2023 Fall MU & KUL Simple Index Course Webpages
31 Aug. Introduction to the course:
(1) Overview of the course and its procedures, including note taking (Aquinas texts) ; (2) Review of key relevant teachings of Aristotle as background and context for Aquinas (2) Aristotle on Metaphysics and Religion / Theology: (2.1) Division of the Sciences: practical, productive, theoretical (Met 1025b25, 1026a4-5, 11.7, 1064a1-14); and (2.2) Religion (2.2.1) (Met 2.4; 12.8, 1074b1-14); (2.2.2) remarks on Plato’s Republic; (2.3) Aristotle on metaphysics: [Brief remarks on the Categories and the term ‘substance’] (2.3.1) first causes and principles (Met 1.1-2), (2.3.2) being qua being (Met 7.1-4), (iii) theology (Met 12.7 ff.). Assignments for 07 Sept. Preview of class 14 Sept: (3) Aquinas on Metaphysics and Religion / Theology
07 Sept Prof. Taylor in Munich. Assignments: Read Pasquale Porro, Thomas Aquinas: A Historical and Philosophical Profile, Joseph G. Trabbic and Roger W. Nutt (trans.), Washington, DC: Catholic University of America Press, 2016 available online via MU library; Read Robert Pasnau, “Thomas Aquinas” in SEP: https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/aquinas/.
14 Sept (3) Aquinas on Metaphysics and Religion / Theology: (1) comment from P. Porro on the obsolescence of philosophy according to Aquinas; (2) extract from Commentary on the Sentences 1, Prologue. Lectures on Aquinas; (3) Summa contra gentiles 1.1-8; (4) Summa theologiae 1, q.1; (5) Maurer translated selections from Aquinas in Thomas Aquinas, The Division and Methods of the Sciences, appendices 1-3.
21 Sept Aquinas and the Arabic Tradition: On Ultimate Happiness (1) Thomas Aquinas’s earliest consideration of ultimate human happiness in his Commentary on the Sentences. Text of the Response: pp. 102-109, in Thomas Aquinas on Seeing God. The Beatific Vision in his Commentary on Peter Lombard’s Sentences IV.49.2, Katja Krause, Milwaukee: Marquette University Press 2020; and these two video lectures “Preliminary remarks on philosophical sources” and “Arguments of the Response of In 4 Sent d.29, q.2, a.1”.
(2) On the Attainment of Happiness in Aquinas: Two video lectures on Summa contra gentiles, Book 3: (i) SCG 3, 1 of 2, (ii) SCG 3, 2 of 2; Three video lectures on Summa theologiae (i) Ia IIae Qq. 1-2, (ii) Ia IIae Q.3, (iii) Ia IIae Qq. 4-5.
28 Sept Introduction to the course for MU & KUL students: (1) General Welcome and Students Names and Interests; (2) Two overviews: (2.1) Prof. Robiglio, Why Study Thomas Aquinas?, (2.2) Prof. Taylor, Why Study Thomas Aquinas and the Arabic Tradition?; (3) Detailed Review of the Course Syllabus with Procedures and Deadlines.
05 Oct Prof. Robiglio, Two (2) lectures on Aquinas on the Latin/Greek Christian Tradition. Assigned readings TBA. Preview of 12 Oct Class
12 Oct Prof. Taylor, Two (2) : (1) Arabic Tradition and Aquinas; (2) the Peripatetic metaphysics of Ibn Sīnā / Avicenna. Assigned readings TBA. Preview of 19 Oct Class
Student Class Presentations Starting 19 October: Assignments for Presenters and Other Students
Student Presenter teams of 2-3 students will be assigned to prepare presentations on texts and topics assigned by the instructors. Presentations will be made at class weekly followed by discussion and questions for an hour or a bit more.
(1) Instructions for Student Presenter teams:
From their research on the assigned texts and topic team presenters are to provide by Tuesday 11:59 pm US Central Time / 6h59 CET a handout of no more than 6 single spaced pages plus a 2 page bibliography. This is to be sent to the instructors via email and posted on TEAMS before the deadline.
