Greeks: The Philosophers

Plato and Aristotle

Greeks: The Philosophers covers the most important works of Plato and Aristotle and introduces students to the ideas that have been wrestled with by Western Civilization for over two thousand years. The texts covered in this unit include Plato’s Apology, Crito, Phaedo, Phaedrus, and Republic; and Aristotle’s Metaphysics, Ethics, and Poetics. Wesley Callihan draws from decades of teaching experience as he unpacks the concepts, dispels common misconceptions, and explains how the Christian church and society at large have been influenced by the ideas of these men—both for good and for ill.

12 lessons (video lectures and curriculum) · Grades 9–12+

The Philosophers: the course, the workbook and the Reader
The course streams in the Roman Roads app; the printed Reader and workbook are the optional upgrades.
You’re buyingGreeks: The PhilosophersThe complete digital course
$74.75
Included
  • 12 video lectures. Stream or download videos in the Roman Roads app, yours for life
  • The Philosophers Reader (Vol. 4) as an eBook, in the app
  • Workbook (PDF) with answer key
  • A and B exams with teacher guide
How will you read Plato and Aristotle? choose one
The workbook choose one
Recommended with The Greeks

Prefer discs? , while supplies last.

Total$74.75

Readers or workbooks for a second student: Readers · Workbooks
Co-ops and schools: group licensing

The lectures

Twelve lectures, six hours

Each lecture opens with a short review, then summary, commentary and connections across history, art and theology. Watch Lecture 1 free.

  1. 1Introduction to Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle28 min
  2. 2Lesson 2 Plato: The Apology: Socrates, St. Paul, and The Doctrine of Wisdom31 min
  3. 3Lesson 3 Plato: The Crito and Phaedo: Socrates, Christianity, and the Doctrine of Body and Soul31 min
  4. 4Lesson 4 Plato: The Phaedrus: Socrates, Augustine, Dante, C. S. Lewis, and the Dialectic of Desire38 min
  5. 5Lesson 5 Plato: The Republic: Understanding Morality30 min
  6. 6Lesson 6 Plato: The Republic: The Forms and the Influence on Medieval Christendom28 min
  7. 7Lesson 7 Aristotle: The Metaphysics: Aristotle, Aquinas, and the Doctrine of Wisdom30 min
  8. 8Lesson 8 Aristotle: The Metaphysics: the Cosmos in Antiquity and the Middle Ages33 min
  9. 9Aristotle: The Ethics: Happiness and the Chief End of Man23 min
  10. 10Aristotle: The Ethics: Concerning Friendship24 min
  11. 11Lesson 11 Aristotle: The Poetics: Stories, Oedipus, and Jane Austen30 min
  12. 12The Lessons of Greek Philosophy29 min
Taught byWesley Callihan
The books

What your student reads

  • PlatoApology, Crito, Phaedo, Phaedrus, Republic
  • AristotleMetaphysics, Ethics, Poetics

Every assigned text is in the Philosophers Reader (Vol. 4), as a printed book or the eBook that comes with the course. Students are welcome to use other editions of the great books they already own with this course. The video lectures reference Latin or Greek line numbers, which allows a broader use of editions for those who prefer to bring their own.

OWC Reader Vol. 4 • The Philosophers
Old Western Culture Reader · Vol. 4

The Philosophers

732 pages · 6 × 9 in. · paperback $32 · hardback $45 · eBook included with the course

About this Reader
New for 2026 · Recommended with The Greeks

The Philosophers Companion

One printed, full-color volume for this unit: the Honors and Essentials schedules day by day, Grammar, Logic, Rhetoric and Discussion questions for every lesson, commonplace starters, and Digressios on the art, music, maps and stories behind the books. It adds no busywork; it is a companion to the books, not a textbook.

Use it beside the Workbook or in its place. $39. Forthcoming: pre-order now and it ships as soon as it is printed.

What’s inside
The Philosophers Companion
Part ofOld Western Culture: The GreeksFour units, 48 lectures, two high-school credits · from from $299
The whole year
Good to know

Questions

Is The Philosophers right for a younger student?

Old Western Culture is intended for mature and discerning students; we recommend it for ages 14 and up. The course deals with mature themes such as paganism, sexual immorality, battle scenes (mostly in the reading) and classical paintings, and is meant to equip your child with a Biblical lens for them. We assume a working knowledge of the Bible and basic Christian doctrine.

How much credit is it?

One unit is half a high-school credit in literature or history; a full year of four units is two credits.

How long does a unit take?

Nine weeks: one lecture a week, with the reading and the questions between. The Honors schedule reads everything; the Essentials schedule reads a shorter selection and still watches every lecture.

Do we need the printed Reader?

No. The Reader eBook is in the app with the course, and the editions already on your shelf work too. We do recommend reading in print, whether that is our Reader, a Roman Roads Classic where one exists, or your own copy; the Reader’s advantage is every assigned text in one volume.

Workbook or Companion?

Both work with the lectures. The Workbook (PDF included with the main curriculum; printed edition available as add-on) holds the questions for every lecture and reading with an answer key. The Companion is the fuller book: schedules, more questions at four levels, and the Digressios. Use it beside the workbook or in its place.

Can a co-op or school use it?

Yes. Students watch at home and discuss in class, or a teacher lectures live from the Companion. Ask us about group licensing.

Is it a subscription?

No. You buy it once and it is yours for life.

Greeks: The Philosophers

The complete digital course, from $74.75. Add the printed Reader and the Companion above.