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Medieval Philosophical Tales 1

Syllabus: Medieval Philosophical Tales Undergraduate Course (must have taken Introduction to Philosophy)

Name: Nick Oschman E-mail: [email protected]

COURSE DESCRIPTION: This course will examine through an examination of philosophical literature, allegories, and illustrations. Spanning literature from the 9th to 13th centuries written by Muslim, Christian, and Jewish authors, this course will traverse topics in ethics, metaphysics, philosophical psychology, philosophy of , and political philosophy. It will also offer a glimpse into the broader historical, religious, and intellectual contexts of the selected authors. Students are expected to have read the entire reading assignment prior to the beginning of the week, as many of these texts are included in order that they may be in conversation with one another.

REQUIREMENTS: Students will be assessed via 8 short responses (~150 words) which answer a given prompt about one of the assigned texts (15% of grade), one ~5 page midterm essay (15% of grade), a ~10 page seminar paper (30% of grade) which is not permitted to be an expansion and development of the midterm paper, and a comprehensive final examination (30% of grade). Class participation with consist in 10% of the final grade.

Short Responses: Prior to the first class of every week, students may submit a short response to a prompt about one of the readings, explicating and engaging with the text. A total of 8 responses must be submitted throughout the semester for an opportunity for full credit. I will go over the format and grading rubric for these assignments in more depth in class, and a deeper explanation is available via D2L. Responses are to be handed in via D2L. At least 6 responses must be completed by week 9. Late Responses will not be accepted unless prior arrangements have been made.

Midterm Essay: The mid-term essay will be a ~5 page essay which theoretically/exegetically explicates a concept or author from class. It must engage with secondary literature (at least 3 external sources). It is highly encouraged that students visit office hours to discuss the topic prior to beginning writing. Essays will be turned in on both turnitin.com and D2L. This essay will comprise 15% of the student's grade.

Seminar Paper: The seminar paper will be a ~10 page essay which philosophically engages with two authors from class in conversation with one another. This paper must engage with contemporary literature (at least 4 external sources). This paper may not be an expansion of the mid-term essay. Two new authors must be selected. It is highly encouraged that students visit office hours to discuss the topic. Seminar papers will be turned in on both turnitin.com and D2L. This paper will comprise 30% of the student's grade.

Final Examination: A comprehensive blue book examination will be scheduled during finals week. A study guide which highlights important topics covered throughout the Medieval Philosophical Tales 2

semester will be distributed the final day of class. This examination will comprise 30% of the student's grade.

Participation: Class Participation involves two things: class involvement and at least one one-on-one meetings with me prior to week 4. Your involvement is essential to the success of this class and to your success in this class. This means that a) active listening with the day's reading present, b) open questioning, and c) creative discussion are expected of you. Also, you are responsible for meeting with me once during office hours (or by appointment) prior to week 4. It is encouraged that these meetings occur in relation to your essays, but not necessary. Stopping by and having a 10-15 minute chat about confusions you might have had in class fulfills this requirement. Please do not procrastinate, as I cannot guarantee extra office hours by appointment when the deadline nears. Participation comprises 10% of the student's grade.

GRADING SCALE: A: 100-94, AB: 93.9-88, B: 87.9-82, BC: 81.9-76, C: 75.9-70, CD: 69.9-64, D: 63.9-58, F: below 57.9

LATE ASSIGNMENTS: Essays submitted late will be docked 2 final percentage points per day late (i.e. If a student hands in the mid-term essay a day late, the maximum score the student may receive is a 23 out of 25). Short responses will not be accepted late.

ATTENDANCE POLICY: Students are expected to attend every class, and attendance will be taken at the beginning of every class. No distinction will be made between excused and unexcused absences. For each absence beyond the fourth, the final grade will be lowered by two points. More than four absences may result in the student being withdrawn from the class. Punctuality is expected. Late students are responsible for making sure their attendance is known to the instructor.

EMAIL: Students should expect the instructor to reply to any and all emails within 24 hours on weekdays and by the next working day (usually Monday) on weekends. If a response has not been given within the aforementioned timeframes, please feel free to resend the original email to make sure it has been received by the instructor.

ELECTRONIC DEVICES POLICY: No electronic devises (phones, laptops, tablets, etc.) are to be used in class. Of course, if special accommodations need to be made due to physical or learning disabilities, please contact me as soon as possible.

DISABILITIES: Students with physical or learning disabilities wishing to have special accommodations should contact me as soon as possible. All discussions are confidential, and I will do anything I can to assist you. In addition, the Office of Disability Services is available to assist you. They can be reached by phone at 414.288.1645 or online here: http://www.marquette.edu/disability-services/

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FOOD AND DRINK: Please do everything possible to avoid bringing food into the classroom. However, in the exceptional case, choose being engaged in class while eating a snack over not eating and not being able to focus. Beverages in closed containers are welcome.

