Thomas Aquinas (PHI 3410-X17, THL 2590-X17, HUM 2900-X17)

Transcription

1 Thomas Aquinas (PHI 3410-X17, THL 2590-X17, HUM 2900-X17) Michael Waddell, Ph.D. Office: St. Augustine Center, Rm. 167 Office phone: Office hours: T/Th, 2:30-3:30pm; or by appointment DESCRIPTION: Thomas Aquinas is regarded by many fans and critics alike as the greatest thinker of the Catholic tradition. But what is it about Aquinas s wisdom that has evoked such respect from so many different quarters? In this course, we will explore some of Aquinas s most important teachings, including his views on the existence of God, creation, the immortality of the soul, faith and reason, knowledge and love, happiness, virtue, natural law, grace, Christ and the Eucharist. Our aim will be to try to understand the wisdom of Aquinas s teachings, i.e., the way in which Aquinas sees everything as relating to the highest principle of all that exists, which he calls God. Since Thomas himself was a questioner, there will be ample room in the course for both critics and devotees of Aquinas s views, as well as for those who simply want to learn more about the teachings of one of the world s greatest thinkers. OBJECTIVES: The course will seek to help students meet the following objectives: Knowledge... To develop awareness of a range of fundamental issues in philosophy and theology To develop comprehension of Thomas Aquinas s teachings on these issues Skills... To cultivate students abilities to think critically that is, analytically, evaluatively, and synthetically about Thomas Aquinas s philosophical and theological views To cultivate students abilities to read and interpret the challenging writings of Thomas Aquinas To cultivate students abilities to express their philosophical and theological ideas in academic writing To cultivate students abilities to express their philosophical and theological ideas in classroom discussion

2 Attitudes... To foster a spirit of openness in questioning and in seeking answers To foster an integrative approach to philosophical and theological reflection (e.g., by considering how wisdom relates all things to God in Aquinas s teaching, by considering how faith and reason are integrated in Aquinas s thought, and by considering how Aquinas s teachings relate to our own lives today). REQUIREMENTS: The following assignments are required of all students in the seminar. All written assignments are to be typed and double spaced, employing one inch margins and a font that allows approximately 300 words per page (e.g., Times New Roman 12 pt.). Unless otherwise indicated by the instructor, assignments are due at the beginning of class on the date specified in the schedule (below). Work submitted on the assigned date but after the specified time will incur a 5% deduction; work will not be accepted after the due date except when prior permission has been given by the instructor or in the case of a serious emergency. Requests for extensions on assignments will not be accepted within 48 hours of the assignment s due date except in the case of a serious emergency. The instructor will judge whether circumstances constitute a serious emergency, and students may be asked to provide documentation of extenuating circumstances (e.g., a doctor s note or a note from the dean s office). Work may not be submitted electronically unless prior permission has been given by the instructor. I. Students are expected to complete the reading assigned for each meeting. Assigned daily readings are the foundation of this course. Since lectures, discussion, written assignments and the exam are all based on the readings, it is imperative that each student read the assigned materials before class, and come ready with questions and ideas for discussion. Obvious and repeated lack of preparedness to discuss assigned readings will adversely affect a student s class participation grade. II. Students are expected to participate actively in all lectures and discussions. To promote preparation for and participation in these activities, 18% of your final grade will be based on the quality and quantity of your class participation. In addition, I reserve the right to raise any student s final mark by as much as one-half of a letter grade for outstanding participation in class. I will judge outstanding participation by the criteria of both the frequency and the quality of remarks made in class. III. Each student will submit four short essays. These essays will provide you with opportunities to engage critically with Aquinas s views on topics of interest to you. In each paper, you must 1) identify a question to be considered from a reading assignment, 2) present Aquinas s position on this question, and 3) engage with Aquinas s view in a critically reflective way. One essay must be prepared for a reading assignment from each of the four units of the course. Essays are due on the dates noted in the schedule below. Each essay is worth 18% of the final grade.

