PL 370 - Medieval Philosophy

(3.00 cr.)

Prerequisite: PL 201 and one additional PL 200-level course. The Middle Ages is a period which not only excels for its cultural richness-in architecture (e.g., the emergence of the Gothic cathedral), literature (e.g., the vibrant innovations in love poetry), and intellectual life (e.g., the rise of universities)-but also for its profound concern with regard to philosophical issues. The scholastic period (approximately c. 1300-1500) particularly stands out for its vigorous and engaged discussion of profound philosophical questions such as time and eternity, being and thinking, soul and intellect, language and truth. Due to the encounter and fusion of four philosophical traditions-the Greek, Arabic, Hebrew, and Latin philosophies-medieval thought turns out to be a unique cross-cultural enterprise whose impact contributed substantially to the formation of modern Western intellectual culture. IC/IM