History of Philosophy I

obligatory courses

This course will present the views of European philosophers from the 7th century BC to the 14th century AD. The discussion of ancient philosophy will include Presocratics, Socrates, Plato and Aristotle, Hellenistic schools (Stoics, Epicureans, and Sceptics), syncretic approaches (Middle Platonism, Philo of Alexandria), and Neoplatonism. Classes on medieval philosophy will cover early Christian philosophy, 9th-century Neoplatonism, 11th-century early scholasticism, 12th-century Renaissance – developments in natural philosophy, logic, ethics, and mysticism, Muslim and Jewish philosophy, 13-century scholasticism (universities and the scholastic method), 13-century doctrinal movements (Latin Averroism, Aristotelianism of Thomas Aquinas, Augustinianism), 14th-century approaches (Thomism, Duns Scotus and Scotism, William of Ockham and nominalism), Mysticism (Meister Eckhart).

This course will present the views of European philosophers from the 7th century BC to the 14th century AD. The discussion of ancient philosophy will include Presocratics (Ionians, Pythagoreans, Eleatics, and Sophists), Socrates and his followers, Plato and Aristotle, Hellenistic schools (Stoics, Epicureans, and Sceptics), syncretic approaches (Middle Platonism, Philo of Alexandria), and Neoplatonism. Classes on medieval philosophy will cover early Christian writers (Origen, Augustine of Hippo, Boethius, Ps. Dionysius), 9-th century Neoplatonism (Eriugena), 11th-century early scholasticism (Anselm of Canterbury), 12th-century Renaissance – natural philosophy (the so-called School of Chartres), logic and ethics (Peter Abelard), mysticism (Bernard of Clairvaux, the Victorine School), Muslim and Jewish philosophy (Avicenna, Averroes, Avicebron, Maimonides), 13-century scholasticism (universities and the scholastic method), 13-century doctrinal movements (Latin Averroism, Aristotelianism of Thomas Aquinas, Augustinianism), 14th-century approaches (Thomism, Duns Scotus and Scotism, William of Ockham and nominalism), mysticism (Meister Eckhart).

Secondary sources:

F. Copleston, Historia filozofii, t. II-III; E. Gilson, Historia filozofii

chrześcijańskiej w wiekach średnich; R. Heinzmann, Filozofia średniowiecza; A. Krokiewicz, Zarys filozofii greckiej; Z. Kuksewicz, Zarys filozofii średniowiecznej, t.I i II; J. Legowicz, Historia filozofii średniowiecznej Europy zachodniej; G. Reale, Historia filozofii starożytnej, t. I-IV; S. Swieżawski, Dzieje europejskiej filozofii klasycznej; Wszystko to ze zdziwienia. Antologia średniowiecznych tekstów filozoficznych z XII, XIII, XIV w. (red. M. Frankowska-Terlecka, K. Krauze-Błachowicz, E. Jung-Palczewska); Przewodnik po filozofii średniowiecznej. Od św. Augustyna do Joachima z Fiore (red. A. Kijewska).

Primary sources (in Polish translation):

Presocratics (selection); Plato: The Apology of Socrates, Phaedo, Phaedrus, Gorgias / Symposium/Eutyphro, The Republic (bks. VI-VII), Timaeus, ; Aristotle: Metaphysics (bks. IV, VI-IX, XII – selections), On the Soul (bks. II-III), Nicomachean Ethics (bks. I-II, X); Sextus Empiricus: Outlines of Pyrrhonism (bk. I); Epictetus: Encheiridion or Discourses (selection); Marcus Aurelius: Meditations; Epicurus: Letter to Menoeceus, Principal Doctrines; Philo of Alexandria: Creation of the World; Origen: On Principles (selection); Plotinus: Enneads, Enn. V.1-2; VI. 8-9 (selections)

Optional: Plato: Letter VII; Aristotle: Metaphysics bk. I; Justin the Martyr: Apology (selection), Dialogue with Trypho the Jew (selection); Teophilus of Antioch: Letter to Autolicus (fragments).

Augustine Soliloquies or On Free Choice of the Will, bk. 2; Confessions (bk. X, 6- 22, bks. XI-XII); Boethius: Consolation of Philosophy; Pseudo-Dionysius the Areopagite: Mystical Theology, Letters; Anselm of Canterbury: Proslogion, chs. 1-5; Gaunilo’s Response, Anselm’s Response to Gaunilo; Peter Abelard: preface to Sic et Non, or Ethics, or a selection from Logica “Ingredientibus” on universals; Bonaventure: Journey of the Mind into God; Thomas Aquinas: On Being and Essence; Summa theologiae – Treatise on the Human Nature, questions 75–76 (selection); Duns Scotus (selections); William Ockham (selections).

Optional: Augustine, The City of God, bk. XIV.28, bk. XIX; Eriugena (selection); Avicenna, The Book of Knowledge (selection), Robert Grosseteste: On Light; Thomas Aquinas: Summa theologiae - Treatise on God, q. 1-3; Meister Eckhart: Sermons: 2, 12, 16, 16b, 21, 26, 28, 32, 40, 42.

Knowledge:

- basic knowledge of philosophical terms

- comprehension of the history of forming of philosophical ideas

- general comprehension of ancient and medieval philosophy (key figures, ideas and arguments) based on the reading of the sources

- knowledge of the general relationship between forming of philosophical ideas and social and cultural changes

- knowledge of the methods of interpretation of classical and medieval texts

Abilities:

- thorough reading and analyzing of ancient and medieval philosophical sources (texts) in translation or, preferably, in original

- dealing with basic philosophical problems, theses and assumptions of ancient and medieval philosophy

- following and articulating arguments used by ancient and medieval philosophers

- critical reflection on ideas, and evaluating arguments, always with respect for the original

Social skills:

- independent thinking

- sharing knowledge with others in discussion

- awareness of the impact of the heritage of European philosophy, and the influence of philosophical thinking on the social and intellectual bonds‘ formation

-attendance

-active class participation (tutorial)

-written test at the end of each semester (tutorial)

-final oral exam at the end of the academic year