Philosophy and Religion in the Middle Ages, Spring 2007 PHIL U194­001, TR 9:30­10:45, ME 311

Dr. Mark Gossiaux, BO 434 Office Phone: 865­3053. Email: [email protected] Office Hours: TR 3:30­5:00, and by appointment.

Course Description

This course examines the nature and goals of philosophy as it was practiced in the medieval world. It looks at the various ways in which philosophy was transformed by its encounter with Christianity and the extent to which it remained an autonomous discipline in the Middle Ages. Among the topics to be studied are: the possibility of “Christian philosophy”; the various theoretical solutions that the medievals offered to the problem of faith and reason; some philosophical controversies involving religious belief (eternity of the world, nature of human happiness, monopsychism); the rise of radical Aristotelianism (sometimes called Latin Averroism); and the effects of the ecclesiastical condemnations of 1270 and 1277 on the development of late medieval philosophy.

Goals and Objectives

Please consult the Department of Philosophy’s Goals and Learning Objectives (http://chn.loyno.edu/philosophy/documents/Goalsandobjectiveshomepage.PDF) for Advanced Common Curriculum Courses. This course has been designed to satisfy Objectives 1a­1c, 2a­2b, 3a, and 4a for Advanced Common Curriculum Courses. It has also been designed to satisfy the College of Humanities and Natural Sciences’ Common Curriculum Objectives (http://chn.loyno.edu/common/purpose.html) by helping students to develop: 1) effective skills in research, writing, speaking, reading, and listening; 2) critical and analytical reasoning skills required to solve abstract and concrete problems; and 3) an understanding of philosophical and religious traditions.

Texts

§ Etienne Gilson, The Spirit of Mediaeval Philosophy, London: Sheed & Ward, 1936; repr. South Bend: University of Notre Dame, 1991.

§ Thomas Aquinas, On Faith and Reason, tr. Stephen Brown. Indianapolis: Hackett, 1999.

§ Boethius of Dacia, On the Supreme Good, On the Eternity of the World, On Dreams, tr. John F. Wippel. Toronto: Pontifical Institute of Mediaeval Studies, 1987.

§ John F. Wippel, Mediaeval Reactions to the Encounter between Faith and Reason. Milwaukee: Marquette University Press, 1995.

§ Additional readings will be posted on Blackboard. Requirements

Students will be expected to have assigned readings completed for class discussion. Attendance is required, and more than four unexcused absences will result in a lowering of the student’s final grade (after the fourth absence, one letter grade, and then one further grade for every two additional absences). Students must provide written documentation in order to have an absence excused. All students are required to complete two exams (midterm, final), and to submit two essays (Essay I, due February 15 th, is a 6­7 page explication of a chapter from Gilson’s book; Essay II, due March 29 th, is a 6 page explication of a text from Thomas Aquinas). Details for the essays will be provided in class. A missed exam will be counted as an “F.” Students will be allowed to make­up exams only in cases of severe illness and family emergency, and then only with proper documentation. Grades will be weighted as follows:

Midterm Exam: 20% Essay I 30% Essay II: 25% Final Exam: 25%

Accommodations for Disabilities

A student with a disability that qualifies for accommodations should contact Sarah Mead Smith, Director of Disability Services at 865­2990 (Academic Resource Center, Room 405, Monroe Hall). A student wishing to receive test accommodations (e.g. extended test time) should provide the instructor with an official Accommodation Form from Disability Services in advance of the scheduled test date.

This syllabus is subject to change.

Schedule of Readings

Jan. 09: Introduction.

11, 16: Anthony Kenny, Jan Pinborg, “Medieval Philosophical Literature” (available on Blackboard).

18: Bernard G. Dod, “Aristoteles Latinus” (available on Blackboard); John F. Wippel, Mediaeval Reactions to the Encounter between Faith and Reason.

Part I: Theoretical Solutions to the Problem of Faith and Reason.

23, 25: Etienne Gilson, The Spirit of Mediaeval Philosophy, pp. 1­41; John Wippel, “Thomas Aquinas and the Problem of Christian Philosophy” (available on Blackboard).

30: Anselm of Canterbury, Proslogion, preface, cc. 1­5; Cur Deus Homo, preface, cc. 1­2. (available on Blackboard).

Feb. 01, 06: Averroes, The Decisive Treatise, Determining the Nature of the Connection Between Religion and Philosophy (available on Blackboard).

08, 13: Thomas Aquinas, De Trinitate, q. 2, aa. 1­4 (Brown, 25­42); Summa Contra Gentiles, I, 3­7; II, 4 (available on Blackboard).

15: Essay I Due.

15, 27: Thomas Aquinas, Summa Theologiae, I, q. 1, aa. 1­8 (Brown, 9­20).

Mar. 01: Siger of Brabant, Questiones in Metaphysicam, Bk VI, com. 1 (available on Blackboard).

06: Midterm Exam.

Part II: Philosophical Controversies involving Faith and Reason.

08: Bonaventure, In II Sent. d. 1, p. 1, a. 1, q. 2 (available on Blackboard).

13, 15: Thomas Aquinas, Summa Theologiae, I, q. 46, aa. 1­2; De aeternitate mundi (available on Blackboard).

20, 22: ______, Summa Theologiae, I­II, qq. 1­3 (available on Blackboard).

27, 29: F. Van Steenberghen, “Monopsychism” (available on Blackboard).

29: Essay II Due.

April 10: Siger of Brabant, In Tertium de Anima, q. 2; De aeternitate mundi (available on Blackboard).

12: Boethius of Dacia, De summo bono (Wippel, 27­35).

17, 19: ______, De aeternitate mundi (Wippel, 36­67).

24, 26: “The Parisian Condemnation of 1270”; “The Condemnation of 1277”; J. F. Wippel, “The condemnation of 1270 and 1277 at Paris” (all available on Blackboard).

May 01: Review.

10: Final Exam.