Ancient and Medieval Western Philosophy (PHIL 316)
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 will reward your sustained intellectual attention. The readings are multi-layered and well worth your best effort. If you do not try to understand them, of course, then they will strike you as obscure and pointless.
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; and
(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 does it mean to be human?
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.
Manchester University // Registrar // Department of Philosophy and Religious Studies // Last updated: 30 May 2015