Topics in the Catholic Philosophical Tradition
This course examines the Catholic philosophical tradition, beginning with its roots in ancient Greek philosophy, through the medieval period in the work of figures such as St. Augustine and St. Thomas Aquinas, and up to and including contemporary Catholic philosophy.
Prerequisites: One class in philosophy or permission of instructor.
Outcomes: Students will be conversant and familiar with the Catholic philosophical tradition throughout its history, demonstrating proficiency in operating within the philosophical framework of this tradition.
This course examines the Catholic philosophical tradition, beginning with its roots in ancient Greek philosophy, through the medieval period in the work of figures such as St. Augustine and St. Thomas Aquinas, and up to and including contemporary Catholic philosophy.
Prerequisites: One class in philosophy or permission of instructor.
Outcomes: Students will be conversant and familiar with the Catholic philosophical tradition throughout its history, demonstrating proficiency in operating within the philosophical framework of this tradition.
Pre-requisites: UCWR 110, C- or higher
One prior class in philosophy
This is a writing intensive class. A grade of C- or better in UCWR 110 is required to enroll.
The course is an introduction to the interaction between Platonism and the Catholic tradition. The selection of texts we will study, ranging from Plato to twenty-first century philosophers, aims to show how ancient Platonism both influenced and was creatively transformed and partially integrated within Christianity. Thematically, the course focuses on the respective metaphysics and anthropology of the two traditions; more precisely, their multi-layered and hierarchically ordered metaphysics and anthropology. Both in the Platonic and in the Christian worldview, neither reality as a whole nor the human being are unqualifiedly simple entities but rather complex networks of hierarchically organized and mutually irreducible aspects or levels, which simultaneously spring from a transcendent source and are directed to the same source as their fulfillment. Our main goal is to understand how Catholic thinkers from the early centuries to the present have employed Platonic concepts and strategies to provide a rational foundation to what they take as the metaphysical and anthropological presuppositions of the Christian message.
Class Details
Class Availability
Combined Section Capacity
Combined Section
Catholic Philos. Tradition
PHIL 342 - 01W (4514)
Status: Closed
Seats Taken: 10
Wait List Total: 0
Catholic Philos. Tradition
CATH 303 - 01W (4615)
Status: Closed
Seats Taken: 8
Wait List Total: 0