MEDIEVAL PHILOSOPHY Dr. V. Adluri Office: Hunter West, 12 th floor, Room 1242 Telephone: 973 216 7874 Email: vadluri@hunter.cuny.edu Office hours: Wednesdays, 6:00 7:00 P.M and by appointment DESCRIPTION: The Middle Ages are often portrayed as a period of philosophical decline coupled with uncritical, dogmatic religious faith. Yet, a closer look at this period reveals a rich tradition of philosophy, with scholars debating and writing about a variety of topics such as ontology (what it means to exist), epistemology, metaphysics, ethics, political theory, the nature of language, and aesthetics. Contrary to the popular image of the dark Middle Ages, philosophy of this time produced a rich synthesis of ancient Greek wisdom with the scriptural traditions of the Near East. In this course, we will look beyond popular prejudices and read some basic texts from the Christian, Jewish, and Islamic traditions of this period. In doing so, we obtain not only deep insights into philosophy itself but also human nature and the possibility of dialogue amongst various religious traditions. Required Text: Hyman, Arthur, James J. Walsh, and Thomas Williams. Eds. Philosophy in the Middle Ages. Indianapolis: Hackett Publishing Co., 2010. All textbooks are on order at Shakespeare & Co. Booksellers (939 Lexington Avenue between 68th and 69th streets; 212 570 0201). Shakespeare & Co. also has a limited number of used copies available at lower prices. COURSE OBJECTIVES: The objectives of this course are to provide students with a thorough overview of medieval thinkers, including significant figures of the Jewish tradition. We shall study these philosophers in the context of problems bequeathed to philosophy by Plato and Aristotle, including the nature of soul, existence of God, and nature of reality. In addition, the course will teach basic analytic and critical skills, especially how to read texts carefully paying attention to literary form, structure, context, and nuance. Students will learn how to interpret texts rigorously, to research secondary sources, and to reconstruct an argument in their own language. Opportunities for class participation will allow students to develop the ability to formulate and discuss ideas, objections, and their own solutions to problems. Regular writing assignments will give students the opportunity to train their expository writing skills, i.e., organization, clarity, precision, and fluidity of expression. This is a writing-intensive course. GRADES AND REQUIREMENTS: 1. All students are responsible for a mid-term paper (10 pages min.) which counts toward 50% of their grade. 2. The mid-term paper is on Christian philosophy of the Middle Ages and consists of responses to three questions on three thinkers, which will be announced in class the week before the submission deadline. You are required to edit your papers for correct
spelling and grammar. I reserve the right to reject any paper that does not meet these standards. 3. You will have the option of rewriting your mid-term paper for a better grade if you wish. I do not accept late assignments. 4. There will also be a final exam with three short questions: one on Islamic philosophy, one on Jewish philosophy, and the third on the philosophy of the late Middle Ages. The final exam is 30% of your grade. 5. Regular reading counts toward 10% of your grade. 6. Class participation counts toward a further 10% of your grade. 7. Regular attendance is required; any student who misses more than three classes without notice will have to see me before he/she can continue attending. I take attendance for every session. SPECIAL NEEDS: In compliance with the American Disability Act of 1990 (ADA) and with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Hunter College is committed to ensuring educational parity and accommodations for all students with documented disabilities and/or medical conditions. It is recommended that all students with documented disabilities (emotional, medical, physical and/ or learning) consult the Office of AccessABILITY located in Room E1124 to secure necessary academic accommodations. For further information and assistance please call (212-772- 4857)/TTY (212-650- 3230). ACADEMIC HONESTY: Hunter College regards acts of academic dishonesty (e.g., plagiarism, cheating on examinations, obtaining unfair advantage, and falsification of records and official documents) as serious offenses against the values of intellectual honesty. The College is committed to enforcing the CUNY Policy on Academic Integrity and will pursue cases of academic dishonesty according to the Hunter College Academic Integrity Procedures. A detailed statement about plagiarism is posted on Blackboard and will be distributed before papers are submitted. CLASS SCHEDULE AND REQUIRED READING: This course is designed to fit a 14-week semester. The sessions may not correspond exactly to the calendar as discussion may extend beyond one class into the next. It is the student s responsibility to attend every single class to note the necessary reading material for the next class. In case a student is absent, it is the student s responsibility to find out what the assigned reading for the next class is. The course is organized into three parts: Part I covers Christian philosophy of the Middle Ages; Part II covers Islamic & Jewish philosophy of the Middle Ages; and Part III covers the philosophy of the late Middle Ages (13 th and 14 th Centuries). Aug. 26 Thu Classes begin: Fall 2010 Part I: Christian Philosophy of the Middle Ages Sep. 1 Wed Introduction to the Middle Ages Dates; major thinkers; and historical context The nature of scripture (Revelation) and reason 2 of 5