On Thursday the Student Presenter team will make a summary oral presentation of 10-12 minutes (no more) which will be followed by comments by the instructors and then general discussion by the class.
(2) Instructions for Other Class Students: Other students in the class are to post two questions only on the texts, topic and Student team presentation on TEAMS no later than Wednesday 4:59 pm US Central Time / 23h59 CET. This is part of the MU student participation grade for the course. For KUL students it is a simple expectation for any serious student of philosophy. All students are expected to study the relevant primary texts and the handout provided by the presenters.
19 Oct (1 & 2 MU) (Prof. Robiglio away from Leuven.) Student Presenter Team 1 (MU): Aquinas, Commentary on De Trinitate, Q. 5, a. 1 & 2 Other assigned primary and secondary literature forthcoming; Student Presenter Team 2 (MU): Aquinas, Commentary on De Trinitate, Q. 5, a. 3 & 4. Other assigned primary and secondary literature forthcoming. Preview of 26 Oct Class
26 Oct Prof. Taylor at KUL (3 & 4 KUL) Student Presenter Team 3 (KUL): Aquinas, Commentary on De Trinitate, Q.6, a. 1. Other assigned primary and secondary literature forthcoming. Student Presenter Team 4 (KUL): Aquinas, Commentary on De Trinitate, Q.6, a. 2, 3. Other assigned primary and secondary literature forthcoming. Preview of 2 Nov Class
29 Oct Belgium clocks set back one hour
02 Nov Writing Philosophy Papers and Articles. KUL 16h-17h: Writing Professional Papers at KUL and the KUL Paper Requirements for this Course; KUL 17h-17h50, MU 9-9:50 am: Wietcha video and analysis of sample article Luis Xavier López-Farjeat, “Avicenna’s Influence on Aquinas’ Early Doctrine of Creation in In II Sent. D. 1, Q. 1, A. 2,” RTMP 2012. Break KUL 17h50, MU 9:50 ten minute break. KUL 18h-18:30, MU 10 am -10:30 am: Seth Kreeger on writing articles. MU 10:30: Brett Yardley on writing book reviews. MU 11 am ten minute break. MU 11:10-11:40: How to Write Argumentative Philosophy Essays & discussion of MU Paper Requirements for this Course
Preview of 9 Nov Class
05 Nov US clocks set back one hour
09 Nov (5 & 6 MU). Student Presenter Team 5 (MU): Aquinas, Commentary on De Trinitate, Q. 6, a.4. Other assigned primary and secondary literature forthcoming. Student Presenter Team 6 (MU): Aquinas, Commentary on De Trinitate, Q,1, a.1. Other assigned primary and secondary literature forthcoming. Preview of 16 Nov Class
16 Nov (7 & 8 MU). Student Presenter Team 7 (MU): Aquinas, Commentary on De Trinitate, Q.1, a.2. Other assigned primary and secondary literature forthcoming. Student Presenter Team 8 (MU): Aquinas, Commentary on De Trinitate, Q. 1, a. 3 & 4. Other assigned primary and secondary literature forthcoming. Preview of 23 Nov Class
23 Nov (Thanksgiving) (9 & 10 KUL). Student Presenter Team 9 (KUL): Aquinas, Commentary on De Trinitate, Q. 2, a. 1 & 2. Other assigned primary and secondary literature forthcoming. Student Presenter Team 10 (KUL): Aquinas, Commentary on De Trinitate, Q. 2, a. 3 & 4. Other assigned primary and secondary literature forthcoming. Preview of 30 Nov Class.
30 Nov (11 & 12 KUL). Student Presenter Team 11 (KUL): Aquinas, Commentary on De Trinitate Q., 3. Other assigned primary and secondary literature forthcoming. Student Presenter Team 12 (KUL): Aquinas, Commentary on De Trinitate Q., 3. Other assigned primary and secondary literature forthcoming. Preview of
07 Dec MU Final Class (13 & 14 KUL) TBA
14 Dec KUL short paper presentations
21 Dec KUL short paper presentations