CONDUCT: It is the nature of philosophy to discuss important, controversial, and possibly even offensive issues. We will be engaging in discussions which challenge some of our most deeply held beliefs. For this reason, it is vital for each student, and me, myself, to always conduct ourselves with the utmost generosity and sensitivity toward our fellow students and our authors.

TEXTS: Required Texts to be Bought by Students*: Judah Halevi, The Kuzari: an argument for the of Israel, Ed. Henry Slonimsky, New York: Schocken Books, 1964. ISBN-13: 978-0805200751

Ibn Tufayl, Ḥayy ibn Yaqẓān: a philosophical tale, Ed. Lenn Evan Goodman, Chicago: The University of Chicago Press, 2009. ISBN-13: 978-0226303109

Ikhwān al-Ṣafāʼ, The case of the animals versus man before the King of the Jinn: a translation from the Epistles of the brethren of purity, Eds. Lenn Evan Goodman and Richard McGregor, New York: Oxford University Press in association with the Institute of Ismaili Studies, 2012. Reprint Edition. ISBN-13: 978-0199642519

*All other readings will either be online or short selections provided via D2L.

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Week 1: Syllabus Review, History of Medieval Philosophy Readings: • Cristina D'Ancona, “Greek Sources in Arabic and Islamic Philosophy”, The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy (Winter 2017 Edition), Edward N. Zalta (ed.), URL = https://plato.stanford.edu/archives/win2017/entries/arabic-islamic-greek/ • Dag Nikolaus Hasse, “Influence of Arabic and Islamic Philosophy on the Latin West”, The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy (Fall 2014 Edition), Edward N. Zalta (ed.), URL = https://plato.stanford.edu/archives/fall2014/entries/arabic-islamic-influence/

Week 2: Plato, the , and the Intelligible World (The Sun, The Cave, and the Chariot) Readings: • Plato, Republic 506c-518b, PDF on D2L • Plato, Phaedrus 245b-357a, PDF on D2L • Plotinus, Enneads 4.8.1-2, PDF on D2L

Week 3: al-Kindi and al-Razi (The Sea Journey and the Garden) Readings: • Al-Kindi, On the Means of Dispelling Sorrow, 23-35, PDF on D2L • Al-Razi, The Proofs of Prophecy, Chapter 2, PDF on D2L

Week 4: Intellectual Light (The Sun) Readings: • Aristotle, De Anima 3.5, PDF on D2L • Al-Fārābī, Epistle on the Intellect, 68-78, PDF on D2L • , Summa Theologiae, Prima Pars 79.2-4, PDF on D2L

Week 5: The Light of Revelation (Lightning) Readings: • , Remarks and Admonitions 4, 86-91, PDF on D2L • , The Guide of the Perplexed, Introduction, PDF on D2L • Thomas Aquinas, Summa Theologiae, Prima Pars 12.4-5, PDF on D2L

Week 6: Ḥayy ibn Yaqẓān (Alone on an Island) Readings: • Ibn Tufayl, Ḥayy ibn Yaqẓān, 95-133

Week 7: Ḥayy ibn Yaqẓān (Alone on an Island) Readings: • Ibn Tufayl, Ḥayy ibn Yaqẓān, 133-166

Week 8: The (Guanilo’s Island) Readings: • Anselm, , 3-5, PDF on D2L • Gaunilo of Marmoutiers, Pro Insipiente, 1-8, PDF on D2L • Anselm, Reply to Guanilo, 1-10, PDF on D2L Medieval Philosophical Tales 5

Week 9: Testimony and other Issues (The King of the Khazars) Readings: • Judah Halevi, The Kuzari, 35-52, 82-87, 213-214, 217-218

Week 10: Testimony and other Issues (The King of the Khazars) Readings: • Judah Halevi, The Kuzari, 224-228, 268-274, 278-295

Week 11: Animal Rights (The Case of the Animals vs. Man) Readings: • Ikhwān al-Ṣafāʼ,The Case of the Animals versus Man, 99-199

Week 12: Animal Rights (The Case of the Animals vs. Man) Readings: • Ikhwān al-Ṣafāʼ,The Case of the Animals versus Man, 199-315

Week 13: The Will (The Sea Battle and Zayd goes on a Journey) Readings: • Aristotle, De Interpretatione 9, PDF on D2L • Al-Fārābī, Long Commentary on De Interpretatione, 82-96, PDF on D2L

Weeks 14: The Will (Buridan’s Ass) Readings: • Thomas Aquinas, Summa Theologiae, Prima Pars 82-83, PDF on D2L • Aristotle, On the Heavens 295b10-296a21, PDF on D2L • Al-Ghazali, Incoherence of the Philosophers, 23-24, PDF on D2L