This course will serve as an introduction to the philosophical thought of the Middle Ages, that is, roughly the period between 500 AD and 1500 AD, in which the religious thought of the major monotheistic religions played a crucial role. The course will focus on several themes to show that many of the philosophical concerns of the present day were also of concern to thinkers of the period. In particular, we will look at the relationship between faith and reason, the nature of human happiness, the question of whether God exists and, if so, whether his existence can be rationally demonstrated, and the problem of free will, among others. Thinkers to be discussed will include St. Augustine St. Anselm and St. Thomas Aquinas.

Course Outline [1]