3 IV. Each student will complete the final exam for the course. This will be a take home essay exam that will provide you with an opportunity to reflect on the relevance of Aquinas s teachings for life today. The exam will be worth 10% of the final grade. **Academic Accommodations: It is the policy of Villanova University to make reasonable academic accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities. If you are a person with a disability, please contact me outside of class and register with the Learning Support Office by calling or ing nancy.mott@villanova.edu as soon as possible. Registration is needed in order to receive accommodations.** EVALUATION: Your final grade will be determined by the following equation: Essay #1 (18%) + Essay #2 (18%) + Essay #3 (18%) + Essay #4 (18%) + Class Participation (18%) + Final Exam (10%) = Final Grade I use a traditional percentage schema to record and calculate grades; I will distribute this schema when I return the first graded assignment. I will also provide rubrics describing the level of work that merits each grade for each assignment. ACADEMIC INTEGRITY: Violations of Villanova s academic integrity policy will be dealt with according to the procedures established by the university. Violations of the academic integrity policy include but are not limited to cheating on exams, plagiarizing another person s ideas or statements, fabricating data, handing in the same work in two different classes, and so forth. A first violation of the academic integrity policy will carry a minimum penalty of a failing grade on the assignment. A second violation will carry a minimum penalty of a failing grade for the course. The most severe penalty for a violation of the academic integrity policy is expulsion from the university. If you have questions about the limits of academic integrity in specific circumstances, please ask me. MATERIALS: Readings for this course will be available electronically. **Please note: you are expected to bring the assigned reading with you to every class meeting. Habitual failure to bring the assigned text to class will negatively impact a student s class participation grade.**

4 SCHEDULE: Date Reading Due for Class Written Assignment Due T, 1/15 Introduction Unit One TH, 1/17 Summa contra Gentiles (faith and reason) Summa Theologiae (ST) I, q.1 (theology as science) T, 1/22 ST I, q.2 (the existence of God) TH, 1/24 ST I, q.2 (the existence of God, continued) T, 1/29 ST I, q.12 (knowing God) TH, 1/31 ST I, q.13 (divine naming) T, 2/5 ST I, q.22, q.23 (providence and predestination) Unit Two TH, 2/7 ST I, q.44, q.45, q.46 (creation) T, 2/12 ST I, q.49 (the origin of evil) Essay #1 Due TH, 2/14 ST I, q.75, a.2; q.75, a.6; q.76, a.1 (existence of the soul) T, 2/19 ST I, q.77, a.3 (faculties of the soul) ST I, q.82, a.1; q.82, a.3; q.83, a.1 (free will) TH, 2/21 ST I, q.84; q.85, a.1; q.85, a.2 (intellect and knowledge) Unit Three T, 2/26 ST I-II, q.1, q.2, q.3, q.4, q.5 (happiness) TH, 2/28 ST I-II, q.6 (voluntariness) Essay #2 Due T, 3/4 **Spring Break** TH, 3/6 **Spring Break** T, 3/11 ST I-II, q.18 (good and evil actions) TH, 3/13 ST I-II, q.26, q.27, q.28 (love) T, 3/18 ST I-II, q.49, q.51, q.55 (habits and virtues in general) TH, 3/20 **Easter Break** T, 3/25 ST I-II, q.55, q.56, q.57, q.58 (intellectual and moral virtues) TH, 3/27 ST I-II, q.61, q.62, q.63, q.65 (cardinal and theological virtues) T, 4/1 ST I-II, q.90, q. 91, q. 92, q. 93, q.94 (law) TH, 4/3 ST I-II, q.109, q.110, q.112, q.114 (grace and merit)

5 Unit Four T, 4/8 ST II-II, q.1, q.2, q.3, q.4; q.6, a.1 (faith) TH, 4/10 ST II-II, q.23, q.24, q.25, q.26, q.27 (charity) Essay #3 Due T, 4/15 ST II-II, q.40, q.41 (war, strife) TH, 4/17 ST II-II, q.79, q.80, q.81, q.82 (active and contemplative life) T, 4/22 ST III, q.2 (incarnation) TH, 4/24 ST III, q.62, q.75 (sacraments and transubstantiation) T, 4/29 **Deemed a Friday Class Day** TH, 5/1 Conclusion Essay #4 Due Mon., 5/5 **Final Exam Due at 10:30am** Final Exam Due at 10:30am