PHIL 5005 Medieval Philosophy
Far from being monolithic and repetitive, the Middle Ages were a creative period during which multiple solutions were tried to make sense of the world and of human life. The legacy of Antiquity, the philosophic and scientific knowledge of the time, and religious views were combined in original syntheses. The aim of the course is to provide a picture of this diversity, through a study of the main problems that a wide range of authors (Christian thinkers from St. Augustine to Ockham, but also Islamic and Jewish philosophers) faced. Medieval philosophy was an important step in the development of human thought. Discovering it will be essential to your philosophical education. This course will especially highlight the ideas, in metaphysics, theory of knowledge, and ethics, which medieval thinkers created and transmitted to modern philosophy. In addition, analysis of texts, debates, and writing assignments will help you to develop rigorous argumentation and expression skills. (NB: This course was previously offered as PHIL 4407; you cannot take it if you took PHIL 4407)
Course overview
- Department
- Philosophy
- School
- MCAS
- Credits
- 3
- Level
- Both
- Offered
- Periodically
Catalog details
- Prerequisites
- Cannot take if you have previously taken PHIL4406. Philosophy Core and Permission of Instructor for Undergraduate Students.
Requirements fulfilled
- Philosophy: Free Philosophy electives (five courses, 15 credits); up to two approved cognate courses in other departments may also count (Current University Catalog; students should confirm their catalog year)
- Philosophy: History of Philosophy distribution (one course) (Current University Catalog; students should confirm their catalog year)
- Philosophy: Knowledge and Reality distribution (one course) (Current University Catalog; students should confirm their catalog year)
Course evaluations
- Course rating
- 4.17 / 5 · Very Good
- Instructor rating
- 4.19 / 5 · Very Good
- Terms evaluated
- 5
| Term | Instructor | Course overall | Instructor overall | Well organized | Clear learning objectives | Intellectually challenging | Helpful assignments | Applicable beyond course | Attendance necessary | Weekly effort | Responses |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fall 2025 | Jean-Luc Solere | 4.0 | 4.5 | 4.8 | 4.5 | 4.8 | 4.6 | 4.5 | 4.6 | 4–6 hrs/week | 8 of 14 |
| Spring 2025 | Jean-Luc Solere | 4.3 | 4.3 | 4.5 | 4.5 | 4.7 | 4.3 | 4.5 | 4.5 | 1–3 hrs/week | 15 of 18 |
| Spring 2024 | Jean-Luc Solere | 3.9 | 4.0 | 4.6 | 4.5 | 4.1 | 4.5 | 4.5 | 4.5 | 7–9 hrs/week | 14 of 18 |
| Spring 2023 | Peter Kreeft | 4.3 | 4.0 | 4.7 | 4.3 | 4.7 | 4.7 | 4.7 | 5.0 | 7–9 hrs/week | 3 of 6 |
| Spring 2022 | Jean-Luc Solere | 4.4 | 4.0 | 4.6 | 4.6 | 4.7 | 4.6 | 4.4 | 4.3 | 1–3 hrs/week | 7 of 11 |