MyULiege is used for communication purposes only.
Reading suggestions
- Chapuis, Maxime, Figures de la marginalite´ dans la pense´e grecque. Autour de la tradition cynique, Paris, Classiques Garnier, 2021.
- Flores-Júnior, Olimar, La vie facile. Une lecture du cynisme ancien, Paris, Vrin, 2021.
- Helmer, Étienne, Diogène le cynique, Paris, Les Belles Lettres, 2017.
- Helmer, Étienne, Diogène et les cyniques, ou la liberté dans la vie simple, Neuvy-en-Champagne, Le passager clandestin, 2014.
- Husson, Suzanne, La République de Diogène. Une cité en quête de la nature, Paris, Vrin, 2011.
- Laffon, Amarande, Anarchia. La vacance du pouvoir dans les cités grecques (VIIIe-Ier siècle a.C.), Bordeaux, Ausonius, 2025
- Roubineau, Jean-Manuel, Diogène l'antisocial, Paris, Presses Universitaires de France, 2020.
Written work / report
Further information:
Written work / report
Additional information:
Students will be asked to give at least one talk on a topic closely related to a particular lesson. Topics will be discussed and distributed during the first few lessons.
Students will also write an essay that they will hand in at the time of the session. It will consist of linking an ancient ethical question with its contemporary reception. The precise modalities will be discussed during the course.
The use of AI is not allowed.
Work placement(s)
Organisational remarks and main changes to the course
2nd term, Tuesday 3-5pm, room Philo I.
It is taught alternately by the two professors in charge: in 2026-2027 by Marc-Antoine Gavray, in 2026-2027 by Florence Caeymaex.
Contacts
Marc-Antoine Gavray (Université de Liège, Département de philosophie, 7 Place du 20-août, 4000 Liège).
marc-antoine.gavray@uliege.be
+32 4 366 92 00