Course Description

Mediaeval philosophy is characterized by its double inheritance: the Greek philosophical tradition and Biblical religion.  The Greek inheritance afforded the Middle Ages some measure of continuity with the philosophy of Antiquity.  However, the often difficult task of combining these two traditions frequently led mediaeval philosophers to focus on new problems and to develop new philosophical perspectives.  The result was a fruitful treatment of a wide range of topics, including the problem of evil, the relationship between faith and reason, creation and causality, the problem of universals, virtue and charity, and freedom of will.  Please note: This is a certified writing class.

Required Work: Two papers, a take-home midterm, a final, and (if needed) quizzes.

 Texts: Readings will include selections from the following: Augustine, Boethius, Anselm, Maimonides, Abelard, Aquinas, and Scotus.