Robert C Koons

History of Medieval Philosophy

Professor Robert C. Koons
471-5530; koons@mail.utexas.edu
Office hours: Tues. 2-3, Wed. 1-2; WAG 405

DESCRIPTION:
An examination of the most significant and representative philosophers of medieval Europe, with a view both to their historical significance and their contemporary relevance. Topics include: faith and reason, proofs of God’s existence, free will, soul and body, and the problem of universals.

TEXTS:
Most of our texts will be drawn from public web sites, including:
Aquinas’s Summa Theologica: http://www.ccel.org/a/aquinas/summa/home.html http://www.newadvent.org/summa/
Internet Medieval Sourcebook: http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/sbook.html
Paul Vincent Spade’s page: http://pvspade.com/Logic/index.html
Thomas Aquinas page (Utrecht): http://www.thomasinstituut.org/thomasinstituut/scripts/index.htm
EpitemeLinks.com:    http://www.epistemelinks.com/Main/PhilosopherList.aspx?Period=Medi
John Kilcullen’s page: http://www.humanities.mq.edu.au/Ockham/medph.html
Required texts:
John A. Vella, Aristotle: A Guide for the Perplexed
Augustine, On the Free Choice of the Will
Boethius, The Consolation of Philosophy
G. K. Chesterton, Saint Thomas Aquinas

EVALUATION:
Short (5-7 page) midterm paper (due October 19th)                      25%
Longer (10-12 page) term paper (rough draft due Dec. 1st; final draft due Dec. 9th) 50%
Attendance and class participation, including in-class “disputations”        25%

More detailed instructions for the paper and for the disputations will be provided as the semester progresses.
 
Phl 349
Fall 2009
Prof. Koons

SYLLABUS

Week 1. (Aug. 26-28) Jerusalem & Athens
The Bible (The New Testament): John 1:1-14; Matthew 5-7; Acts 2:1-47, 17:16-34; Romans 1:16-23; I Corinthians 1:18-31, 15:16-26; Colossians 2:8-10; Revelation 21:1-8, 22:1-5. http://www.earlychristianwritings.com/
Philo of Alexandria: http://www.torreys.org/bible/philopag.html
Justin Martyr, Apology (Dialogue with Trypho), Ch. 1-6 (188-199) http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/basis/justin-apology2.html
Tertullian, On the Flesh of Christ, ch. 4 & 5, http://www.newadvent.org/fathers/0315.htm or http://www.tertullian.org/anf/anf03/anf03-39.htm#P9237_2537879
Origen, On Classical Learning: http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/source/origen1.html

Week 2. (Aug. 31, Sep. 2-4) Faith & Reason: Plato, Aristotle, Plotinus, Augustine & Boethius
Plato, The Timaeus http://classics.mit.edu/Plato/timaeus.html or Perseus http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper 21d-34c, 37d-38c, 39e-42c, 48a-50d, 55a-e,
Vella, Aristotle: A Guide to the Perplexed, pp. 75-86
Plotinus, The Enneads (Ennead 1, Tractate 6) http://classics.mit.edu/Plotinus/enneads.html or http://www.ccel.org/ccel/plotinus/enneads.htm
Boethius, The Consolation of Philosophy, pp. xxi-xxxiv, (Introduction), pp. 3-29.
Augustine, The City of God, Book VIII: http://ccat.sas.upenn.edu/jod/augustine.html

Week 3. (Sept. 7-9-11) Faith & Reason: Muslim Philosophy, Anselm, Bonaventure
Ibn Sina (Avicenna): http://www.muslimphilosophy.com/ei/sina.htm
Al-Ghazali, The Incoherence of the Philosophers (introduction):  http://www.ghazali.org/works/taf-eng.pdf
Ibn-Rushd (Averroes), Harmony of Philosophy and Religion: http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/source/1190averroes.html
Bonaventure, The Mind's Road to God, Prologue, ch. 1-3: http://www.intratext.com/IXT/ENG0071/_P8.HTM

Week 4. (Sept. 14-16-18) Faith & Reason: Aquinas
Chesterton, Saint Thomas Aquinas, chapters 1, 3 and 8 (1-28, 45-73, 152-166).
Aquinas, Summa Theologica: Part I, Q2 (A1, 2), Q12 (A 2, 4, 11, 12), Q13 (A 6, 10); Part II-II, Q2 (A4, 10).   http://www.ccel.org/a/aquinas/summa/home.html http://www.newadvent.org/summa/

Week 5. (Sept. 21-23-25) Proving God’s Existence: Boethius, Anselm
Boethius, Consolation of Philosophy, p. 78-115 (Book III).
Aquinas, Summa Theologica: Part II-II, Q6 (1-4).
Anslem, Proslogion (Preface, ch. 1-6): http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/basis/anselm-proslogium.html

Week 6. (Sept. 28-30, Oct. 2) Proving God’s Existence: Plato & Aristotle; The Kalam Tradition
Plato, The Laws, Book X: http://classics.mit.edu/Plato/laws.10.x.html
Al-Ghazali, The Incoherence of the Philosophers (problems 1-3):  http://www.ghazali.org/works/taf-eng.pdf
Ibn Rushd (Averroes), Incoherence of the Incoherence, 1st and 3rd Discussions: http://www.muslimphilosophy.com/ir/tt/index.html
Aquinas, On the Eternity of the World: http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/basis/aquinas-eternity.html
Aquinas, Summa Theologica, Part I, Q. 46 (A 1, 2)

