2023 Fall MU & KUL Simple Index Course Webpages
31 Aug. Introduction to the course for MU students: (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 6, 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’ Cat. 1.5] (2.3.1) first causes and principles (Met 1.1-2), (2.3.2) being qua being (Met 4.1, 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. 4 assignments: (1) Read all of 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; (2) Read Robert Pasnau, “Thomas Aquinas” in SEP (Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy) online: https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/aquinas/. (3) Bibliographical exercise: Each student must find 6 different recent (last 10 years) articles on Aquinas and the Arabic Tradition, 2 in the International Philosophical Bibliography, 2 in the Philosopher’s Index and 2 in the Prof. Druart’s Brief Bibliographical Guide in Medieval Islamic Philosophy and Theology And (4) read Aribierto Acerbi, “Aquinas’s Commentary on Boethius’s De Trinitiate,” The Review of Metaphysics 66 (2012), 317-338. Also recommended: read “Medieval Philosophy’ by John Marenbon in the SEP. Hand in to me on 14 Sept a copy of your notes from your study of these materials.
14 Sept (3) Aquinas on Metaphysics and Religion / Theology: (1) A. Oliva, “Philosophy in the Teaching of Theology by Thomas Aquinas,” The Thomist 76 2012; (2) comment from P. Porro on the obsolescence of philosophy according to Aquinas; (3) extract from Commentary on the Sentences 1, Prologue. Lectures on Aquinas; (4) Summa contra gentiles 1.1-8; (5) Summa theologiae 1, q.1; (6) Maurer translated selections from Aquinas in Thomas Aquinas, The Division and Methods of the Sciences, appendices 1-3. Also recommended: A. Oliva, “La contemplation des philosophes selon Thomas d’Aquin,” Revue des Sciences philosophiques et théologiques (RSPT) 2012, 585-662. Bring to me a copy of your notes from your study of these. I will collect those and also your notes taken at class. You can take at class a phone photo of your class notes to keep for yourself. I will return your notes from 7 & 14 Sept to your mailboxes on 15 Sept.
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. Bring me a copy of your notes from your study of these. I will collect those and also your notes taken at class. You can take a phone photo of your class notes to keep for yourself. Secondary literature: I recommend the accounts found in Krause’s book and also the work of J.-B. Brenet. In 2012 I also published on this in The Thomist.
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 and discussion of texts to be used.
05 Oct Prof. Robiglio, Two (2) lectures on Aquinas on the Latin/Greek Christian Tradition. Assigned readings: Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy (online): “Medieval Philosophy,” “Thomas Aquinas,” More TBA. Preview of 12 Oct Class. REVISION: Lectures by Prof. Taylor on epistemological issues concerning intellect and immateriality in Plato, Aristotle, Alexander, Themistius; lecture on earliest accounts of natural epistemology of Aquinas in his Comm on the Sentences in relation to his sources in the Arabic Tradition and in the context of early 13th century European Latin theological predecessors.
12 Oct Prof. Taylor, Two (2) lectures: (1) Arabic Tradition and Aquinas; (2) the Peripatetic metaphysics of Ibn Sīnā / Avicenna. Assigned readings: Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy (online): “Arabic and Islamic Metaphysics,” “Ibn Sīnā [Avicenna]”, “Ibn Sina’s Metaphysics,” More TBA. Preview of 19 Oct Class Revision: Two lectures: Prof. Taylor: Natural epistemology and metaphysics in al-Farabi, Ibn Sina / Avicenna and Ibn Rushd / Averroes as relevant to Aquinas; Prof. Robiglio: Sources in the Latin Tradition for the thought of Aquinas.
Assignments for study preparation for class on 12 October: Recommended readings, Lecture One: A. Bertolacci, Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy (SEP), Arabic and Islamic Metaphysics; Stephen Menn, SEP al-Farabi’s Metaphysics; O. Lizzini, SEP Ibn Sina’s Metaphysics; N. Hasse, SEP Influence of Arabic and Islamic Philosophy on the Latin West; A. Ivry, SEP Arabic and Islamic Psychology and Philosophy of Mind. Lecture Two: McGinn, Bernard, Thomas Aquinas’s Summa theologiae- A biography- Princeton Univ (2014), ch. 1-2; A. Robiglio, Review of McGinn, Speculum 2016; U. Eco, “In Praise of St Thomas,” in Faith in Fakes. Travels in Hyperreality 1998.
