Medieval Philosophy

This module begins with the thought of Augustine and Boethius, and concentrates on the most prominent representatives of the period up to c.1350: Eriugena, Abelard, Grosseteste, Bonaventure, Aquinas, Scotus and Ockham. Some time will be given at the outset to defining 'medieval' and 'Middle Ages', to highlighting some of the main features of medieval philosophy in general and to suggesting ways in which the study of the medieval period in Western thought is important for philosophy today.

Learning Outcomes:

On successful completion of the module, students should be able to:
-Define 'medieval', 'Middle Ages' and 'medieval philosophy' in a meaningful way which serves to underline the importance of considering the Western intellectual tradition from Antiquity to the 14th century.
-Identify key thinkers (and key texts by key thinkers) from the medieval period in Western thought and analyse their contribution to philosophy.
-Assess key problems (recurring themes) of medieval philosophy: e.g. the problem of universals, the problem of representation, the problem of time and eternity, the problem of divine foreknowledge and future contingency, the soul-body problem, the mind-soul problem.
-Identify and assess key trends and key movements in medieval philosophy: e.g Augustinism, Aristotelianism, Latin-Averroism, Illuminationism, Realism, Conceptualism, Nominalism.
-Discuss the complex issue of the 'sources' for medieval thought: in Neoplatonism, in Aristotle, the medieval Islamic and Jewish philosophical heritage and its influence on Western Christian thought in the Middle Ages.
-Identify the 'medieval in the modern', i.e. where elements of medieval thought may be discerned in patterns of philosophical thinking today.
-Demonstrate, through written and verbal communication skills, a philosophical approach to the meaningful reading of medieval thought from the standpoint of the present day.

Teaching & Learning methods:
24 lecture hours and 4 tutorial hours

Assessment:
Continuous Assessment detail(s): 5% = Attendance at Tutorials. 15% = Presentation 20% = Tutorial essay-assignment (c. 1,000 words) 60% = Final Essay-Assignment (c.2,000 words).