Syllabus El Camino College: Ancient and Medieval Philosophy (PHIL-10, Section # 2561, Fall, 2013, T & Th., 11:15 a.m.-12:40 p.m., Room Soc 211) Professor: Dr. Darla J. Fjeld (Office Hours: I will be in Rm 211 from 7:45 a.m. 1 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays, please call or text the number below for an appointment for help.) Telephone: 310-486-7752 E-mail: Dr.Fjeld@gmail.com This course offers a chronological examination of Western philosophical thought developed between 600 B.C.E. and 1300 C.E., including the principle ancient and medieval philosophies of this time period. Topics include Greek and Roman thought, and the rise and development of Christianity. Course Objectives: 1. Analyze the philosophical ideas of the individual Greek pre-socratic philosophers beginning with Thales and ending with the Sophists. 2. Compare and contrast the classical Greek philosophies of Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle. 3. Compare and contrast the philosophies of the Graeco-Roman period, including the Epicureans, the Stoics, the Skeptics, the neo-platonists, and other selected schools of thought. 4. Analyze the factors which led to the rise of Christianity, the philosophical contributions of such early Christian apologists as Justin Martyr, Origen, and Irenaeus, and the first real philosophical articulation of Christian thought in the work of St. Augustine. 5. Identify and articulate the central philosophical problems of the early Middle Ages, including the nature of Scholasticism, the problem of universals, and other selected ideas of the Medieval Weltanschauung. 6. Analyze the great synthesis achieved by St. Thomas Aquinas during the apogee of Scholasticism in the thirteenth century. 7. Identify and assess the ideas that contributed to the decline of Scholasticism and the dawn of the modern era. 8. Evaluate the apparent reasons for the rise of scientific and rationalistic aspects within Western thought. 9. Trace the historical development and continuity of the ideas that constitute the Western spiritual heritage from the early mystery religions and Judaism to their fruition in the philosophies of Augustine and Aquinas. 10. Assess selected philosophical presuppositions that undergird and constitute the intellectual heritage of Western civilization. 11. Evaluate some of the roles of philosophical ideas both in the history of Western civilization as well as in the student's own personal life. Student Learning Outcomes: In a written assignment and/or oral discussion, students will identify at least two of the major philosophies of the ancient and/or medieval period, and will assess their impact on the intellectual heritage of Western civilization. ADA Statement: El Camino College is committed to providing educational accommodations for students with disabilities upon the timely request by the student to the instructor. A student with a disability, who would like to request an academic accommodation, is responsible for identifying herself/himself to the instructor and to the Special Resource Center. To make arrangements for academic accommodations, contact the Special Resource Center. 1
Classes will generally open with a lecture in which I will open up discussion questions. It will impress me if you are able to respond to these questions. Requirements: Attend classes, read assignments, write 5 papers (50% of your grade) and a take-home final exam (50% of your grade). You are allowed 2 absences. For every absence after 2, a percentage point will be deducted from your final grade. More than 5 absences and you will be dropped from the course. Your papers are due on the following dates: Paper 1: Tuesday, September 17, 2013 Paper 2: Thursday, October 10 Paper 3: Thursday, October 24 Paper 4: Thursday, November 14 Paper 5: Thursday, December 5 Final Exam: Thursday, December 12 The topics for the papers are outlined throughout this syllabus. Follow my instructions carefully. Papers will be graded on content and clarity and are meant to demonstrate your knowledge and understanding of the issues assigned. Papers are to be double-spaced with a 12pt. readable font and must be handed to me in person. You should include a title for your paper. Your papers should be turned in on the date due. Two points will be deducted from the paper's score for every day that it is late and you will be dropped from the course if you do not turn in a paper by the time the next one is due. No excuses are necessary for late papers or for absences. The rules