700
One studies closely some classic texts of ancient or medieval philosophy, such as Plato's Republic, Aristotle's Metaphysics, St. Augustine's De Trinitate, the works of St. Anselm, some part of the Summa Theologiae of St. Thomas, or some major work in the Franciscan tradition. The intent is to study the great works of philosophy more seriously than is possible when they are dealt with in other courses. This closer textual study will enable the students to deepen their understanding of the philosophical tradition in which they stand. This course can be taken more than once since its content will vary from semester to semester.
The course begins by setting personalism in relation to Plato and Aristotle and Plotinus. Special attention is given to the Christian inspiration of the personalist critique of Greek thought. The influence of St. Augustine as the first great personalist thinker is examined. The Christological and Trinitarian debates of the 4th and 5th century are investigated. The “theological personalism” of Metropolitan John Zizioulas (1931-2023) is studied, who traces this personalism back to the Cappadocian Fathers of the 4th and 5th century. Next, major attention is given to the understanding of the person in St. Thomas Aquinas and then the Franciscan tradition for its thought on individual being and personal being. The influence of St. Francis Assisi is acknowledged. The so-called “turn to the subject” is next taken up, beginning with the Cartesian cogito. Among modern thinkers, particular attention is paid to Locke, Kant, and St. John Henry Newman; and also to the group of American philosophers who constitute American Personalism. Attention will also be given to the place of personalism in Vatican II.
3 One studies closely some classic texts of modern or contemporary philosophy, such as Descartes' Meditations, Kant's Critiques, the works of Nietzsche, Husserl's Logical Investigations, Sartre's Being and Nothingness, Scheler's Formalism in Ethics, Wittgenstein's Tractatus, Maritain's Degrees of Knowing, or Longergan's Insight. The intent is to appropriate critically the philosophical tradition in which we stand. This course can be taken more than once since its content will vary from semester to semester.
The course engages various dialogues between prominent personalist thought and movements within philosophy. The course will determine whether personalism represents a rupture with the philosophia perennis, or an enhancement and deepening of it. Some of the following topics may be addressed, but are by no means exhaustive: a) Thomistic personalism; b) Self and Other; c) Embodiment; d) Persons and animals, etc.
One studies not some main period of philosophy such as the medieval period. Rather this course introduces the student to a serious study of a specific school of philosophical thought, philosophical tradition within the history of philosophy, or philosophical problem within a historical setting. Examples include the influence of Neo-Platonism on medieval philosophy, analytic philosophy, the Muslim medieval tradition, contemporary Thomism, phenomenology, the influence of Scholastic philosophy on modern philosophy, existentialism, pragmatism, and the impact of Christian revelation on philosophy, or the concept of the agent intellect in medieval philosophy. This course can be taken more than once since its content will vary.