Unit name | Ancient Philosophy |
---|---|
Unit code | PHIL30092 |
Credit points | 20 |
Level of study | H/6 |
Teaching block(s) |
Teaching Block 2 (weeks 13 - 24) |
Unit director | Dr. Pearson |
Open unit status | Not open |
Pre-requisites |
None |
Co-requisites |
None |
School/department | Department of Philosophy |
Faculty | Faculty of Arts |
This course will consider aspects of Aristotle’s philosophy of mind and metaphysics. We will attempt to gain a detailed understanding of Aristotle’s views, assess their coherence, and relate some of them to current views.
The relation of Aristotle's philosophy of mind (as found especially in his De anima) to contemporary work in the philosophy of mind is highly controversial. Hilary Putnam thought that Aristotle was the first to develop a version of Putnam's own hugely influential approach to the philosophy of mind; namely, functionalism. Others have contested this.
Either way, Aristotle's 'hylomorphic' account of the soul warrants careful consideration since he too developed his theory in response to prevailing materialist and dualist views. We will also take seriously the idea that Aristotle's view might genuinely be of its own kind, and not ultimately reducible to any current position.
Aristotle also provides individual accounts of perception, imagination (phantasia), memory, thought, and the role of desire in locomotion. And we will look at his views on these topics as well.
Aristotle's metaphysics is found in a number of his works. He provides discussions of e.g. fatalism, being, essence, truth, form, matter, nature, causation, time, and chance. We will examine his views on some of these topics.
Aims:
(1) To provide detailed examination of certain topics in Aristotle's philosophy of mind and metaphysics.
(2) To encourage the students' ability to engage critically with Aristotle's views on these matters.
(3) To encourage the students' ability to engage critically with various secondary literature on Aristotle's views.
On completion of this course, students should:
10 x 1 hour lecture plus 10 x 1 hour seminar
Summative: one 3-hour written exam