MEDIEVAL HISTORY OF PHILOSOPHY
Mary Help of Christians College Seminary
Bonuan Gueset, Dagupan City
Brief Course Description
The philosophical ideas covering the period from the fourth century to the
beginning of the Renaissance. The Early Origin of Scholastic Philosophy in the
fourth century, its Culmination in the thirteenth century and its Decline in the
fifteenth century.
General Objective
At the end of the course, students should be familiar with how the
philosophy of Socrates, Plato and Aristotle has been preserved and, in a sense,
“Christianized” in the ideas of St. Augustine and in Scholastic philosophy,
particularly in the Thomistic Philosophy of St. Thomas; how philosophy and
religion, reason and faith complement each other.
Specific Objectives
At the end of the course, the student must be familiar with the following:
1. The Transmutation of Ancient Thought and its Adaptation to the needs of
the Christian theological tradition, with far-reaching consequences for the
history of thought in general.
2. The Scholastic Synthesis, and its Culmination in the 13th century.
3. The Thomistic Philosophy of St. Thomas Aquinas, and its Influence in
our present Curriculum.
4. The Relation and Complementation of Philosophy and Religion, Reason
and Faith..
5. The Problem of Universals, The Problem of God’s Existence and Their
Significance.
Methodology
Generally, the method of learning to be used will be based on the life,
situation and ideas of the different medieval philosophers considered one after the
other chronologically, and exposed side by side with Thomistic philosophy with
the following:
1. At the end of each class, readings to be taken up the next class will be
given.
2. A daily quiz (every meeting) will be given to make sure everyone
browsed the assigned reading.
3. A daily recitation (every meeting) will be conducted in the form of the
Socratic-Platonic dialogues (series of questions and answers) on the
assigned reading.
4. A student will be given 20 minutes for an oral report on a topic related to
the assigned reading.
5. Three (3) students will be assigned to act as panel of interrogators to
make sure everyone makes himself familiar with the oral report, not only
the presentor.
6. Every student will be assigned a topic for a term paper.
7. Mid-term and Final Exams will be conducted as scheduled.
Requirements
a. Daily Quiz (every meeting) on assigned reading.
b. Daily Recitation (every meeting) on assigned reading.
c. Oral Report (to be assigned)
d. Term Paper
e. Mid-term Exams
f. Final Exams
References
a. St. Thomas Aquinas, Summa Theologica
b. Thonnard, A Short History of Philosophy
c. Armstrong, An Introduction to Ancient Philosophy
d. Stumpf, Philosophy, History and Problems
e. St. Augustine, Confessions and City of God
f. William Turner, History of Philosophy
Grading System
a. Class Standing: 40%
1) Daily Quiz: 10%
2) Daily Recitation: 10%
3) Oral Report: 10%
4) Term Paper: 10%
b. Mid-Term Exams: 30%
c. Final Exams: 30%
Pre-Finals Class
I. Preparation: Fathers of the Church (Read Armstrong)
A. Characteristics of Patristic Philosophy (3)
B. Their Significance (2)
II. Formation of Scholasticism
A. Effects of the Barbarian Invasions (Read Stumpf)
B. Significance or Contributions of the Dark Ages Philosophers (2)
C. Statements/Formulations of the Major Problems (4)
D. Solutions to the Major Problems
1. Universals
a. Different Solutions (3)
b. Boethius’ Answer
c. Aquinas’ Answer
2. God’s Existence
a. Why the Knowledge of God is essential.
b. The Quinque Viae (Read the Summa)
c. The Ontological Argument
d. Augustine (3)
3. Relationship Between Faith and Reason
a. Augustine
b. Albert the Great
c. Aquinas
= Summarize
4. Evil
a. Augustine
b. Aquinas
= Summarize
III. Arabian and Jewish Thought
A. Arabs
1. Role of Arabic Philosophy (2)
2. Characteristics of Islamic/Arabic Philosophy (3)
3. Provocative Themes in Avicenna (4)
B. Jews
What is Maimonides’ Guide for the Perplexed about.