Week 7. (Oct. 5-7-9) Proving God’s Existence: al-Farabi, ibn Sina, Maimonides, Aquinas
Article on Al-Farabi: http://www.muslimphilosophy.com/ip/rep/H021.htm
Chesterton, Saint Thomas Aquinas, pp. 144-148.
Aquinas, On Being and Essence, ch. 3-5: http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/basis/aquinas-esse.html

Week 8. (Oct. 12-14-16) Proving God’s Existence: Aquinas, Scotus
Aquinas, Summa Contra Gentiles, Book I, ch. 13-23, 38-44, 72; Book II, ch. 6-16. 22:  http://www.nd.edu/Departments/Maritain/etext/gc.htm
Scotus, A Treatise on God as First Principle, chapters 1-3: http://www.ewtn.com/library/THEOLOGY/GODASFIR.HTM

Week 9. (Oct. 19-21-23) Ethics: Eudaemonism in Aristotle, Boethius & Aquinas; Natural Law & Just War
Vela, Aristotle the Philosopher, pp. 116-157.
Boethius, The Consolation of Philosophy, pp. 116-146. (Book IV)
Aquinas, Summa Theologica, Part I-II, Q1 (A1-8), Q3 (A8), Q4 (A1), Q5 (A8), Q95 (A2).
Aquinas, Summa Theologica, Part II-II, Q40 (A1).

Midterm paper due: October 19th.

Week 10. (Oct. 26-28-30) Free Will: Aristotle, Augustine & Boethius
Augustine, On the Free Choice of the Will.
Augustine, The City of God, Book XII: http://ccat.sas.upenn.edu/jod/augustine.html
Boethius, The Consolation of Philosophy, pp. 147-169. (Book V)

Week 11. (Nov. 2-4-6) Free Will in Aquinas
Aquinas, Summa Theologica, Part I-II, Q10 (A1-4), Q17 (A5, 6), Q19 (A5-6), Q78 (A1).

 
Week 12. (Nov. 9-11-13) Free Will in Scotus & Ockham; Theories of Knowledge
Lecture (Kilcullen): http://www.humanities.mq.edu.au/Ockham/z3607.html
Article: http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/free-will-foreknowledge/
Chesterton, Saint Thomas Aquinas, pp. 118-144, 148-151 (Chapters VI and VII).
Aquinas, Summa Theologica, Part I, Q78 (A 1, 3, 4), Q79 (A1-6), Q84 (A5,6), Q85 (A 1, 2), Q86 (A1)

Week 13. (Nov. 16-18-20) Soul and Body
Vela, Aristotle: Guide to the Perplexed, pp. 87-115.
Aquinas, On the Principles of Nature:  http://www.fordham.edu/gsas/phil/klima/principles.htm
Aquinas, Summa Theologica, Part I, Q 75, Q76.   
Aquinas, On Being and Essence, ch. 1-2: http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/basis/aquinas-esse.html

Week 14. (Nov. 23-25) Problem of Universals: Aristotle, Boethius, Abelard, Aquinas
Vela, Aristotle: Guide to the Perplexed, pp. 26-46, 58-62.
Boethius, Commentary on the Isagoge of Porphyry, Book I, ch. 10 & 11: http://www.philosophy.leeds.ac.uk/GMR/hmp/texts/ancient/boethius/bisagoge1.html
Aquinas, On Being and Essence, ch. 3: http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/basis/aquinas-esse.html

Week 15. (Nov. 30-Dec. 2-4) Problem of Universals: Scotus and Ockahm
Lecture (Scotus): http://www.humanities.mq.edu.au/Ockham/z3606.html
Scotus, Ordinatio (Opus Oxoniense). 2 d3 p2, q1-6: http://individual.utoronto.ca/pking/editions_and_translations.html
Ockham, Ordinatio, I, dist. 2, q. 6: http://www.humanities.mq.edu.au/Ockham/wockord.html
Ockham, Summa Logicae, Part I, ch. 14-16: http://pvspade.com/Logic/docs/ockham.pdf
Lecture (Ockham): http://www.humanities.mq.edu.au/Ockham/z3608.html

 
Phl 349
Fall ‘09

Class Policies

Paper Submission/Lateness
Papers may be submitted electronically or as hard copy (in class). A full letter grade will be deducted for each day (or part thereof) beyond the due date.

The final paper may be delivered to me in my office on Dec. 9th, or emailed to me, or mailed to me at: Philosophy Dept., 1, University Station C3500, Austin, TX 78712. (In the last case, make sure that the postmark is no later than the deadline.)

Religious Holidays
A student who misses classes or other required activities, including examinations, for the observance of a religious holy day should inform the instructor as far in advance of the absence as possible, so that arrangements can be made to complete an assignment within a reasonable time after the absence.

Accommodations
The University of Texas at Austin provides upon request appropriate academic accommodations for qualified students with disabilities. For more information, contact the Office of the Dean of Students at 471-6259, 471-6441 TTY.

Academic Integrity
Policy on Scholastic Dishonesty: Students who violate University rules on scholastic dishonesty are subject to disciplinary penalties, including the possibility of failure in the course or dismissal from the University. Policies on scholastic dishonesty will be strictly enforced. For further information please visit the Student Judicial Services Web site: http://deanofstudents.utexas.edu/sjs.

For writing assignments: if you use words or ideas that are not your own, you must cite sources. To do otherwise is to be guilty of plagiarism. We will clarify this in class – feel free to ask us about how to handle specific cases.