COURSE SYLLABUS
COURSE PREFIX AND NUMBER: PHI 404 (01) Spring, 2005
COURSE TITLE: Seminar in Epistemology and Metaphysics
INSTRUCTOR: Dr. Philip Blosser: Contact info: Russell House, No. 7; P.O. Box 7211; Tel. ext. 7186.
(NB: This seminar will focus on classic Aristotelian-Thomistic metaphysics and epistemology)
TEXTS:
Stanley L. Jaki, Means to Message: A Treatise on Truth (Eerdmans, 1999)
Etienne Gilson, Being and Some Philosophers (Pontifical Institute of Medieval Studies, 1949, rpt. 1952, 1961)
Joseph
Owens, An Elementary Christian Metaphysics (University of Notre Dame
Press, 1985)
STUDY GUIDE NO. 1: Click here.
STUDY GUIDE NO. 2: Click here. New!!
GENERAL DESCRIPTION:
A critical examination of selected topics and current debates in the theory of knowledge and the theory of the nature of reality.
SPECIFIC COURSE OBJECTIVES/COMPETENCIES:
This
seminar is designed to introduce the student to theories of epistemology and
metaphysics, not in the abstract, but as they are embodied in current, heated
debates over the question of the “historical Jesus” in historical-critical
treatments of the New Testament. There
will be both an historical and a thematic dimension to the issues treated.
On the one hand, the historical development of philosophical theories and
presuppositions that undergird the current debates will be analyzed in detail,
from late medieval nominalism to contemporary anti-foundationalism and
deconstructionist theories. On the
other hand, specific theories of epistemology and metaphysics will be treated
thematically, such as logical empiricism, phenomenalism, naive and critical
realism, idealism, ‘onto-theology,’ etc.
The expectation is that the context of the current lively debate
exemplified by the Jesus Seminar will help to illustrate what is at issue in
alternative theoretical positions and offer an inviting avenue for analysis of
epistemological and metaphysical theories.
Immanuel
Kant’s critical philosophy has been singled out for special treatment, in view
of its decisive influence over the course of development of historical-critical
theories of biblical interpretation in Germany and then the rest of the world in
the 19th and 20th centuries. The
epistemological and metaphysical implications of his distinctions between
noumena & phenomena, concepts of the understanding and ideas of
reason—with their implications for and influence upon subsequent theological
distinctions between values & facts, Geschichte & Historie,
the “Christ of Faith” and the “Jesus of History,” etc., will be
subjected to careful scrutiny in the balance of the seminar.
ASSIGNMENTS:
Copious quantities of readings, several
short reaction papers, participation in internet discussion group, a research
paper, one major in-class presentation based on your paper, a mid-term and final
exam.
EVALUATION:
Regular class participation will be weighted
heavily. This includes not merely
attendance and reaction papers, but informed contribution to class and internet
discussions on a regular basis. Nearly
half (40%) of the final grade will be determined by such participation.
The balance will fall out as follows: research paper and
in-class presentation (20%), mid-term and final exams (20% each, or 40%).
Bibliography
Anderson,
James F., trans. Introduction to the Metaphysics of St. Thomas Aquinas.
South Bend, IN: Regnery
Gateway, Inc., 1953.
Balthasar,
Hans Urs von. The
Realm of Metaphysics in Antiquity.
Trans. by Brian McNeil, et al.
San Francisco:
Ignatius Press, 1989.
Balthasar,
Hans Urs von. The
Realm of Metaphysics in the Modern Age.
Trans. by Oliver Davies, et al.
San
Francisco: Ignatius Press, 1991.
Balthasar,
Hans Urs von. Theo-Logic:
Theological Logical Theory.
Trans. by Adrian J. Walker.
San Francisco:
Ignatius Press, 2000-.
Chesterton,
G.K. St. Thomas Aquinas: “The
Dumb Ox.” Garden City, NY: Image Books, 1956.
Clarke,
William Norris., S.J. Explorations
in Metaphysics. Notre Dame, IN:
University of Notre Dame Press,
1994.
Clarke,
William Norris., S.J. The One
and the Many: A Contemporary Thomistic Metaphysics.
Notre Dame, IN:
University of Notre Dame Press, 2001.
