1. Instructor contact information and related matters:

Prof. Richard C. Taylor

MAILBOX: Coughlin Hall Rm. 132

TELEPHONE: 288-5649; FAX: 288-3010

EMAIL: mistertea@mac.com  or Richard.Taylor@Marquette.edu

OFFICE HOURS: Fridays 10 am - 1 pm and by appointment

APPOINTMENTS WEBSITE (for all my Fall 2008 courses): http://web.mac.com/mistertea/Philosophy_104%3A_Theory_of_Ethics/Appointments.html

COURSE WEBSITE: http://web.me.com/mistertea/Medieval_Islamic_Philosophy/Welcome.html

CLASSROOM: Wehr Physics 154, 2:25-3:40

TURNITIN.COM: Class ID: 2360181.  Password: mistertea.

ARES Marquette Raynor Library Reserves password: mistertea

2. Brief Course Description:       Phil. 214. Medieval Islamic Thought

This course in Medieval Islamic Philosophical Thought is a graduate level introduction to the philosophical thought of a culture which is at once starkly different from Western Christian culture and at the same time steeped in the same religious (Abrahamic) and philosophical (Greek) traditions as traditional Western thought. The primary focus of the course will be on the major thinkers of the Classical Rationalist tradition in the Islamic intellectual milieu, though consideration will also be give to doctrines and thinkers of the Post-Classical period. The course consists of lectures and discussion of the Greek philosophical and Islamic theological background and of the major philosophical figures (al-Kindi, al-Fârâbî, Ibn Sina [Avicenna], al-Ghazali, Ibn Rushd [Averroes], et alii).  Frequent specific reference will be made to the influence of Arabic / Islamic philosophy on the Latin West as evident in the work of Aquinas, for example, as well as to Greek thought foundational for the Arabic / Islamic tradition. Among the topics discussed will be: the development of the doctrine of essence and existence; conceptions of being and God; philosophical psychology and the nature of intellectual activities; the relationship of philosophy and religion and the attendant problem of religious language and its meaning; theories of political philosophy.

Grading will be based on student participation in classroom discussion, a course paper of ca. 20+ pp. developed from seminars, and two exams with possible essay questions distributed in advance.

3. Course Content

Part One:

(a) the Islamic cultural and religious context;

(b) the transmission of philosophical texts from Greek and the study two of the more influential of these; and

(c) the Arabic writing philosophers: al-Kindî al-Fârâbî, and Ibn Sînâ (Avicenna)

Part Two:

(d) the critique of the philosophers by al-Ghazâlî (Algazel)

(e) Andalusian philosophers Ibn Bâjja, Ibn Ṭufayl, and Ibn Rushd (Averroes)

(f) Jewish Rabbi and philosopher Moses Maimonides and, 

(g) briefly, post-Classical Rationalism developments of Islamic philosophy, including Illuminationism and Mysticism in philosophy and the integration of religion and philosophy; Islamic philosophy today.

Some topics covered:  the development of the doctrine of essence and existence; conceptions of being and God; philosophical psychology and the nature of intellectual activities; the relationship of philosophy and religion and the attendant problem of religious language and its meaning; theories of political philosophy

4. Texts Required:

Classical Arabic Philosophy. An Anthology of Sources, Jon McGinnis & David C. Reisman, ed. (Indianapolis, IN: Hackett Publishing Company, Inc., 2007);

The Cambridge Companion to Arabic Philosophy, Peter Adamson and Richard C. Taylor, ed. (Cambridge, New York, Melbourne, Madrid, Capetown: Cambridge University Press, 2005); Dimitri Gutas, Greek Thought, Arab Culture: The Graeco-Arabic Translation Movement in Baghdad and Early `Abbasid Society (2nd-4th / 8th-10th centuries) (London & New York: Routledge, 1998).

Other materials will be made available on the Marquette ARES Reserve System or will be provided by the instructor as needed.

5. Learning Objectives Stated as Outcomes:

Students will achieve the ability:

to identify Greek philosophical teachings essential to the development of philosophy in Islamic lands;

to distinguish important historical and cultural conditions which have affected the development of philosophy in Islamic lands;

to identify key figures and movements and the philosophical positions and arguments central to them;

to analyze and evaluate for cogency arguments set forth by the major philosophers studied;

to identify many of the philosophical doctrines and arguments from the Arabic / Islamic tradition which were essential in the development of philosophy in the Latin West;

to employ professional resources and bibliographical tools in the preparation of the course paper; and

to prepare a course paper according to standards common in professional journals in the history of philosophy.

