The aim of this course is to question Western metaphysics through Averroës’ philosophy.
The followers of Averroës in the Medieval West: siger of Brabant, Boëtius of Dacia. The doctrine of double-truth. The attitude of the Catholic Church towards Latin Averroism and its influences on the philosophical developments in the West.
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Course Learning Outcomes
Learning Outcomes Upon the completion of this course a student: |
Program Learning Outcomes |
Teaching Methods |
Assessment Methods |
1) acquires critical approach to Islamic philosophy. |
1,2,3,4,5,7,8,9,10,13 |
1,2,3,4 |
A,B,C,D,E |
2) discusses Islamic concepts in the context of philosophy. |
1,2,3,4,5,7,8,9,10,13 |
1,2,3,4 |
A,B,C,D,E |
3) relates to Islamic concepts in a historical and critical way. |
1,2,3,4,5,7,8,9,10,13 |
1,2,3,4 |
A,B,C,D,E |
4) grasps the historical significance of Averroës. |
1,3,7,10 |
1,2,3,4 |
A,B,C,D,E |
5) explains the importance of the doctrine of double-truth. |
1,3,7,10 |
1,2,3,4 |
A,B,C,D,E |
6) distinguishes the attitude of the Catholic Church towards Latin Averroism. |
1,3,7,10,13 |
1,2,3,4 |
A,B,C,D,E |
Course Flow
COURSE CONTENT |
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Week |
Topics |
Study Materials |
1 |
Introduction |
Philosophy |
2 |
Averroes on religion and philosophy. Discussion text: Averroes, The Decisive Treatise. |
Averroes, The Decisive Treatise. |
3 |
R. Taylor, "Truth Does Not Contradict Truth: Averroes and the Unity of Truth" Topoi 19 (2000), 3-16; R. Taylor, "Averroes on the Status of Religious Propositions," in Was ist Philosophie in Mittelalter?, ed. A. Speer and J.A. Aertsen (Berlin: 1998), 889-894. |
Averroes, The Decisive Treatise. |
4 |
Averroes against Ghazâlî, part one: eternity of the world Discussion text: excerpt from Averroes, Incoherence of the Incoherence. |
Averroes, Incoherence of the Incoherence. |
5 |
Al-Ghazâlî, The Incoherence of the Philosophers, translated by M. Marmura (Provo: 1997) |
Averroes, Incoherence of the Incoherence. |
6 |
T. Kukkonen, "Possible Worlds in the Tahâfut al-Tahâfut : Averroes on Plenitude and Possibility," and "Possible Worlds in the Tahâfut al-Falâsifa: al-Ghazâlî on Creation and Contingency," Journal of the History of Philosophy 38 (2000), 329-348 and 479-502 |
Averroes, Incoherence of the Incoherence. |
7 |
B. Kogan, "Eternity and Origination: Averroes’ Discourse on the Manner of the World’s Existence," in Islamic Theology and Philosophy, ed. M. Marmura (Albany: 1984), 203-235 |
Averroes, Incoherence of the Incoherence. |
8 |
Mid-semester Assessment |
|
9 |
Averroes against Ghazâlî, part two: on causation. Discussion text: excerpt from Averroes, Incoherence of the Incoherence. |
Averroes, Incoherence of the Incoherence. |
10 |
B. Dutton, "Al-Ghazâlî on Possibility and the Critique of Causality," Medieval Philosophy and Theology 10 (2001), 23-46; B. Kogan, "The Philosophers al-Ghazâlî and Averroes on Necessary Connection and the Problem of the Miraculous," in Islamic Philosophy and Mysticism, ed. P. Morewedge (Delmar: 1981), 113-132 R.M. Frank, Al-Ghazâlî and the Ash‘arite School (Durham: 1994), with response by Marmurain his review, "Ghazalian Causes and Intermediaries," Journal of the American Oriental Society 115 (1995), 89-100. |
Averroes, Incoherence of the Incoherence. |
11 |
Averroes on psychology Discussion text: excerpt from Averroes, Long Commentary on the De Anima. |
Averroes, Long Commentary on the De Anima. |
12 |
D. Black, "Conjunction and the Identity of Knower and Known in Averroes," American Catholic Philosophical Quarterly 73 (1999), 159-184, R. Taylor, "Averroes on Psychology and the Principles of Metaphysics," Journal of the History of Philosophy 36 (1998), 507-523; A. Ivry, "Averroes on Intellection and Conjunction," JAOS 86 (1986), 76-85. |
Averroes, Long Commentary on the De Anima. |
13 |
Averroes on metaphysics and theology. Discussion text: excerpt from Averroes, Long Commentary on the Metaphysics. |
Averroes, Long Commentary on the Metaphysics. |
14 |
C. Genequand, Ibn Rushd’s Metaphysics (Leiden: 1984); B. Kogan, Averroes and the Metaphysics of Causation (Albany: 1985) |
Averroes, Long Commentary on the Metaphysics. |
15 |
General assessment |
- |
16 |
Final Exam |
- |
Recommended Sources
RECOMMENDED SOURCES |
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Textbook |
Course Reader of the texts in the syllbus brought together by the instructor of the course in both English and Arabic. |
Additional Resources |
Averroes’ Incoherence of the Incoherence Averroes’ On the Harmony of Religion and Philosophy |
Material Sharing
MATERIAL SHARING |
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Documents |
- |
Assignments |
- |
Exams |
- |
Assessment
ASSESSMENT |
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IN-TERM STUDIES |
NUMBER |
PERCENTAGE |
Attendance |
15 |
