PHIL 2000: Introduction to Metaphysics
M/W/F, 1100-1150am, A 2071
Peter Gratton, PhD
Office Hours: M/W/F 12:00-1:30pm and by appointment, AA3102
Class Cancellations: If class is cancelled for any reason, the cancellation will be posted under the cancellations section of the main page of the Memorial University website.
Also note, the schedule on the syllabus may be updated during the semester, thus you should keep track of assignments, essays, etc., on this site below.
| Jan 6 | Course introduction: Aristotle’s Metaphysics |
| Jan 8 | Aristotle, Alpha I-III |
| Jan 11 | Aristotle, Alpha V, VIII, X |
| Jan 13 | Aristotle, Gamma I, II, III (Michael S.) |
| Jan 15 | Aristotle, Gamma VII, VIII (Ahmed Q.) |
| Jan 18 | Aristotle, Epsilon (all) (Ben F.) |
| Jan 20 | Aristotle, Zeta I-IV (Matt S.) |
| Jan 22 | Aristotle, Theta VIII-X (Cleary M.) |
| Jan 25 | Metaphysics Lambda I-V (Lucas I-S) |
| Jan 27 | Aristotle, Lambda VI-end (Ben H.) |
| Jan 29 | Aquinas, Selected Writings, “On Being and Essence,” pp. 30-39. (David P.) |
| Feb 1 | Aquinas, Selected Writings, “On Being and Essence,” pp. 40-end. |
| Feb 3 | Aquinas, Selected Writings, “On Being and Essence,” pp. 40-end. |
| Feb 5 | Aquinas, Selected Writings, “On Being and Essence,” pp. 40-end. |
| Feb 8 | Aquinas, Selected Writings, “On Theology, Faith, and Reason,” pp. 109-129 (Adam M.) |
| Feb 10 | Aquinas, Selected Writings, “On Theology, Faith, and Reason,” pp. 130-end. (Kristen H.) |
| Feb 12 | Aquinas, Selected Writings, “Proof of God’s Existence,” pp. 243-250. (Cameron M.) |
| Feb 15 | Aquinas, Selected Writings, “Proof of God’s Existence,” pp. 250-end. (Amy B.)
Quiz on Aquinas (5 pts.): cosmological proof versus ontological proof; three different kinds of substance; etc. |
| Feb 17 | Aquinas, Selected Writings, “On Human Choice,” pp. 551-565. |
| Feb 19 | Aquinas, Selected Writings,”On Human Choice,” pp. 551-565. |
| Feb 22 | Winter Break |
| Feb 24 | Winter Break |
| Feb 26 | Winter Break |
| Feb 29 | Paper Due (15 points; 6 pp.): Why is Aquinas Aristotelian and why not? In this essay, you will discuss the specific problems Aquinas perhaps runs into matching Aristotle’s insights with those of divine revelation (i.e., the teachings of the Bible). First, describe Aristotle and Aquinas’s view of substances, the eternity of the world, or the notion of faith and reason, making sure to use quotations from their texts to provide textual evidence that your claims about their writings have a basis in their writings. Second, make sure to note any contrasts or tensions you find between these two thinkers. How does Aquinas attempt to resolve them?
The paper must have (1) a clear thesis statement (see here for help on this); (2) citations for all works used in developing ideas in the paper; (3) use of textual evidence and/or page citations for all major ideas attributed to an author; (4) a bibliography. See this grading rubric for other questions I will be asking while reading your paper. Leap day! Kant, CPR, 99-105, Preface A |
| Mar 2 | Kant, CPR, 672-690 ,The Canon of Pure Reason |
| Mar 4 | Kant, CPR, 127-135, Introduction A |
| Mar 7 | Kant, CPR, 136-152, Introduction B |
| Mar 9 | Kant, CPR, 172-192, Transcendental Aesthetic B |
| Mar 11 | Kant, CPR, 193-218 Transcendental Logic |
| Mar 14 | Kant, CPR, 267-294, On the Schematism |
| Mar 16 | Catch-up day |
| Mar 18 | Kant, CPR, 338-365, Phenomena and Noumena |
| Mar 21 | Kant, CPR, 338-353, Phenomena and Noumena |
| Mar 23 | Kant, CPR, 384-410, Transcendental Dialectic |
| Mar 25 | Good Friday. No class |
| Mar 28 | Kant, CPR, 459-495 The Antinomy of Pure Reason |
| Mar 30 | Kant, CPR, 459-495 The Antinomy of Pure Reason, continued. |
| Apr 1 | Kant, CPR, 551-569 On the Impossibility of an Ontological Proof |
| Apr 4 | Catch-up day |
| Apr 6 | Class Conclusion: What of metaphysics today? |
| Final Exam: STUDY GUIDE
Wednesday, Apr 20, 9:00am – 11:00am |
Course Materials 