This course offers an overview of ancient and medieval philosophy. Beginning with the earliest Greek philosophers and ending with the late medieval founding fathers of modern scientific thought, we will read and discuss various answers these thinkers gave to questions such as: 'What is a good life?' or 'How can I reconcile my faith with what reason tells me?' Readings include Parmenides, Plato, Aristotle, Epicurus, Seneca, Plotinus, Anselm, Avicenna, Abelard, Maimonides, Thomas Aquinas and Nicolaus of Autrecourt.
Philosophical reading - ability to read with care philosophical texts, especially slow and careful reading, paying attention to every single word; analysis of arguments and concepts used in texts.
Philosophical analysis - analysis of concepts and their discursive organizations, especially understanding how philosophical concepts like, e.g., nature, principle, or form change meaning if used in different theories by different thinkers and how, in turn, thinkers use such established concepts for building their own theories.
Reflective orientation - use of conceptual analysis to frame issues: how philosophers use concepts with which they formulate their overall world view and system of thought in order to answer specific questions, e.g. what the origin of the word is, what god is like, or what the good life is. Reflection on what philosophy might be and what it might achieve.
Historical understanding (i) - knowledge of relation between philosophy and history. Familiarity with the complex problems of studying a philosopher from a historical point of view; how history shapes ideas and that we need to know their socio-cultural context if we really want to understand philosophers.
Historical understanding (ii): Basic factual knowledge about ancient and medieval philosophers and the history of ideas during these periods.
Historical understanding (iii): Acquaintance with key issues and questions ancient and medieval thinkers were reacting to.
Methods of interdisciplinarity - ability and knowledge to work across disciplinary borders: acquire a sense to which DEGREE the study of our ancient and medieval philosophers depends on the contributions of other disciplines. Our focus will be on the discipline of classical philology (source problems; languages; genres).
Oral expression and clarity - ability to speak with high consistency and lucidity.
Written expression: Learn how to watch your words; take responsibility of the meaning of what you say; use a precise and terminologically clear analytic idiom; practice using the voice of an academic expert; give your papers a professional shape (MLA style); assure the correctness of information you present by means of thorough research and adequate documentation of sources.
Introduction to university study and to independent, responsible work in a professional context.
Local and Global Perspectives: Students will enhance their intercultural understanding of languages, cultures, and histories of local societies and the global issues to which these relate. (CCI LO1)
Aesthetic Inquiry and Creative Expression: Students will engage with artistic or creative objects (e.g., visual art, theatrical works, film) in different media and from a range of cultural traditions. (CCI LO2)
Exploring and Engaging Difference: Students will think critically about cultural and social difference; they will identify and understand power structures that determine hierarchies and inequalities that can relate to race, ethnicity, gender, nationhood, religion, or class. (CCI LO3)
