Loyola University New Orleans Philosophy and Religion in the Middle Ages, Spring 2021 PHIL U270-001, TR 11:00-12:15, BO 214B PHIL U270-002, TR 2:00-3:15, BO 214B Dr. Mark Gossiaux, BO 417 Office Phone: 865-3053. Email: [email protected] Office Hours: TR 5:00-6:00 (in person), W afternoons by appointment (Zoom). 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 problem of universals; the relationship between faith and reason; the controversies concerning the eternity of the world; the nature of being, and the relationship between God and the world. Readings will be drawn from some of the key thinkers of the period, such as Boethius, Peter Abelard, Avicenna, Averroes, Bonaventure, and Thomas Aquinas. This course is designd as a HYFLEX course. It satisfies the PHIL II: Foundations of Knowledge requirement in the Common Curriculum. It also satisfies the “Pre-Modern” and the “Catholic Tradition” RAC requirements. This course has been approved for both the Catholic Studies and the Medieval Studies minor programs. Goals and Objectives This course is designed to fulfill the following learning outcomes: § Critical Thinking: Students will develop their ability to read and interpret primary texts, and to analyze and assess the coherence of arguments in the writings of great medieval thinkers. § Information Literacy: Students will learn how to identify arguments in medieval texts and assess their cogency. § Philosophical Traditions: Students will become familiar with the philosophical contributions of some of the seminar thinkers of the medieval period. § Religious Traditions: Students will become familiar with some of the central themes and distinctive positions of some of the great authors of the Catholic intellectual tradition. § Written Communication: Students will develop their abilities to formulate clearly and explain in written language the arguments and doctrinal positions that they read in medieval texts. Required Texts All readings for the course will be posted on Canvas. Students will be expected to have all assigned readings completed prior to class. Course Grades All students are required to complete three exams. A missed exam will be recorded as an “F”. Requests to make-up exams will be granted only in cases of documented illness or family emergency, at the discretion of the instructor. Students will also be expected to complete several graded assignments based upon podcasts that will be made available on Canvas. Course grades will be weighted as follows: Assignments 20%; Exam I 25%; Exam II 30%; Exam III 25%. NB: This syllabus is subject to change. Schedule of Readings Jan. 21: Introduction. 26, 28, Feb. 2: Boethius and the Problem of Universals. Feb. 4, 9, 11: Peter Abelard and the Problem of Universals. 18, 23: Averroes on the Relationship between Philosophy and Religion. 25: Exam I. Mar. 2, 4, 9, 11: Thomas Aquinas on the Relationship between Faith and Reason. 16, 18, 23: Bonaventure and the Problem of the Eternity of the World. 25, 30, Apr. 1, 6: Aquinas and the Problem of the Eternity of the World. Apr. 8: Exam II. 13, 15, 20: Avicenna on Being and Thing, Necessary and Possible. 22, 27, 29: Aquinas on Essence and Existence. May 4: Review. TBA: Exam III. .