HISTORY OF MEDIEVAL PHILOSOPHY
SYLLABUS (WEB EDITION) PHIL 223
GREG MOSES MARIST COLLEGE FALL 1995
This course will survey the history of Medieval Philosophy as exemplified in the works of St. Thomas Aquinas (1225- 1274), where Latin, Greek, Islamic, and Hebrew philosophies are synthesized into a singular quest for human perfection. For St. Thomas, every voice is countable: Plato, Aristotle, Paul, Augustine, Boethius, Avicenna, Averroes, Maimonides, and others are considered for their various contributions to the whole truth of human existence. As St. Thomas brilliantly conveys his faith in Christian scripture, he also demonstrates that truth has allies among pagan, Jewish, and Moslem philosophers. Thus the spirit of approach is neither dogmatic nor sectarian, but diverse and plural. How can we do justice to fifteen centuries of Medieval Philosophy in fifteen weeks? In the works of St. Thomas we find a compendium and unification of Medieval Philosophy which may serve as a panoramic window to the vistas of its history.
Introduction to St. Thomas Aquinas. Ed. Anton C. Pegis. New York: Modern Library, 1948. [Summa] Copleston, F. C. A History of Medieval Philosophy. Notre Dame: Notre Dame UP, 1990. [HMP]
Attendance and class participation are expected (3 absences = 1 letter grade off, etc). Tests will seek to evaluate a student’s critical appreciation for readings and class discussions.
10 weekly quizzes (10 points each) = 25% Midterm exam = 25% Term paper (2,500 words) = 25% Final exam = 25%
Here the student will explore some issue relevant to the history of Medieval Philosophy. The instructor will encourage topics which have organic relation to student interest. General grading criteria will include clarity of presentation,style of composition, the ability to reason soundly toward an interesting conclusion, and some indication that the paper has actually been a learning experience.
Week of:
Summa I, Q. 1, "On Sacred Doctrine", pp. 3-19. HMP, Ch. 10, "13th Cent. Universities," pp. 150-60.(26)
Labyrinth: Bryn Mawr Medieval Review (BMMR):
Summa I, Q. 12, "How God is Known by Us," pp. 70-96. HMP, Ch. 3, "Augustine," pp. 27-49.(48)
Augustine Home Page Augustine Discussion Archive Augustine and the Order of St. Benedict
Summa I, Q. 19, "Will of God," pp. 192-213. HMP, Ch. 4, "Dionysius," pp. 50-56. Ch. 14, "Duns Scotus," pp. 213-29.(43)
Egyptian Book of the Dead (Papyrus of Ani) Dead Sea Scrolls Church Fathers at ICL
Summa I, Q. 75 & 76, "Soul and Body," pp. 280-310. HMP, Ch. 8, "Islamic Philosophy," pp. 104-24.(50)
Summa I-II, Q. 6 & 8, "Voluntary and Involuntary" & "Object of Volition," pp. 478-97. HMP, Ch. 13, "Albert and Thomas," pp. 176-98.(41)
German Index at Labyrinth Term paper, topic due.
Summa I-II, Q. 90 & 91, "The Essence of Law," and "The Kinds of Law," pp. 609-27. HMP, Ch. 9, "Maimonides," pp. 136-45. Ch. 18"Marsilius of Padua," pp. 292-313.(48)
Summa I, Q. 2, 3, 5-7, & 11, "God’s Existence and Attributes," pp. 20-69.(49)
Summa I, Q. 13 & 14, "God’s Names and Knowledge," pp. 97-160. Summa I, Q. 15-17, "Ideas, Truth, and Falsity," pp. 161- 91.(94)
Virtual Library--Philosophy Term paper, thesis due ("In this paper, I will argue .. ." ).
Summa I, Q. 22, 25, 44, & 45, "God’s Providence, Power, Creation, and Emanation," pp. 214-45. Summa I, Q. 46-49, "Creatures, Things, and Evil," pp. 246-79.(65)
Perseus (Classic Antiquity Home Page) Plotinus--The Enneads
Summa I, Q. 77-81, "Intellect, Appetite, and Sensuality," pp. 311-60. Summa I, Q. 82-87, "Will, Choice, and Knowledge," pp. 361-428.(117)
Summa I-II, Q. 9, 12, 13, 18 & 20, "Movement, Choice, and Acts of Good and Evil," pp. 498-543. Summa I-II, Q. 49, 51, 54-58, & 60-64, "Habits and Virtues," pp. 544-608.(110) [Because of Thanksgiving, this section of reading will be carried over to the following week.]
Hill Monastic Manuscripts Library
Summa I-II, Q. 93-95, "Law: Eternal, Natural, and Human," pp. 628-50.(22)
Summa I-II, Q. 109-12, "Grace: Necessity and Cause," pp. 651-81.(30)
Medieval Music The Tech Classics Final Exam NOTES: Numbers in parentheses indicate total pages of reading for the week. * Warning: indicates lengthier reading assignments. Bibliography Home