Medieval Philosophy
- Arts
- 200 level
- 141 pages
- 6 units
This course introduces students to the major themes and figures in Medieval Philosophy. It explores the development of Christian thought, the problem of faith and reason, and arguments for the existence of God. Students will examine the philosophies of key thinkers such as Augustine, Plotinus, Anselm, and Aquinas, and their contributions to metaphysics, epistemology, and ethics. The course also covers Islamic and Jewish philosophers and their impact on medieval thought.
About this course
- Difficulty
- Intermediate
- Study hours
- 120 hours
- Maths
- None
- Content
- Theoretical, case study
- Practical work
- No
- Assignments
- Tutor marked assessments
- Computer based tests
- Discussion forums
- Final examination
What you'll read
The real module and unit structure of PHL216, taken from the course material NOUN publishes.
One paragraph, so you can see how it reads
PHL216 · UNIT 1: The Development of Christian Thought
In this unit, you have learnt how Christian thought emerged and also what constitutes the relationship between faith and reason. Faith and reason complement each other. One reinforces the other and vice versa. Therefore, faith and reason should not be seen as being antagonistic to each other nor should Greek philosophy and Christian philosophy be seen as opposing each other.
What you should be able to do
- Explain the emergence and development of Christian thought.
- Articulate the problem of faith and reason and attempts to resolve it.
- Explain arguments for God's existence by medieval philosophers.
- Discuss the problem of evil and attitudes towards human suffering.
- Explain arguments for the immortality of the soul.
- Discuss the interpretation of Aristotle's philosophy by medieval philosophers.
- Compare and contrast the philosophical views of major medieval thinkers.
- Analyze the relationship between philosophy and religion in the medieval period.
What it prepares you for
- Philosopher
- Theologian
- Religious Studies Scholar
- Ethics Consultant
- Policy Analyst
- Academia
- Religious Organizations
- Government
- Non-profit Sector
- Ethics and Compliance
Where it gets hard
The units students slow down on, and what makes each one heavy.
- Module 1:
Unit 2: The Philosophy of Plotinus
Advanced Neo-Platonic concepts require careful study of Plotinus' Enneads and their influence on early Christian theology.
- Module 3:
Unit 1: The Philosophy of St. Thomas Aquinas
Aquinas' Five Ways require a solid understanding of Aristotelian metaphysics and logic.
- Module 3:
Unit 4: The Philosophy of William of Ockham
Ockham's Razor and nominalism challenge traditional metaphysical assumptions, requiring critical evaluation of abstract concepts.
A suggested way through it
13 weeks, about 32 hours in total. Yours will differ.
- Week 1Module 1:
Unit 1: The Development of Christian Thought · 2 hours
Read about the encounter between Greek and Christian thought.. Understand the problem of reconciling faith and reason.. Study the thoughts of Justin Martyr and Clement of Alexandria..
- Week 2Module 1:
Unit 2: The Philosophy of Plotinus · 2 hours
Study Plotinus' short biography.. Understand the Doctrine of the One.. Learn about Plotinus' views on the Spirit, Soul, Problem of Evil, and Human Suffering..
- Week 3Module 1:
Unit 3: The Philosophy of St. Augustine · 2 hours
Study St. Augustine's short biography.. Understand St. Augustine's epistemology.. Learn about St. Augustine's metaphysics: God's Existence, Creation, Freedom, Problem of Evil, Time..
- Week 4Module 1:
Unit 4: Boethius · 2 hours
Study Boethius' short biography.. Understand Boethius' philosophy.. Learn about Boethius' thoughts on human freedom and God's foreknowledge..
- Week 5Module 1:
Unit 5: St. Anselm · 2 hours
Study St. Anselm's short biography.. Understand St. Anselm's contribution to philosophy.. Learn about St. Anselm's Ontological Argument for God's existence..
- Week 6Module 2:
Unit 1: The Philosophy of John Scotus Erigena · 2 hours
Study John Scotus Erigena's short biography.. Understand John Scotus Erigena's metaphysics.. Learn about Erigena on the nature of the human person..
- Week 7Module 2:
Unit 2: The Philosophy of Peter Abelard · 2 hours
Study Peter Abelard's short biography.. Understand Peter Abelard's philosophical teachings.. Learn about Abelard's thoughts on the importance of intention as a determinant factor for the wrongness or rightness of man's actions..
- Week 8Module 3:
Unit 1: The Philosophy of St. Thomas Aquinas · 2 hours
Study St. Thomas Aquinas' short biography.. Understand Aquinas' metaphysics.. Learn about Aquinas' epistemology and moral philosophy..
- Week 9Module 3:
Unit 2: The Philosophy of St. Bonaventure · 2 hours
Study St. Bonaventure's short biography.. Understand St. Bonaventure's metaphysics.. Learn about St. Bonaventure's epistemology..
- Week 10Module 3:
Unit 3: Duns Scotus · 2 hours
Study John Duns Scotus' short biography.. Understand John Duns Scotus' metaphysics.. Learn about John Duns Scotus' epistemology..
Unit 4: The Philosophy of William of Ockham · 2 hours
Study William of Ockham's short biography.. Understand Ockham's Razor.. Learn about William Ockham's metaphysics and epistemology..
- Week 11Module 3:
Unit 5: Francis Suarez · 2 hours
Study Francis Suarez' short biography.. Understand Francis Suarez' metaphysics.. Learn about Francis Suarez' philosophy of law and political philosophy..
- Week 12Module 4:
Unit 1: The Philosophy of Al-Farabi · 2 hours
Study Al-Farabi's short biography.. Understand Al-Farabi's metaphysics.. Learn about Al-Farabi's political and moral philosophy..
Unit 2: The Philosophy of Avicenna · 2 hours
Study Avicenna's short biography.. Understand Avicenna's metaphysics.. Learn about Avicenna's epistemology..
- Week 13Module 4:
Unit 3: The Philosophy of Averroes · 2 hours
Study Averroes' short biography.. Understand Averroes' metaphysics.. Learn about Averroes' epistemology..
Unit 4: The Philosophy of Moses Maimonides · 2 hours
Study Moses Maimonides' short biography.. Understand Moses Maimonides' epistemology.. Learn about Moses Maimonides' metaphysics..
Preparing for the exam
- Create timelines of key philosophers and their major works.
- Develop concept maps linking faith, reason, and arguments for God's existence.
- Compare and contrast the views of different philosophers on the problem of evil.
- Practice essay questions on the relationship between philosophy and religion.
- Review key terms and concepts from each unit weekly.
- Focus on understanding the core arguments and their historical context.
Questions students ask about this course
What is PHL216 about?
This course introduces students to the major themes and figures in Medieval Philosophy. It explores the development of Christian thought, the problem of faith and reason, and arguments for the existence of God. Students will examine the philosophies of key thinkers such as Augustine, Plotinus, Anselm, and Aquinas, and their contributions to metaphysics, epistemology, and ethics. The course also covers Islamic and Jewish philosophers and their impact on medieval thought.
How many units does PHL216 have?
PHL216, Medieval Philosophy, has 6 units across 4 modules, over 141 pages of course material. You can read it one unit at a time.
Is PHL216 hard?
PHL216 is rated intermediate level, with no mathematical content. It is mostly theoretical and case study work.
How long does PHL216 take to study?
About 120 hours of study, spread across its 6 units.
How is PHL216 assessed?
PHL216 is assessed by assignments, tutor marked assessments, computer based tests, discussion forums and final examination.
What can I do with PHL216?
Philosopher, Theologian, Religious Studies Scholar, Ethics Consultant and Policy Analyst.
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