Overview
This seminar series examines major works of Western literature from their origins in Ancient Greece, tracing how foundational texts have shaped intellectual, moral, and imaginative life across the centuries. It is led by Professor Anthony O’Hear, Professor of Philosophy at the University of Buckingham. Through sustained engagement with epic, tragedy, and philosophical writing, participants will explore how enduring questions concerning human nature, justice, suffering, reason, and meaning are articulated and reworked within the Western literary tradition.

The seminar series follows The Great Books: A Journey through 2,500 Years of the West’s Classic Literature and adopts its sequence and interpretive approach as the organising framework for the series, offering students the opportunity to study some of the most influential works in the Western literary and philosophical tradition. Beginning with Homer and moving gradually through later authors to Goethe, the series traces a tradition that has shaped Western intellectual life for more than two millennia.

Structure of the Series

The series opens with Ancient Greece. The first sequence of seminars begins with Homer’s Iliad and Odyssey. It then turns to the tragedies of Aeschylus, Sophocles, and Euripides, before concluding with Plato’s dialogues on the trial and death of Socrates.

These works represent one of the earliest and most influential moments in the development of Western literature and philosophy. Their themes continue to shape intellectual reflection to this day.

The series unfolds at a deliberate pace rather than being compressed into a short course. Seminars are held approximately every four weeks so that participants have time to read the texts with care, reflect on the discussion, and prepare for the next stage of the series.

Participants are welcome to join the series at different stages. While the seminars together form part of a wider intellectual journey, each session is structured so that it may also be attended independently.

Textbook
The Great Books: A Journey through 2,500 Years of the West’s Classic Literature by Professor Anthony O’Hear.

Participants are welcome to obtain a copy of the textbook prior to the start of the programme.

Day & Time
Mondays, 8:00-9:30pm (UK Time)
Session Three - Monday 18 May 2026

Delivery & Schedule
Online | Live teaching
Six-Sessions programme | 4-weekly Frequency

Fees and Financial Support

The fee for this series is £15 per session or £65 for the full six-sessions. Fee waivers are available for eligible undergraduate and postgraduate students, and a limited number of scholarships are offered. Applicants seeking financial support should indicate this at the point of application. All requests are considered on an individual basis.

Enrolment and Application Process
Applications are submitted through Teleia, The Classical Institute’s proprietary Virtual Learning Platform, developed to support the Institute’s distinctive educational environment and programme delivery. Admission is open to applicants with a serious interest in literature, philosophy, and the history of ideas. No prior academic study of the texts is required, though participants should be prepared for sustained reading and serious intellectual engagement throughout the programme. Applicants will normally receive an admissions update within 14 days of submission.

Professor
Professor Anthony O’Hear