Admission requirements
Admission to this course is restricted to:
BA students in Philosophy: Global and Comparative Perspectives, who have successfully com-pleted at least 70 ECTS credits of the mandatory components of the first and second year of their bachelor’s programme, including Philosophical Skills and one of the following courses: Logic OR World Philsophies: Greek and Roman Antiquity OR Concepts of Selfhood.
BA students in Filosofie, who have successfully completed at least 70 ECTS credits of the man-datory components of the first and second year of their bachelor’s programme, including Filosofische vaardigheden and one of the following courses: Logica OR Griekse en Romeinse filosofie OR Comparative Philosophy.
Description
A truly global philosopher, read in Arabic, Latin, Hebrew, Syriac, and English, Avicenna is arguably the greatest philosopher in history. His writings left a permeant imprint on the course of philosophy, East and West. He wrote on philosophy, medicine, ethics, physics, grammar, mathematics, and more. He is most celebrated today for his groundbreaking theories in metaphysics. Many centuries passed after the composition of Aristotle’s Metaphysics metaphysical works of similar size and ambition were written in the Peripatetic tradition.
In terms of comprehensiveness, systematic effort, and influence, Avicenna’s metaphysical writings are arguably more important than Aristotle. The present course explores in detail topics in Avicennan metaphysics, focusing on existence, causality, the soul, and theodicy.
The aim of this course is to follow a close textual study of Avicenna’s The Metaphysics of Healing. Classes will revolve around textual analysis of Avicenna’s ideas as they stand on their own, though sometimes comparisons will be made with contemporary metaphysics.
Course objectives
By the end of this course students should be able to:
Demonstrate familiarity with the different permutation of Avicennan metaphysics in the medieval period.
Critically reflect on, distinguish between, and examine key varieties and aspects of argument and proof in medieval metaphysics.
Exhibit the analytic skills necessary to comprehend the relevance of the past to their understanding of the present, while becoming more familiar with their own assumptions and values.
Acquire a set of reading and discussion skills that allow them to engage texts and others in an informed and conscientious manner.
Timetable
The timetables are available through My Timetable.
Mode of instruction
- Seminar
Assessment method
Assessment
Essay one: 2000 words (20%)
Essay two: 3000 words (60%)
Weekly Essays: 1000 words (20%)
Weighing
The final mark for the course is established by determining the weighted average. To pass the course, the weighted average of the partial grades must be 5.5 or higher.
Resit
The resit consists of one essay for all parts at once (essays one and two, and weekly submissions). The mark for the resit replaces all previously earned marks.
Inspection and feedback
How and when an exam review will take place will be disclosed together with the publication of the exam results at the latest. If a student requests a review within 30 days after publication of the exam results, an exam review will have to be organized.
Reading list
The Metaphysics of Healing (Chicago, 2005).
Registration
Enrolment through MyStudyMap is mandatory.
General information about course and exam enrolment is available on the website.
Contact
For substantive questions, contact the lecturer listed in the right information bar.
For questions about enrolment, admission, etc, contact the Education Administration Office: Huizinga
Remarks
Not applicable.