MEDIEVAL PHILOSOPHY

When she saw that the muses of poetry were present by my couch giving words to my lamenting, she was stirred a while; her eyes flashed fiercely, and she said, “Who has allowed these hysterical sluts to approach this sick man’s bedside?”
- Boethius

ARMSTRONG ATLANTIC STATE UNIVERSITY
DEAPRTMENT OF LANGUAGES, LITERATURE AND PHILOSOPHY
COURSE NUMBER: PHIL 3120 Medieval Philosophy and the Rise of Humanism
Spring 2007

Instructor: Dr. Jack Simmons
Telephone: 921-7336
Office: 202A Gamble Hall
E-mail: simmonja@mail.armstrong.edu
Office Hours: MWF: 1:00-2:30
TTH: 1:45-2:45

COURSE DESCRIPTION:
This course will introduce students to Medieval Philosophy and its historical consequences. The course defines the start of medieval philosophy by the decline of Roman ability to exert military power inland and the end of medieval philosophy by the rise of secular humanism and empirical science. Certainly one could draw the historical boundaries differently. The course will focus on the three seminal thinkers of this period, St Augustine, St Anselm and St Thomas Aquinas.
OBJECTIVES:
1. Introduce students to the philosophical ideas that define medieval thinking.
2. Establish a fundamental understanding of philosophical issues and argumentative techniques distinctive of medieval thought.
3. Illustrate the worldview of the medieval European.
4. Provide a direct encounter with medieval thinkers.
ASSUMPTIONS
1. Medieval period is distinguished by a tension between faith and reason.
2. That the medieval worldview is no longer dominant in Western societies, but still dominates the Middle East.
REQUIRED TEXTS:
Medieval Philosophy, 4th Edition, Edited by Forrest Baird and Walter Kaufmann
ISBN: 0-13-048557-8
FILMS:
The Seventh Seal, Henry V, Joan of Arc, Ivanhoe
COURSE REQUIREMENTS
Weekly Quizzes 20 points Quizzes on the Readings
Journals 20 points
Exam I 10 points Exam - Peer Review
Exam III 20 points 5-7 page paper – oral exam
Exam IV 30 points Exam
SCHEDULE (actual class-room progress may vary)
Week Readings Exam Schedule
Jan 9-11 pp. 1-7, 33-41
Jan 16-18 p. 51-67 (mysticism)
Jan 23-25 p. 69-99
Jan 20-Feb 1 p. 99-114
Feb 6-8 p. 114-142 Exam
Feb 13-15 Reflection on Assumptions
Feb 20 p. 145-159
Feb 22 Library Day
Feb 27 p. 169-177
Mar 1 Paper Writing Session in Class
Mar 6-9 p. 169-177 Oral Exam
Mar 13-15 Spring Break
Mar 20-22 p. 299-309
Mar 27-29 p. 331-410
Apr. 3-5 p. 410-419
Apr 7-9 p. 420-436
Apr 17-19 p. 523-527
Apr 24-26 Reflections on assumptions
Final Exam
GRADING SCALE
A – 100-90 B – 89-80 C – 79-66 D – 65-60 F – 59-0



COURSE POLICIES:
Electronics: No beepers, mobile telephones or other noise making electronic devices are allowed in class. If you must carry one, make sure it is off, and hidden so that the professor cannot see it. Academic Honor Code: Plagiarism and/or cheating will result in automatic failure of the course, and possible disciplinary action through established university procedures.
Attendance: Students must attend class. Failing to attend class is likely to lead to a failing grade.
Visitor Policy: The classroom remains open to all adult visitors, including all AASU faculty, administration and staff. Visitors are encouraged to participate in classroom activities.
Free Speech: The Introduction to Philosophy classroom is a free speech zone. This means that students, faculty and visitors may offer any ideas they like, and use any words available in English or any other language that they feel necessary to express their ideas. Students, faculty and visitors are encouraged to exercise this liberty. Comments in class do not necessarily represent the views of Armstrong Atlantic State University, and may not represent the views of the student, faculty member or visitor member making the comment.
Graduating Seniors: Graduating seniors are responsible for notifying the professor of their status.
Journals: Late journals will not be accepted. Journals may not be turned in early, nor may they be turned in by a fellow student. Each journal entry must be bound in a folder sporting the class title and time, student’s name, address, telephone number and e-mail address. Each journal entry must be typed, double-spaced and one entire page in length. Each journal entry must also include the following heading:
Title of the Assignment
Name of Student
Date
Journal Entry Number
Term Paper
The paper may be written on any of the philosophers appearing in the textbook (disciples not included). The paper will be due on March 6-9. Papers will be graded on the basis of an oral examination. The paper must have the following elements:
5-7 pages typed, double spaced.
A minimum of 4 references (one of those four can be the text book, and one can be a website).
The paper must include quotations from all of the 4 required references.

“da mihi castitatem et continentiam, sed noli mod.”
- St. Augustine