History of Ancient and Medieval Western Philosophy

PHIL 216 (3 hrs), Manchester College, Fall 2007

Satisfies W-course requirement

Instructor: Dr. Steve Naragon, Office: Ad Bldg., #231-C (Phone — office: 982-5041; home: 982-6033)

Required Texts: (1) James N. Jordan, Western Philosophy: From Antiquity to the Middle Ages (Macmillan, 1987); (2) Cohen, Curd, and Reeve, eds., Readings in Ancient Greek Philosophy: From Thales to Aristotle, 2nd ed. (Hackett, 2000); (3) Epictetus, Handbook, translated by Nicholas White (Hackett, 1983); (4) Thomas Aquinas, Summa Contra Gentiles, Book One: God, transl. by Anton Pegis (Univ. of Notre Dame Press, 1975); (5) Various handouts, such as a chapter or two from Augustine’s Confessions.

Recommended Text: (1) Antony Flew, ed., A Dictionary of Philosophy (any edition); (2) Diana Hacker, A Writer’s Reference (recent edition).

Course Objectives: We will read philosophers from the very beginnings of the philosophical enterprise in the west, and then work our way through Plato, Aristotle, and the Hellenists, and end with various medieval thinkers (Jewish, Christian, and Muslim), with a special focus on certain doctrines of Augustine and Aquinas. These texts are quite challenging for most undergraduates — they certainly challenge me at times! — but they reward sustained intellectual effort. The readings are multi-layered and well worth your best effort.

By the end of the course you should have: (1) become acquainted with the nature and early history of Western philosophy; (2) developed your skills for critically evaluating arguments and beliefs; (3) developed a sense of the historiography of philosophy; (4) found the source of a great many of our current beliefs; (5) had ample opportunity to reflect on certain questions confronting us all: How can I know something to be true? What is the good life and how is it attained? What is it to be human?

In addition to these commendable goals, this course has also been designated as a “W-course”; as such, it will include an extra emphasis on polishing one’s research and critical writing skills.

Some virtues to bring with you into the philosophy classroom: humility when comparing your beliefs with those of others; patience for listening closely to views that seem foolish or misguided to you; courage to advance in the face of adversity what seems to be the correct view; endurance for following arguments to their conclusion; humor for those moments when you feel the utter futility of your efforts.

Requirements

Readings. Read the assignments closely prior to class, and always bring the text. Class discussions and your success in this class depend upon this. If you are not willing to commit yourself to this, then it would be best to withdraw from the course.

Attendance. A course on philosophy is by its nature aimed at self-examination and discussion; consequently, taking the class requires being there. Five absences (excused or otherwise) are allowed. After that, each additional absence (of any kind) results in a 1% drop in your course grade.

Very Brief Essays. Brief (one to two page) out-of-class writing assignments will be given during the semester. These will focus primarily on summarizing a philosopher’s position on some topic or other.

Not Much Longer Essays. There will be two essays on assigned topics, the second requiring some research of the secondary literature. The first essay should be 3-4 pages and the second 5-6 pages in length. Please type double-space, with 1" margins. Papers are graded on: (1) spelling, grammar, and punctuation; (2) clarity of presentation; (3) organization and content; (4) evidence of good research. Be sure to cite all your sources (namely, give an in-text citation when you use a source, and a complete bibliography at the end of the essay). These essays will pass through at least two drafts. Due dates for drafts: first essay (1st: 9/25; final: 10/11), research essay (1st: 11/20; final: 12/6).

Writing Policy. Follow the MLA guidelines given in Hacker’s A Writer’s Reference. All essays must be typed. The research essay should make use of at least three sources from published books or journals (other than dictionaries, general encyclopedia, textbook-like histories, and the texts read in class). Any information used from the internet must be downloaded and a hardcopy handed in along with the essay! [Warning: There is much on the internet that is little more than re-hashed encyclopedia articles, or worse!]

Late papers will be penalized (1%/day). It’s your responsibility to work around sporting events and other extra-curricular activities; the best approach is to plan to write your essays early so there’s time to maneuver should your work suffer some unforeseen inter¬ruption.