Sep. 6 Mon No classes: Labor Day Sep. 8 Mon St. Augustine Reading: The Teacher (p. 9-34) Theory of language; language as a sign Questions: What is the purpose of language? Are there significations that are not signs? What is the structure of a sign? Sep. 13 Wed St. Augustine (contd.) Reading: The Teacher (p. 9-34) Theory of language; language as a sign Questions: What is the purpose of language? Are there significations that are not signs? What is the structure of a sign? Sep. 15 Mon St. Augustine (contd.) Reading: On Free Choice of the Will (p. 35-60) Questions: What is free will? What is necessity? Do we have free will in all things? The problem of evil Sep. 20 Wed St. Augustine (contd.) Reading: Confessions, Book 2 (p. 66-68) Augustine and the problem of evil; the story of the pears; comparison with Genesis II Sep. 22 Mon St. Augustine (contd.) Reading: Confessions, Book 11 (p. 72-81) St. Augustine s theory of creation; the interpretation of let there be light as intellect; the relationship of reason to Revelation Sep. 27 Wed St. Augustine (contd.) Reading: City of God, Book 19 (p. 81-98) Comparison of the city of man and the city of God; the different goals and natures of each; the role of philosophy in attaining happiness Sep. 29 Mon Boethius Reading: The Consolation of Philosophy, Book 3, 9-12 (p. 103-140) The role of philosophy in attaining happiness; the nature of the Good; God as the Good; the happy man described Oct. 6 Wed St. Anselm Reading: Monologion (p. 158-160) Proof of the existence of God Oct. 11 Mon No class: Columbus day Oct. 13 Wed St. Anselm Reading: Proslogion (p. 161-181) 3 of 5
Guanilo s reply on behalf of the fool Oct. 18 Mon Abelard & Heloise No reading; movie: Stealing Heaven The complex relationship between philosophy, power, and religion in the Middle Ages; a moving tale of philosophical love Oct. 20 Wed Review session Part II: Islamic & Jewish Philosophy of the Middle Ages Oct. 25 Mon Mid-term paper due Introduction to Islamic Philosophy Plato and Aristotle in relation to Islamic philosophy Oct. 27 Wed Al-Farabi Reading: The Principles of Existing Things (p. 223-238) The nature of the universe and God; Neoplatonic hierarchy; from the One to many Nov. 1 Mon Ibn Sina Reading: The Salvation and The Cure (p. 244-256) Ibn Sina s conception of metaphysics Nov. 3 Wed Ibn Sina Reading: The Salvation and The Cure (p. 256-265) Ibn Sina s conception of the soul Nov. 8 Mon Class quiz Introduction to Jewish Philosophy Lecture on Philo of Alexandria and the Jewish Kalam Nov. 10 Wed Saadya Gaon Reading: Book of Doctrines and Beliefs (p. 341-350) Creation ex nihilo and the four arguments of creation Nov. 15 Mon Moses Maimonides Reading: The Guide to the Perplexed (p. 364-385) Doctrine of divine attributes; doctrine of creation; argument against eternity of the world; philosophy of law Part III: Philosophy in the Late Middle Ages (13 th and 14 th Centuries) Nov. 17 Wed St. Thomas Aquinas Introduction The revival of Aristotelian philosophy in Europe; the decline of Neoplatonic thought 4 of 5
Nov. 22 Mon St. Thomas Aquinas Reading: On Being and Essence (p. 451-456) Nov. 24 Wed St. Thomas Aquinas Reading: Summa Theologiae, Part I, Selections from the Treatise on God (p. 457-482) Relationship between reason and Revelation; theology and natural sciences; the natural light of reason and the light of Revelation Nov. 29 Mon St. Thomas Aquinas Reading: Summa Theologiae, Part I, Selections from the Treatise on Creation (p. 483-493) Augustine s and Aquinas views on creation and the eternity of the world compared Dec. 1 Wed St. Thomas Aquinas Reading: Summa Theologiae, Part I, Selections from the Treatise on Human Nature (p. 494-518) On the nature of the soul and its capacities; perception, cognition, and the intellect Dec. 6 Mon St. Thomas Aquinas No reading Proofs for the existence of God Dec. 8 Wed Duns Scotus Reading: The Existence of an Infinite Being (p. 556-566) Questions: Is there an actually existing infinite being? Is it self-evident that something infinite exists? Dec. 13 Mon Conclusion Enlightenment views of the philosophy of the Middle Ages; the claim that existence is not a real predicate and the critique of metaphysics in Kant Dec. 15 Wed Conclusion (contd.) The influence of medieval philosophy on contemporary thought; Martin Heidegger and the question of Being Dec. 20 Mon Final exam Dec. 21 Tu End of Fall Term 5 of 5