Philosophy 302:
Medieval Philosophy
San Francisco State University Spring 2006
Professor Michael Sudduth
Students, welcome to the spring semester 2006 at San Francisco State University. This website provides you with essential resources for Philosophy 302 - Medieval Philosophy. This site will be your main resource for study questions, handouts, supplemental readings, and information on assignments and exams. The site also has a link to the course syllabus (short version). It is crucial that you log on each week to check for updates.
University of Oxford
Other Relevant Links
Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy
Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy
Course Handouts
Introduction
Early Medieval Philosophy
Readings, Exams, and Paper Assignments
Week 1: Introduction and Platonism and NeoPlatonism
Week 2: Neoplatonism and St. Augustine
Week 3: St. Augustine selections, Book XI, Confessions
Response Paper #1: What are some important similarities and differences between the metaphysics of Augustine and Neoplatonism?
Week 4: Critical Reflections on Augustine, Boethius, Consolation of Philosophy
Week 5: Boethius and Eriugena (Thursday)
Week 6: Review (Tuesday) + Exam #1: Neoplatonism, Augustine, Boethius, and Eriugena (Thursday)
Further Details on Mid-Term Exam (Thursday March 9): The mid-term will consist of two parts. The FIRST part (in class) will consist of 35 multiple choice questions. Bring a scantron exam form 882, the narrow green form, to class. The SECOND part of the exam will be a take-home essay. I will provide the take-home portion of the exam in class on Tuesday, March 7. Be sure to be in class this Tuesday. I will collect the essay portion of the exam in class before the in-class portion of the exam on Thursday.
Week 7: St. Anselm, Introduction (Tuesday) and Proslogion (Thursday)
Response Paper #2 Write a Summary of Anselm's Ontological Argument.
Week 8: St. Anselm, Proslogion (Tuesday and Thursday)
Response Paper #3: Write a Critical Response to Anselm's Ontological Argument.
Week 9: From Anselm to Islamic Philosophy
Week 10: Avicenna
Week 11: Averroes
Study Questions for EXAM #2
Week 12: Exam #2 on Anselm, Avicenna, Maimonides
Week 13: Maimonides
Response Paper #4: Compare the approaches of Averroes and Maimonides to Scripture as a source of knowledge of God.
Week 14: Thomas Aquinas
Response Paper #5: Explain the crucial differences between Maimonides and Aquinas with respect to their views on the limits of theological discourse.
Week 15: Concluding Lectures