Clarke,
William Norris., S.J. Person and
Being. Milawukee: Marquette
University Press, 1993.
Clarke,
William Norris., S.J. The
Philosophical Approach to God: A Neo-Thomist Perspective.
Edited by
William E. Ray.
Winston-Salem, NC: Wake Forest University Press, 1979.
Garrigou-Lagrange,
Reginald. God, His Existence and
His Nature: A Thomistic Solution of Certain Agnostic
Antinomies.
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Louis, MO, London, B. Herder Book Co., 1934-1936.
Garrigou-Lagrange,
Reginald. The One God: A
Commentary on the First Part of St. Thomas Aquinas’
Theological Summa. St. Louis, MO, London, B. Herder Book Co., 1943.
Garrigou-Lagrange,
Reginald. Reality: A Synthesis
of Thomistic Thought. Trans. by
Patrick Cummins. St.
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1950.
Garrigou-Lagrange,
Reginald. The Trinity and God
the Creator: A Commentary on St. Thomas’ Theological
Summa, Ia, q. 27-119.
Trans. by Frederic C. Eckhoff. St. Louis, MO, London, B. Herder Book Co.,
1952.
Gilson,
Etienne. Being and Some Philosophers.
Pontifical Institute of Medieval Studies, 1949.
Gilson,
Etienne. Christian Philosophy:
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Medieval Studies,
1993.
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Dame, IN: University of Notre Dame
Press, 1994.
Gilson.
Etienne. Elements of Christian
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1960.
Gilson.
Etienne. God and Philosophy.
New Haven, CT: Yale University Press, 1941.
Gilson,
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Gilson.
Etienne. Thomist Realism and the
Critique of Knowledge. San
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Gilson,
Etienne. The Unity of
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Jaki,
Stanley L. Means to Message: A
Treatise on Truth. Grand
Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 1999.
Kerr,
Fergus. After Aquinas: Versions
of Thomism. Malden, MA:
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John F. X. The Preface to
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Maritain,
Jacques. The Angelic Doctor: The
Life and Work of Saint Thomas Aquinas.
Trans. J. F. Scanlan.
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Jacques. Approaches to God.
Trans. by Peter O’Reilly. 1954;
rpt. New York: Collier Books, 1962.
Maritain,
Jacques. The Degrees of
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1938; rpt. Notre Dame, IN: University of
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Maritain,
Jacques. An Essay on Christian
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Flannery. New York: Philosophical
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Jacques. Existence and the
Existent. Trans. by Lewis
Galantiere and Gerald B. Phelan. 1948;
rpt.
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Maritain,
Jacques. An Introduction to
Philosophy. Trans. by E.I.
Watkin. London, New York: Longmans,
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1930.
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Jacques. A Preface to
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Jacques. Saint Thomas Aquinas:
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NY: State University of New York
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Owens,
Joseph. Cognition: An
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Owens,
Joseph. The Doctrine of Being in
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Thought.
3rd rev. ed.
Toronto: Pontifical Institute of Medieval Studies, 1978.
O’Callaghan,
John P. Thomistic Realism and the Linguistic Turn: Toward a More
Perfect Existence. Notre
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2003.
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Joseph. An Elementary Christian
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Owens,
Joseph. An Interpretation of
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Joseph. St. Thomas Aquinas and
the Future of Metaphysics. Milawukee:
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1957.
Owens,
Joseph. St. Thomas Aquinas on
the Existence of God: Collected Papers of Joseph Owens. Albany:
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Owens,
Joseph. Towards a Christian
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Catholic University of America Press, 1990.
Owens,
Joseph. Towards a Philosophy of
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1986.
Pieper,
Josef. Guide to Thomas Aquinas.
Trans. by Richard and Clara Winston.
1962; rpt. Notre Dame, IN:
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Pieper,
Josef. The Silence of St.
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Margaret. Etienne Gilson: A
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McInerny,
Ralph. A First Glance at Thomas
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Rocca,
Gregory P. Speaking the
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Negative Theology.
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Torrell,
Jean-Pierre. Saint Thomas Aquinas.
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Vann, Gerald, O.P. Saint Thomas Aquinas. London: J.M. Dent & Sons, Ltd., 1940.
Yves,
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