medievalaristotelianismsyllspring2011.htm 1/19/11 2:09 AM Cleveland State University Spring Semester 2011 PHL 410/510 Medieval Aristotelianism Dr. Michael R. Baumer, Course Instructor MW 6:00-7:50, MC 305 COURSE DESCRIPTION Aristotle constructed a system of thought that was both a philosophy and a series of physical sciences: physics, biology, psychology. To some extent, even the distinction between philosophy and science is a product of modern times (although not wholly so, since even Plato recognized that things of the senses have an obviousness about them that invisible things do not). Since as science Aristotelianism is obsolete, nowadays Aristotle is usually treated as a philosopher, not a scientist. However, this is an anachronistic way of viewing his thought. In this course, we shall give accounts of some major roadmarks in the medieval reception and modification of Aristotle’s thought, both the the areas that we now regard as properly belonging to philosophy, such as natural theology and philosophical logic, and in areas of physical science such as physics, astronomy, and medicine. In the twentieth century Rudolf Carnap promoted the ideal of a unified science, and Thomas Kuhn developed a general theory of scientific revolutions. In this course we shall treat the Aristotelian system as a unified science, and medieval Aristotelianism as the progress of the “normal” science of the Aristotelian paradigm that preceded its overthrow in the Copernican revolution. TEXTBOOKS McKeon and Reeve, Basic Works of Aristotle Spade, Five Texts on the Medieval Problem of Universals Fakhry, History of Islamic Philosophy Maimonides, Guide for the Perplexed Aquinas (ed. McInerny), Selected Works of St. Thomas Aquinas (The remainder are optional:) Turner, Science in Medieval Islam Saliba, History of Arabic Astronomy file:///Users/michaelbaumer/Sites/mike's%20%22academic%22%20mirror/cl…1/medeval%20aristotelianism/medievalaristotelianismsyllspring2011.htm Page 1 of 3 medievalaristotelianismsyllspring2011.htm 1/19/11 2:09 AM Grant, Foundations of Modern Science in the Middle Ages Mc Evedy, New Penguin Atlas of Medieval History STUDENT COURSEWORK There will be four main components of student coursework—class attendance and participation, brief daily written answers to study questions, a term project, and a final exam. The term project will consist of four parts: proposal, oral report, bibliographic essay, and final paper. Opportunity for revision will be provided for all parts, including the oral report if time allows. The bibliographic essay and final paper are each to be approximately 2000-2500 words in length (8-10 pages) for enrollees in the undergrad section and 2500-3000 words (10-12 pages) for the grad section. The format of the bibliographic essay will be narrowly prescribed, but not that of the final paper. A "Schedule of Topics and Readings" will be forthcoming shortly. ROUGH LIST OF TOPICS Aristotle on predication and motion Aristotle on cosmology Aristotle on physiology ("On Youth, Old Age, Life, Death, and Respiration") Aristotle on the intellect Metaphysics Lambda and God Introduction to Ptolemaic Astronomy Selections from Galen John Philoponus on Impetus Boethius on universals Al-Farabi and the emanation of the celestial intellects Abelard on universals Avicenna's metaphysics (God and emanation) Avicenna's Canon of Medicine Islamic Occasionalism and Al-Ash'ari Al-Gazali against the philosophers file:///Users/michaelbaumer/Sites/mike's%20%22academic%22%20mirror/cl…1/medeval%20aristotelianism/medievalaristotelianismsyllspring2011.htm Page 2 of 3 medievalaristotelianismsyllspring2011.htm 1/19/11 2:09 AM Averroes against Al-Gazali Averroes on the intellect Maimonides Robert Grosseteste on light Aquinas on the existence of God Aquinas on the eternity of the world Albert the Great on Dionysius the Areopagite Duns Scotus on universals Ockham on universals Arabic revisions of Ptolemy Jean Buridan on impetus GEN ED REQUIREMENTS This course does not fulfill either the WAC requirement or the Capstone Experience requirement, although it is structured so as to qualify to meet both of those requirements. POLICIES Absence permitted for good reason; plagiarism not permitted. OFFICE DATA Office Location: RT 1336 Office Phone: 687-3902 Office Hours: MW 1-1:20pm and 4:45-5:50pm Email: [email protected] file:///Users/michaelbaumer/Sites/mike's%20%22academic%22%20mirror/cl…1/medeval%20aristotelianism/medievalaristotelianismsyllspring2011.htm Page 3 of 3.