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: Pooya, Ian & Marc): Aquinas, Commentary on De Trinitate, Q. 5, a. 1 & 2 Other assigned primary and secondary literature forthcoming. Student Presenter Team 2 (MU: Mehran & Patrick): Aquinas, Commentary on De Trinitate, Q. 5, a. 3 & 4. Other assigned primary and secondary literature forthcoming. For both of these the following articles by J. Wippel must be considered as well as other literature: including: “Thomas Aquinas & Avicenna on Relation between First Philosophy and the Other Theoretical Sciences: A Note on Thomas[s ‘Commentary on Boethius’s De Trinitate,” The Thomist 37 1973; “The Title ‘First Philosophy’ According to Aquinas & His Justifications for Same,” Review of Metaphysics, 27 1974; “Metaphysics and Separatio According to Thomas Aquinas” Review of Metaphysics 1978 31.3; “The Latin Avicenna as a Source for Thomas Aquinas’s Metaphysics,” Freiburger Zeitschrift für Philosophie und Theologie 37 1990 51-90.
26 Oct (Prof. Taylor at KUL.) KUL 1 Student Presenter Team: Franciscus Mulders and Sarah Marie Leitenberger, Aquinas, Commentary on De Trinitate, Q.6, a. 1. Other assigned primary and secondary literature forthcoming. KUL Student Presenter Team 2: Dorian Dumitru Draghic and Aurelien Sappy. Aquinas, Commentary on De Trinitate, Q.6, a. 2, 3. The task is, for each of the two teams, to present in a concise and nonetheless responsible way the structure, purpose, contents, crucial sources, and arguments of Aquinas’s text. In order to do so effectively, you should also consult some selected secondary literature (which you could use, if necessary, summarize in footnote, and list at the end of the handout you are going to prepare). Concerning second relevant secondary literature, besides the classic study by the late Ralph MacInerny (Boethius and Aquinas), you may look at the following contributions: J. Aertsen, “Was heist Metaphysik bei Thomas von Aquin?”, in I. Craemer-Ruegenberg – A. Speer (eds.), ‘Scientia’ und ‘Ars’ in Hoch- und Spätmittelalter, Berlin, de Gruyter, 1994, pp. 217-239. Even though it concerns q. 5 (and, specifically, the reply to the 9th argument of art. 1), one could read J.F. Wippel, Thomas and Avicenna on the Relationship between First Philosophy and the Other Theoretical Sciences…, in: « The Thomist », 37 (1937), pp. 133-154 (reprinted in Id., Metaphysical Themes, pp. 37-53). Relevant literature is also: M.D. Chenu, Notes de lexicographie médiévale : Disciplina, in : « Revue des sciences philosophiques et théologiques », 25 (1936), pp. 686-692 ; E. Dolan, Resolution and Composition in the Speculative and Practical Discourse, in « Laval théologique et philosophiques », 6 (1950), pp. 9-62 ; J. Doig, Aquinas on Metaphysics…, The Hague, Nijhoff, 1972, pp. 64-76.