Exams. There will be three in-class short-essay exams.

Grading. The three exams are worth 20% each of the course grade (3 x 20% = 60%), the set of brief essays will be worth a total of 20%. Of the longer essays, the first is 5% and the second 15%.

Plagiarism. Avoid this or perish! Plagiarism consists of submitting the statements, ideas, opinions, or findings of another as if they were your own. It is not plagiarism to copy from or paraphrase a source as long as this is acknowledged and the source is properly cited. See the college Catalog for a fuller discussion.

Schedule of Discussion and Readings

[Primary readings from the Presocratics through Aristotle come from AGP (Cohen/Curd/Reeves, Ancient Greek Philosophy); Secondary reading is J (Jordan, Western Philosophy)]

Presocratics & Plato

Thu, Aug 30

(1) Introduction to the Course.

Tue, Sep 4

(2)The Ionians (J 1-19; AGP: The Milesians, Xenophanes, Heraclitus).

Thu, Sep 6

(3) The Italians (J 20-33; AGP: Pythagoras, Parmenides, Melissus, Zeno).

Tue, Sep 11

(4) Pluralists & Atomists (J 34-45; AGP: Pluralists and Atomists, Diogenes).

Thu, Sep 13

(5) The Sophists and Socrates (J 47-76; AGP, Sophists, Plato’s Apology).

Tue, Sep 18

(6) Plato: Euthyphro + Meno (J, ch. 6 + dialogues)

Tue, Sep 25

(7) Plato: Gorgias.

Thu, Sep 27

(8) Plato: Republic, Bk. 1.

Tue, Oct 2

Plato: Republic, Bks. 2-4, 6-7.

Thu, Oct 4

(10) Plato: Phaedo + Timeaus.

Thu, Oct 4 ——————— First Exam

Aristotle & Hellenism

Tue, Oct 9

(11) Aristotle: Categories, On Interpretation, Topics (J 128-37).

Thu, Oct 11

(12) Aristotle: Posterior Analytics, Physics (Bks. 1-2).

Tue, Oct 16

(13) Aristotle: Physics (Bks. 3, 8), Generation & Corruption, On the Heavens (J 137-49).

Thu, Oct 18 - Fall Break

Tue, Oct 23

(14) Aristotle: Metaphysics (Bks. 1 & 4), De Anima (J 149-52).

Thu, Oct 25

(15) Aristotle: Nicomachean Ethics, Bks. 1-3, 5, 7, 10 (J 152-71).

Tue, Oct 30

(16) Epicureanism (J 173-94) & Stoicism (J 195-224) + Epictetus’s Handbook.

Thu, Nov 1

(17) Skepticism (J 225-41 + ch. 11), Plotinus & Neoplatonism (J 254-72) + Plotinus on Beauty.

Tue, Nov 8 ——————— Second Exam

The Middle Ages

Thu, Nov 8

(18) Philo (J, 242-53) and the Early Church Fathers (J, 273-89).

Tue, Nov 13

(19) Augustine: Faith and Reason (J, 290-300) & Creation (J, 300-309).

Thu, Nov 15

(20) Augustine: Sin & Redemption (J, 309-17); God & Time (Confessions, Bk. 11).

Tue, Nov 20

(21) Anselm (J. 318-32 + Anselm, Proslogion, chs. 2-4); Abelard & Universals (J, 332-40 + Abelard, On Universals)

Thu, Nov 22 — Thanksgiving

Tue, Nov 27

(22) Muslim Philosophers (J, 340-57 + Avicenna, On the Soul); Jewish Philosophers (J, 357-75 + Maimonides, Guide).

Thu, Nov 29

(23) Aquinas: Aristotelianism (J, 376-85), Faith & Reason (J, 385-91; Summa, chs. 1-9).

Tue, Dec 5

(24) Aquinas: God’s Existence (J, 391-98; Summa, chs. 10-13); God’s Nature & Creativity (J, 398-405; Summa, chs. 14-22).

Thu, Dec 7

(25) Duns Scotus (J, 426-33) and William of Ockham (J, 433-42 + Ockham, Summae Logicae).

Finals Week ——————— Third Exam