This is our catalog of courses. We will occasionally adjust the course listing to reflect the addition of new courses and the retirement of others.
Enroll now to embark on a transformative journey of intellectual exploration and discovery. Together, we will dive deep into the timeless questions of human nature and existence through the lens of our Catholic faith. Spanning from the ancient world to the present, students will explore canonical philosophical texts, from Plato’s “Republic” to St. Thomas Aquinas’s “Summa Theologica.” Our goal is to cultivate critical thinking skills and foster philosophical literacy, empowering students to rationally evaluate competing claims about the human good.
Total classes: 15
Prerequisite: There are no requirements, but it is recommended for advanced high-school students.
Suggested grade level: 10th to 12th grade (11th to 12th grade for optional dual enrollment credit)
Suggested credit: One full semester credit for Philosophy. Optional college credit is available through Franciscan University.
Special notes: Special notes: Parts One and Two of this course are part of the Franciscan University Advantage Program for dual enrollment. They align with FUS’s PHL 113 for 3 college credits. For more information on the optional dual enrollment program and to see if your student is eligible, visit https://homeschoolconnections.com/resources/dual-enrollment-with-franciscan-university-of-steubenville/
This course starts before Labor Day. Course materials are provided FREE.
Description
This two-semester course is a college-preparatory introduction to Philosophy offered in tandem with Franciscan University’s Advantage program. Our goal is to introduce students to the most fundamental questions about human nature, knowledge, and value. This introductory course will acquaint them with some of the canonical philosophical texts in the Western Tradition, spanning from the ancient world to the present. Our goal is to cultivate a sense of basic philosophical literacy, and to learn how to think critically so that we can rationally evaluate competing claims about the human good.
Outline
Week 1: Introduction, The Pre-Socratics
Read: “Pre-Socratics” Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy
Week 2: Plato, Introduction Biographical Background
Read: “Apology”, “Phaedo” (excerpts)
Week 3: Plato (continued)
Read: “Symposium”, “Euthyphro” (excerpts)
Week 4: Plato (continued)
Read: “Gorgias”, “Phaedrus” (excerpts)
Week 5: Plato (continued)
Read: “Republic” (excerpts)
Week 6: Aristotle – Logic
Read: “Prior Analytics” (excerpts)
Week 7: Aristotle – Metaphysics
Read: “De Anima” (excerpts); “Metaphysics”
Week 8: Aristotle – Metaphysics
Read: “Metaphysics”
Week 9: Aristotle – Ethics & Politics
Read: “Nicomachean Ethics” (excerpts)
Week 10: Hellenistic Philosophy I
Read: Epicurus “basic doctrines”
Week 11: Hellenistic Philosophy II
Read: Epictetus “Enchiridion”
Week 12: St. Augustine
Read: “Confessions” (excerpts)
Week 13: Boethius
Read: “Consolations of Philosophy” (excerpts)
Week 14: St. Thomas Aquinas
Read: “Summa Theologica” (excerpts)
Week 15: St. Thomas Aquinas (continued)
Read: “Summa Theologica” (excerpts)
Materials and Homework
Materials:
Our course texts will be distributed by the instructor, from a variety of sources both online and in a downloadable PDF format.
Homework:
There will be three quizzes, a mid-term examination, and a cumulative final exam. These will make up 45%, 25%, and 25% of your grade, respectively. The quizzes will be fully automated, but the midterm and final will include short answer questions graded by the instructor. The remaining 5% of your grade will be assigned on the basis of attendance and participation.
For students who opt into the dual-enrollment program, Franciscan University will offer additional testing to determine eligibility for college-level credit. This additional testing will comprise a midterm and a final exam.
Important Dates
Class dates: Fridays, August 30 to Dec. 20 (No class Nov. 1 for All Saints Day or Nov. 29 for Thanksgiving Break).
Starting time: 2:30 PM Eastern (1:30 Central; 12:30 Mountain; 11:30 Pacific)
Duration: 55 minutes