apply no matter what the excuse is. Your final exam will be a take-home that I will hand to you on Friday, November 16, 2012 and that you will hand back to me between 9:30 and 10:30, Friday, December 14. You must hand it to me in person. No e-mails will be accepted. Required text book: William F. Lawhead's The Voyage of Discovery: A Historical Introduction to Philosophy, Third edition I will also hand out a reading packet that contains required reading material. Weekly Assignments Week 1 Course Procedures and Introduction to Philosophy Reading Assignment for the week: pp. 1-12 of The Voyage of Discovery (referred to from now on as Voyage) Tuesday, August 27, 2013 Thursday, August 31 Week 2 Greek Context and Pre-Socratics Reading Assignment for the week: pp. 15-42 of Voyage Tuesday, September 3, 2013 2
Thursday, September 5 Week 3 Pre-Socratics, Sophists & Socrates Reading Assignment for the week: pp. 43-59 of Voyage; and the Pre-Socratic material of your reading packet. Tuesday, September 10, 2013 Thursday, September 12 Paper # 1 is due on Tuesday, September 17 -- Write 2 to 3 pages responding to the following statements: The world contains many things, but seems to also be one. At the same time, the world seems to be constantly changing, but there is a sense of an unchanging reality. Focus on the pre-socratic material that we have covered. [Be sure in your response to demonstrate that you have interacted with the reading material -- pp. 1-59 -- and issues raised in class through September 12.] Week 4 Plato Reading Assignment for the next two weeks: pp. 60-83 of Voyage; and the Plato material in your reading packet. Tuesday, September 17, 2013 Paper #1 Due! Thursday, September 19 Week 5 Plato Tuesday, September 24, 2013 Thursday, September 26 Paper # 2 is due on Thursday,, October 10 -- Write 3 to 5 pages responding to the following question: How does Plato deal with the problem of change in his epistemology? Be sure in your response to discuss how Plato's ontology relates to his epistemology and assess whether you think he solves the problem of relativism. [You must demonstrate in your paper that you have read the assigned material on Plato and that you have engaged the issues that were discussed in class.] Week 6 Aristotle Reading Assignment for the next two weeks: pp. 84-104 of Voyage; and the Aristotle material in your reading packet Tuesday, October 1, 2013 Thursday, October 3 Week 7 Aristotle Tuesday, October 8, 2013 Friday, October 10 Paper #2 Due! 3
Paper # 3 is due on Thursday, October 24 -- Write 2 to 3 pages responding to the following question: How is Aristotle's ontology and epistemology different than Plato's? Be sure to assess each view and say whether or not you think either view is adequate in terms of your own experience. [You must demonstrate in your paper that you have read the assigned material and that you have engaged the issues that were discussed in class.] Week 8 After Aristotle Reading Assignment for the week: pp. 105-125 of Voyage; and the "After Aristotle" material from your reading packet Tuesday, October 15, 2013 Thursday, October 17 Week 9 Philosophy and Christianity Reading Assignment for the week: pp. 129-139 of Voyage; and the Philosophy and Christianity material from your reading packet Tuesday, October 22, 2013 Thursday, October 24 Paper #3 Due! Week 10 Augustine Reading Assignment for the next two weeks: pp. 140-156 of Voyage; and the Augustine material from your reading packet Tuesday, October 29, 2013 Thursday, October 31 Week 11 Augustine Tuesday, November 5, 2013 Thursday, November 7 Paper # 4 due Thursday, November 14 -- Write 3 to 5 pages on how philosophy interacted with Christianity being sure to cover the early Christian writers and demonstrate how Augustine, in particular, was influenced by philosophy. What is your assessment of this interaction and can you see how this interaction has had an effect on American culture? Week 12 Early Medieval Philosophy and the Rise of Scholasticism Reading Assignment for the week: pp. 157-186 of Voyage Tuesday, November 12, 2013 Thursday, November 14 Paper #4 Due! 4
