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.
Are you and I merely a “heap of atoms”? Many today seem to think so! So where did these notions come from — and how do we address such ideas? Take a tour through the history of philosophy and explore what some of the greatest minds have said about mind, body, and soul — to examine Truth and gain clear thinking about ourselves and the world.
Total classes: 9
Prerequisite: None
Suggested grade level: 9th to 12th
Suggested credit: 2/3 Semester Philosophy. For full credit, add another philosophy course with Dr. Nicholson.
Description
What is the human person? A soul entrapped in a body or a union of body and soul? A purely mechanical entity or one with free will and moral dignity? The great philosophers have addressed these and related questions, and they are sure to intrigue anyone with a passing interest in science, philosophy, theology, or contemporary culture. In this class, we will examine the chief philosophical views on the soul and human nature, from the ancient Greeks to the Medieval scholastics to the modern philosophers. We will explore how philosophical arguments can be brought to bear on some of the most pressing questions surrounding human dignity and the nature of personhood.
Outline
Class 1: Introduction, syllabus, background
Class 2: The Atomists, Democritus, Leucippus
Class 3: Plato, the Meno
Class 4: Aristotle, De Anima (selections)
Class 5: Epicurus, basic writings
Class 6: St. Thomas Aquinas, Summa Theologica, QIa.75
Class 7: Rene Descartes, Meditations
Class 8: Julien Offray La Mettrie, “Man a Machine”
Class 9: Alan Turing “The Imitation Game” and Ed Feser, “Philosophy of Mind”
Materials and Homework
Course materials: All course materials are provided FREE by the instructor from sources compiled online. No textbook purchase is necessary.
Homework: This course will run three weeks and span 9 classes. We will have 2 quizzes, a mid-term, and a final examination. Expect to spend at least one hour per day reading and studying outside of class time.