6. Course Goals

AMONG THE GOALS OF THIS COURSE ARE THE FOLLOWING:

i. To provide a general introduction and survey of the thought of many of the centrally important philosophical figures or movements prominent in the history of medieval Islamic philosophical thought.

ii. To penetrate some key issues in medieval Islamic philosophical thought with critical philosophical depth appropriate to graduate level study.

iii. To introduce students to the currently available tools for serious philosophical study of medieval Islamic philosophical thought.

iv. To reveal the philosophical richness of medieval Islamic philosophical thought considered in its own right.

v. To display in their own historical and cultural context many of the important teachings and ideas which exercised a profound and transforming influence on medieval Latin Christian philosophical thought.

vi.  With the course paper, to provide students with the opportunity to exercise their skills in the preparation of a professional article. What we are aiming at is a valuable exercise in the preparation of a technically sound and philosophically interesting professional article. But what may actually result is a draft of an article for publication.  In our Department we have often found that, when the critical philosophical skills of our graduate students are applied to a new area of research and thought, often new and interesting insights result and sometimes these find their way into conferences as presentations and into print as publications as professional journal articles.

vii. And perhaps most importantly, to provide students the opportunity to think deeply about philosophy, culture, and religion with reference to some of the most important thinkers,  moments, ideas, and movements in the history of philosophy and human thought.

7. Requirements and Policies

Attendance Policy:  Since it is my intention to give you an explanation for my absence if I happen to miss a class, it is only right that I receive an explanation from you for any class you miss. This is a matter of simple courtesy and proper professional behavior. Excessive absences (more than three) may result in a lower grade for lack of class participation in questions and discussion.

Tardiness Policy:  Since it is rude to be late for any appointment, it is expected that everyone be at class on time. Please see me during my office hours instead of coming into the class late by more than 5 min. and disturbing the concentration of the instructor and students, unless special arrangements have been made in advance.

Preparation:  All students are expected to come to class well prepared through the reading and study of assigned and recommended readings. It is the responsibility of students to make that preparation evident in questions and discussion in class.

8. Assessment and Grading Methods

Assessment of the learning objectives stated above as outcomes will be by way of two examinations, a course paper, and classroom participation with historically sound and philosophically valuable critical analyses and synthetic insights.

Exam #1 (20%): Oct. 21. Possible exam questions will be distributed in advance of the exam.

Exam #2 (20%): Dec. 10 at 8-10 am in Schroeder Complex 132.

Course paper (40%): Ca. 20-25 pages with notes and bibliography on additional pages on a topic to be determined in consultation with and approved by the instructor. The due date for the course paper is December 4. All students are welcome to an extension of the due date to 12 noon on December 8. After that date, a late paper deduction of 1/2 grade per day will take effect.

Suggestions for papers will be made throughout the term. The deadline for approval of paper topics is November 11, but I certainly hope the topic will be determined well in advance of this date. I expect to meet with each of you several times to assist you in this exercise of preparing a paper that is both philosophically interesting and professional in quality. This is something I do in all my courses and which students usually find to be a particularly valuable experience. What we are aiming at is a valuable exercise in the preparation of a professional-style article. But what may actually result is a draft of an article for publication.  As indicated earlier, in our Department we have often found that, when the critical philosophical skills of our graduate students are applied to a new area of research and thought, new and interesting insights frequently result and sometimes these find their way into print in professional journal articles.

Of course, it is expected that the course paper will be grammatically sound and will have correct spelling and punctuation. Failure to observe these standards may result in a lower grade on the particular assignment. E.g., more than 5 errors will change a grade by 1/2 letter from A to AB, 10 from A to B. It may seem silly to spell this out, but professional standards are all the more important at the graduate level.

Participation (20%): Classroom participation through discussion, serious questioning,  and insightful critical argument and analysis.

9. Policy for Students with Disabilities or Special Needs:

“STUDENTS WITH A DOCUMENTED DISABILITY are entitled to reasonable accommodations to ensure equality of opportunity to participate in Marquette’s

programs and activities if they are academically qualified to meet the university’s academic and technical standards for admission or participation in its educational programs and activities.”

For University policy see: https://www.marquette.edu/oses/disability/policies/documents/AccessibilityBooklet.pdf

For the implementation of accommodations, students must identify themselves to the instructors within the first week of classes as students with documented disability as certified by the Office of Disability Services (ODS).  We will work closely with the staff of the ODS in establishing reasonable accommodations as defined by University policy. Students seeking accommodations must register with ODS and receive appropriate certification. For information on academic accommodations, see https://www.marquette.edu/oses/disabilityservices/services/ds_studserv_academic.shtml

10. Faculty Office Hours and Contact Information: See above on the first page of this document.

11. Statement on Academic Dishonesty

Academic Dishonesty Policy

The University Academic Honesty policy can be found on pages 9-13 of the 2008-9 Graduate Bulletin available at: http://www.grad.mu.edu/current/Documents/1-GradBulletin-2008-09_Univ.pdf   Also see the Philosophy Department policy spelled out on pp. 46 ff. of “Gibson’s Guidebook for Graduate Studies” available at https://www.marquette.edu/phil/gradpolicies.html.

Students who have any questions about just what constitutes academic dishonesty should study the Academic Honesty Policy and bring any questions to the instructor to forestall any problems.

12. Attendance Policy: See item 7 above.

13. Detailed Syllabus: See http://web.me.com/mistertea/Medieval_Islamic_Philosophy/Syllabus_detailed.html