Phil 411: Classical Rationalism
Catalogue Description
Introduces students to a specialized topic in early modern rationalism, typically with reference to Descartes, Leibniz, and/or Spinoza.
Phil 411: Classical Rationalism
This course serves as an introduction for the advanced student to some major figures, texts and concerns of medieval philosophy. We will not attempt to be comprehensive, but will focus on the work of four figures: Anselm of Bec (1033-1109); Thomas Aquinas (1225-1274); Henry of Ghent (1217-1293); and John Duns Scotus (1265-1308). In doing so, we will be looking at one important pre-scholastic thinker, Anselm, as well as three of the most influential scholastic thinkers – Aquinas, Henry and Scotus – of the thirteenth century. In addition to examining how these thinkers conceived of the enterprise of philosophy, we will consider their views on a variety of topics, including God, the soul, knowledge, truth, reason and faith.
Catalogue Description
Introduces students to a specialized topic in early modern rationalism, typically with reference to Descartes, Leibniz, and/or Spinoza.
Phil 411: Classical Rationalism
This course serves as an introduction for the advanced student to some major figures, texts and concerns of medieval philosophy. We will not attempt to be comprehensive, but will focus on the work of four figures: Anselm of Bec (1033-1109); Thomas Aquinas (1225-1274); Henry of Ghent (1217-1293); and John Duns Scotus (1265-1308). In doing so, we will be looking at one important pre-scholastic thinker, Anselm, as well as three of the most influential scholastic thinkers – Aquinas, Henry and Scotus – of the thirteenth century. In addition to examining how these thinkers conceived of the enterprise of philosophy, we will consider their views on a variety of topics, including God, the soul, knowledge, truth, reason and faith.