11 courses with the subject SPL, each shown exactly as we captured it from the college's catalog, with every element we hold. Where the wording looks broken, that is our reading of the catalog, not the college's text.
SPL 501Ancient Philosophy3
Ancient Philosophy begins in the sixth century B.C. with Thales’ attempts to discover the first principle(s) of the universe and ends in the third century A.D. with the Neoplatonists’ pursuit of the One. This course explores the birth of philosophy in the West, focusing on the major movements and figures that characterize this period. Attention is given to the Presocratics, Plato, Aristotle, the Hellenistics (such as Stoicism, Scepticism, and Epicureanism), and Neoplatonism. This course serves both as a freestanding consideration of this important period of thought as well as the introduction to the history sequence offered by the Saint Vincent College Philosophy Department.
While specific dates for the beginning and ending of Medieval Philosophy (roughly fourth century A.D. to 15th century A.D.) are difficult to determine, this period is characterized by attempts to bring Abrahamic religions—Judaism, Christianity, and Islam—into dialogue with the Greco-Roman philosophical tradition. Such thinkers as Saint Augustine, Moses Maimonides, Averroes, Saint Anselm, Saint Thomas Aquinas, and Duns Scotus were noted for their systematic attempts to use both relation and reason in the pursuit of Wisdom. PL202 explores this period in the history of philosophy.
This period of intellectual history, stretching roughly from the late Renaissance to the latter half of the 19th century, witnessed the birth and development of modern science. The outstanding feature of this era is its persistent preoccupation with the epistemological problems of certitude, verifiability, methods, and limits of reliable knowledge. Using these themes as the organizing principles of the course, the views of such thinkers as Francis Bacon, Descartes, Spinoza, Leibniz, Locke, Berkeley, Hume, and Kant will be considered. 189
In the 19th- and 20th-centuries, Western philosophy underwent a marked fragmentation of both theme and approach. The common divide between “continental” and “analytic” philosophy only partially captures the complexity of this period’s philosophical landscape. It is a period coming to grips with the aftermath of Kant’s revolutionary thought, increased recognition of the historicity of humanity, the rise of political nationalism, economic revolutions, and scientific advancements on a grand scale. The responses to these situations include (but are not limited to) the strong emphasis on historicity and subjectivity that we find in existentialism and phenomenology, the grappling with the philosophy of history in such thinkers as Marx, Hegel, and Collingwood, and the scientific and “linguistic turn” that characterizes much of both early and late analytic philosophy. This course focuses on some portion of this varied landscape, in accordance with themes chosen by the instructor.
This course investigates various interpretations of the human person that have been advanced over the 24 centuries of philosophical inquiry, especially materialist, dualist, and hylomorphist theories. It investigates questions such as: Is there a soul? What is the relationship between the soul and the body? What sort of powers and abilities do we have? How are we distinct from other animals? How do we relate to others? Do we act freely? What role do emotions play in our actions? What is the purpose of human life?
Ethics is practical philosophy indicating, in general, what humans ought to do in the light of appropriate rules of conduct and suitable ends. Some fundamental views of right and good are considered in their classical formulations by such thinkers as Plato, Aristotle, Aquinas, Hume, Kant, and Mill. Problems and examples are used to illustrate these views and to provoke judgments regarding concrete issues.
This course introduces the student to some basic metaphysical themes. It is concerned with various areas of theoretical philosophy, considering questions regarding the nature of the world, knowledge and truth, freedom, the mind–body view of man, and various conceptions of God. The course’s approach is problem-oriented, and the medium is the views of various major thinkers in Western philosophy.
Total: 18 cr. Total Credits: 63 cr. TH—Theology; SPL—Seminary Philosophy; AS—Auxiliary Studies † Students must study a modern language other than their native language for two semesters, and Spanish is strongly encouraged. If advanced studies in Europe are anticipated, then Italian, French, or German are acceptable alternatives. Except for the Spanish courses taught in the Seminary, language courses are to be taken in the College Language Department. * The M.A. Proficiency Seminar serves to synthesize and test the M.A. candidate’s philosophical learning. This course will be preparation for and taking of the oral comprehensive exam, which will be scheduled for the last two weeks of the semester and will focus upon the integration of philosophy with theology. Students registering for the M.A.: Catholic Philosophical Studies must be certain to register for the specific courses (course numbers) listed in the above cycle of courses. 78
SPL 581Thomistic Foundations of Christian Social and Political Philosophy3
While all the virtues play important roles in moral action, justice and charity stand apart as the two virtues that allow us to secure the good of the community. Through justice, we give to others what is due, and through charity, we direct our actions to the highest good of eternal happiness. This course provides a thorough study of these two virtues and their role in moral, economic, and political life. It does so through a close examination of one of the greatest exponents of virtue theory, Saint Thomas Aquinas. After a systematic study of Aquinas' key principles and concepts, the final section of the course shows how his insights can be applied to contemporary issues and to the study of Catholic Social Teaching. 191