Preview of 2 Nov Class
29 Oct Belgium clocks set back one hour
02 Nov Writing Philosophy Papers and Articles. MU 9-10 am (i) How to Write Argumentative Philosophy Essays (Link), (ii) Wietcha video (22 min) Link), (iii) Seth Kreeger on writing articles and questions (30 min), (iv) Brett Yardley on writing book reviews (20 min) Link. BREAK 10:30-10:40. 10:40 (v) Prof. Robiglio on Medieval Philosophical Writings, (vi) brief analysis by Prof. Taylor 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. General questions and, finally, (vii) discussion of MU Paper Requirements for this Course
Preview of 9 Nov Class
05 Nov US clocks set back one hour
09 Nov KUL 3 Student Presenter Team: Kostantinos Gougakis and Joseph Abbah, Aquinas, Commentary on De Trinitate, Q. 6, a.4. Other assigned primary and secondary literature forthcoming. KUL 4 Student Presenter Team: Lydia Markidis and Julián Ignacio Elizondo Díaz Aquinas, Commentary on De Trinitate, Q. 1, a.1. The task is, for each of the two teams, to present in a concise and nonetheless responsible way the structure, purpose, contents, sources, and arguments of Aquinas’s text. You may follow the model offered by the previous teams, in particular KUL-1 and KUL-2, who are going to present today (the handouts are available, as you may have seen, on the e-platform “Toledo”. In order to do so effectively, you should also consult some selected secondary literature (which you could use, if necessary, summarize in footnote, and list at the end of the handout you are going to prepare). Concerning second relevant secondary literature, besides the classic study by the late Ralph MacInerny (Boethius and Aquinas, Washington D.C. 1991), you may look at the following contributions: For KUL-3: E. Dolan, Resolution and Composition in the Speculative and Practical Discourse, in « Laval théologique et philosophiques », 6 (1950), pp. 9-62 ; J. Doig, Aquinas on Metaphysics…, The Hague, Nijhoff, 1972, pp. 64-76. Relevant is also: J. Aertsen, “Was heist Metaphysik bei Thomas von Aquin?”, in I. Craemer-Ruegenberg – A. Speer (eds.),‘Scientia’ und ‘Ars’ in Hoch- und Spätmittelalter, Berlin, de Gruyter, 1994, pp. 217-239 M.D. Chenu, Notes de lexicographie médiévale : Disciplina, in : « Revue des sciences philosophiques et théologiques », 25 (1936), pp. 686-692 ; For KUL-4: J.F. Wippel, Quidditative Knowledge of God According to Thomas Aquinas, in L. Gerson (ed.), Graceful Reason: Essays in Honor of Joseph Owens, Toronto 1983, pp. 273-299 (also reprinted in Id., Metaphysical Themes in Thomas Aquinas, Washington D.C. 1984, pp. 215-241). D.C. Hall, The Trinity. An Analysis of St Thomas Aquinas’s Exposition of De Trinitate of Boethius, Leiden 1992, passim; F. Ruello, La doctrine de l’illumination dans le traité Super librum Boethii de Trinitate de Thomas d’Aquin, « Recherches de science religieuse », 64 (1967), pp. 341-402. Even though it concerns directly the second Quaestio, and not Q. 1, you might already read: J. Owens, A Note on Aquinas, In Boeth. De Trinitate, 2, 2 ad 1m, in «The New Scholasticism », 59 (1985), pp. 102-108.
Preview of 16 Nov Class
16 Nov MU Student Presenter Team: Pooya, Mehran & Ian. Aquinas, Commentary on De Trinitate, Q.1, a.2. Other assigned primary and secondary literature forthcoming. MU Student Presenter Team Marc & Patrick: Aquinas, Commentary on De Trinitate, Q. 1, a. 3 & 4. Other assigned primary and secondary literature forthcoming. Secondary literature recommendations: McInery, Wippel (in particular his essay in “Thomas Aquinas and the Distinction and Derivation of the Many from the One,” Review of Metaphysics, 38 (1985), pp. 563-590), Hall; also D. Winiewicz, “A Note on alteritas and Numerical Diversity in St Thomas Aquinas,” Dialogue 16 (1977), pp. 693-707. Substantial focus should be on the issue of God as first object of knowledge (a.3). On that in Henry of Ghent, see P. Porro, “Henry of Ghent,” Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy, section 8. “God as the First Object of our Knowledge (primium cognitum).” Preview of 23 Nov Class
23 Nov (Thanksgiving: No MU Class. Online attendance for MU students optional) KUL-5 Student Presenters Sam Hooks & Lisa Janssen: Aquinas, Commentary on De Trinitate, Q. 2, a. 1 & 2. Other assigned primary and secondary literature forthcoming. KUL-6 Student Presenters Zerui Cheng & Baptiste Van Gaver, Aquinas, Commentary on De Trinitate, Q. 2, a. 3 & 4. Other assigned primary and secondary literature forthcoming. Preview of 30 Nov Class.
30 Nov No KUL class. MU: student paper consolations.
07 Dec KUL Student Presenters Qilong Chen & Youjia Guo: Aquinas, Commentary on De Trinitate Q., 3. Other assigned primary and secondary literature forthcoming. KUL Student Presenter Pooya Zakeri: Aquinas, Commentary on De Trinitate Q., 3. Other assigned primary and secondary literature forthcoming.
14 Dec KUL short paper presentations
21 Dec KUL short paper presentations