This short (albeit intense) course on Aquinas and the Arabic Philosophical Tradition is the third in a set of three courses on this topic taught at (i) Istanbul’s Marmara University Divinity School in May-June 2016, (ii) the Philosophy Institute of the Katholieke Universiteit Leuven in Belgium and now (iii) the Università di Pisa.  My teaching is funded by a Fulbright Global Flex three-year grant and generously hosted by these three premier institutions. This work is supported by the Fulbright Commission for the sake of advancing international and intercultural understanding. Teaching on this topic is important for the accurate representation and understanding of the powerful positive influence of philosophy from the Classical Rationalist Tradition of Islamic thought on Medieval European philosophical and religious thought. Yet further it is important in our contemporary world for an accurate  and proper appreciation of common philosophical, scientific and religious interests and teachings studied and affirmed by thinkers of the Abrahamic Traditions of the Middle Ages since many doctrines foundational in religion today were formed in that period.

    Each of the five class meetings I will be leading is divided into two parts. In the first part we will examine carefully selected texts and doctrines of thinkers of the Arabic philosophical tradition (and in many cases their Greek antecedents) and in the second part we will delve into texts and teachings of Thomas Aquinas which are substantially influenced by his intensive study of philosophy from the Arabic tradition in Latin translation. In this second part we will study now teachings were assimilated by Aquinas and the roles they played in the formation of key philosophical or theological teachings.  For each class readings will be provide as well as links to other primary and secondary literature, including English translations (in some cases new translations of selected texts) and introductory video lectures.

20 March 2018 10 am, Complesso ex-Salesiani, via dei Mille 19:

The Metaphysics of Being and Creation in the Arabic Philosophical Tradition and its Importance for Aquinas. Part One: The Arabic Tradition. Part Two: Aquinas.

27 March 2018 10 am, Complesso ex-Salesiani, via dei Mille 19:

Theories of Hhuman Knowing and the Nature of Universals in the Arabic Philosophical Tradition and their Importance for Aquinas. Part One: The Arabic Tradition. Part Two: Aquinas.

28 March 2018 10 am, Complesso ex-Salesiani, via dei Mille 19:

The Nature of the Human Soul in the Arabic Philosophical Tradition and its Importance for Aquinas.  Part One: The Arabic Tradition. Part Two: Aquinas.

23 April 2018 10 am, Complesso ex-Salesiani, via dei Mille 19:

Ultimate Human Happiness in the Arabic Philosophical Tradition and  its Importance for Aquinas. Part One: The Arabic Tradition. Part Two: Aquinas.

30 April 2019 10 am, Complesso ex-Salesiani, via dei Mille 19:

Philosophy and Religion in the Classical Rationalist Arabic Tradition and in Aquinas. Part One: The Arabic Tradition. Part Two: Aquinas.