Note: I will hand out the take-home Final Exam on Thursday, November 14. You must be in class to pick up your exam on this date. It will be due on Thursday, December 12 by noon. Week 13 Thomas Aquinas Reading Assignment for the next three weeks: pp. 187-204 of Voyage; and the Thomas Aquinas material from your reading packet. Tuesday, November 19, 2013 Thursday, November 21 Week 14 Review and Thanksgiving Holiday Tuesday, November 26, 2013 Thursday, November 28, Thanksgiving Holiday No class! Paper # 5 is due on Thursday, December 5, 2013 -- Write 2 to 3 pages on Thomas Aquinas' solution to the faith and reason problem and illustrate his solution by interacting with at least one of his proofs for the existence of God. What do you think of Aquinas' solution? Week 15 Thomas Aquinas and Shifting Currents Reading Assignment for the week: pp. 205-220 of Voyage; and "Unraveling" material in your reading packet. Tuesday, December 3, 2013 Thursday, December 5 Paper #5 Due! Week 16 Exam Week Tuesday, December 10, 2011 Review Day Thursday, December 12: Turn in your take-home final exam before noon in Room 211. You have to hand me the exam in person. No exceptions! Grading I will average your five paper scores and that to your 90-100 A final exam score and divide by 2 to get your final grade. 80-89 B Note that absences over two will be subtracted from 70-79 C your final grade score and the bonus will be added to it. 60-69 D Below 60 F How to Write a Philosophy Paper for my Ancient and Medieval Philosophy Course In the top left corner of the paper type the following information: Your name Paper # 1 5
Ancient & Medieval, Phil-10-2561 Dr. Fjeld September 22, 2010 Then double-space and center and write your title. Double-space and start the body of your paper. Indent your paragraphs. Do not fool around with formatting to make your paper look longer than it is. The point of the papers in this course is for you to demonstrate that you understand what you have read and heard in class. A philosophy paper is not just a series of opinions spouted by its author, nor a straightforward reporting of events, nor a "book report" or capsule summary of some famous person's views. It involves giving, and weighing, arguments. Once you have formulated your claim, try to think of arguments that support it, and also arguments that seem to undercut it. Use the arguments that we are reading about in this class. You must, however, show that you understand these arguments and are not just "parroting" someone, and you must acknowledge your source for the argument. In our class, if you use our text book as your source, which is encouraged, you can cite the source in the following way: after the appropriate sentence or quote for example you can put (Lawhead, p. 231). If you use other sources, you should cite them in a footnote. Do not leave things unclear or make sloppy statements and expect me to figure out what you are trying to say. I can't read your mind, and will assume from previous experience with other students that you yourself do not know what you mean. The best approach for you to take is for you to simply say what you mean. It is best to begin with an introductory paragraph in which you say what you take yourself to be doing in the paper; then, after you have presented your case, close with a conclusion which says what you have done. If you do not say up front, in the introduction, what you will be doing in the body of the paper, I will conclude that you do not know what you are up to in your paper. A final point about introductions and conclusions is that they should not include phrases like the following: "Throughout history, people have struggled with the question of what makes an action good," or "Aristotle was the greatest philosopher who ever lived, and his influence is still being felt today." Far from being impressed, I will be thinking, "Get to the point." Proper structure at all levels of your paper will help immensely in getting your points across. Choose words in a way that avoids ambiguity. For example, if you use the word "it", be sure that it is clear to which "it" you are referring. The same goes for the word "this." Likewise, you should avoid run-on sentences or incomplete sentences, which can be very confusing to read. Also do not mix up the words "our" and "are"; there, their and they're; your and you're. You should write a first draft of your paper and then read it out loud to yourself so that you can hear how the paper sounds. As you are reading, note and correct any grammatical or spelling errors and also pay attention for confusing or unclear sentences. After making all corrections, write a final draft to be turned into me. Do not come into class on the day your paper is due and tell me that your printer broke or any similar excuse. Anticipate that things can go wrong at the last minute and get your paper typed, leaving yourself enough time to get it in on time. 6