10 |
Midterm |
- |
- |
Participation in seminar discussions |
15 |
10 |
Assignments |
1 |
10 |
Presentation |
1 |
10 |
Critical reading notes |
10 |
10 |
Final examination |
1 |
10 |
Final Paper |
1 |
40 |
Total |
|
100 |
CONTRIBUTION OF FINAL PAPER TO OVERALL GRADE |
|
40 |
CONTRIBUTION OF IN-TERM STUDIES TO OVERALL GRADE |
|
60 |
Total |
|
100 |
Course’s Contribution to Program
COURSE’S CONTRIBUTION TO THE PROGRAM |
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No |
Program Learning Outcomes |
Contribution |
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1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
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1 |
acquires fundamental conceptual and methodological knowledge to use productively and creatively in academic studies. |
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X |
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2 |
improves a versatile critical and analytical approach, problem-solving, interpretative and argumentative skills in relation to advanced philosophical investigations. |
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X |
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3 |
proves to be a philosopher with principles, who communicates effectively, is specifically successful in written and oral presentation, has proper capacities for teamwork and interdisciplinary studies, takes the initiative, has developed a sense of responsibility, and contributes original ideas to the field of philosophy.
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X |
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4 |
applies life-long learning attitude to various ways of acquiring knowledge in order to maintain a professional and personal development.
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X |
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5 |
develops a consciousness of professional and social ethics. |
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X |
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6 |
acquires the necessary skill of choosing and developing actual means and using computing technologies effectively for a philosophical study .
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X |
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7 |
conducts an advanced study in history of philosophy which requires expertise, independently by using original texts. |
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X |
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8 |
applies philosophical knowledge to questions concerning contemporary, socio-cultural and political problematics.
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X |
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9 |
considers universal values and concepts of philosophy as a basis for [furthering] philosophical studies in Turkey; and is able to develop an approach to study and analyse issues that might arise when conducting discussions concerning history of philosophy in the Turkish language. |
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X |
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10 |
acquires the skill and background for making contributions to the field of history of philosophy, in national and international terms.
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X |
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11 |
uses his/her philosophical knowledge to establish interactions at national and international level.
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X |
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12 |
produces work of the quality of a contribution in national and international peer-reviewed journals in philosophy.
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X |
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13 |
holds the necessary knowledge of classical languages, a modern language in addition to English and history of philosophy to conduct an advanced philosophical study particularly in history of philosophy. |
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X |
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ECTS
ECTS ALLOCATED BASED ON STUDENT WORKLOAD BY THE COURSE DESCRIPTION |
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Activities |
Quantity |
Duration |
Total |
Course Duration (Including the exam week: 16 x Total course hours) |
16 |
10 |
160 |
Hours for off-the-classroom study (Pre-study, practice) |
15 |
10 |
150 |
Midterms |
- |
- |
- |
Assignments |
1 |
40 |
40 |
Presentation |
1 |
30 |
30 |
Critical reading notes |
10 |
4 |
40 |
Final examination |
1 |
40 |
40 |
Final Paper |
1 |
40 |
40 |
Total Work Load |
|
|
500 |
Total Work Load / 25 (h) |
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|
20 |
ECTS Credit of the Course |
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20 |