Requirements
 

A 1. Before Class -- 200 word responses to question for class discussion. 12 responses on time (quality is graded) - 140 points
 

2 For class discussion (read sometimes some short papers (4 pages) - 100 points
 

3 Presentation for class (30 minutes) + research presentation. - 60 points
 

4. Term paper / Final - 100 points
 

• Preparation and participation (active and passive). This includes attendance. Rough draft of term paper and outline of paper, also the presentation outline and finally use of philosophical research skills. (Use of Ohio Link, Encyclopedias, Internet, E-Reserve, Internet Web Sites). 100 points

List of Islamic Philosophers for Final Paper on Islamic Cosmology

You may compare with a western philosopher
 

B 1. Al - Farabi (1) Augustine
 

• Ibn Sina (2) Aquinas

 
• Al-Suhrawardi (3) Bonaventure

 
• Al-Ghazali (4) Henry of Ghent

 
• Ibn Arabi (5) Meister Eckhart

 
• Ibn Rushd

 
• Mulla Sadra

 

Plagiarism or cheating will mean an automatic F for all people involved, however, by all means discuss before you do your assignments and papers.
 

Daily class schedule
 

W Aug. 23 (1) Introduction, overview of historical material for Western and Middle Eastern Philosophical context.
 

M Aug. 28 (2) More historical background, legacy of ancient philosophy, especially neo platonism - handout (10 pages of Plotinus) Review Islamic Philosophy (IP) Leaman pp1-12. (Why the conflict between Neo- Platonism and Islamic Philosophy? E-mail 200 words on Plotinus philosophy).
 

W Aug. 30 (3) IP pp 13-33 Main controversies - After this compare the Christian Philosophy approach of Augustine - handout (9 pages o creation and time) with the Islamic Philosophy approach of the debate between Al-Ghazali and Ibn Rushd.. E-mail 250 words or so by 2:00 PM before class.
 

W Sept. 6 (4) Read handout of Al-Ghazali and Ibn Rushd on "Could the World Be Eternally Existent (20 pages of the classic Islamic debate) First short paper. What are the respective positions in the debate? (4 pages - E-mail and hard copy for class.)
 

M Sept. 11 (5) Guest - Prof. Ingles on Aquinas' natural philosophy (handout of selection for discussion.

W Sept. 13 (6) Guest Professor on the Koran as "The Word" and the Islamic Tradition. Be prepared to ask questions about the Koran compared with the Bible.
 

• Sept. 18 (7) IP pp 33-51 finish main controversies -- Research project -- contrast the 4 positions on "creation (1) Neo Platonic, (2) Mu'tazilah, (3) Ashirate and (4) Sufi positions. (Library for History of Islamic Philosophy/and or internet.) 4 pages - about 1 page each on the positions.

 

M Sept. 25 (9) Handouts on Ibn Sina (one on existence and one on universals and particulars) 200 words on either selection e-mailed. What is the philosophical issue?
 

W Sept. 27 (10) IP Ch 4 Mysticism + handout "Philosophy and Mysticism" 200 words on "How can Mysticism be a Science?"
 

M Oct. 2 (11) Sufism and Ibn Arabi (Handout) 200 words on Sufism and a paradox in knowledge by presence.
 

W Oct. 4 (12) Sufism continued and Islamic cosmology (prose and poetry as philosophical expressions). Discuss one (poem - 200 words e-mailed.
 

W Oct. 11 (13) Bonaventure (handout) on "The Mind's Road to God" 4 pages on "What are the important stages in BonAventure's Cosmology"
 

M Oct. 16 (14) Henry of Ghent on "Divine Illustration of the Mind," 200 words on Henry's position - e-mailed.
 

W Oct. 18 (15) Article on Internet in Encyclopedia of Philosophy on "Illumination" -- What are the major historical developments in the concept? 200 words e-mailed.
 

M Oct. 23 (16) IP Ch 5 on ontology Why is Mulla Sadra's existentialist position significant to any cosmological theory, - 200 words e-mailed (After class you will choose your Islamic Philosopher for your paper)
 

W Oct. 25 (17) More on Mulla Sadra from the History of Islamic Philosophy. What are his metaphysical principles? 200 words e-mailed.
 

M Oct. 30 (18) Handout my article on Mulla Sadra. "Is there a cosmological debate that helps us address issues today?" 200 words - e-mailed.
 

W Nov. 1 (19) Handout on Ibn Tufail 200 words e-mailed.
 

M Nov. 6 (20) Handout on Meister Eckhart on "The Darkness which is beyond Intellect." How does Eckhart differ from the Islamic position? Four pages e-mailed and hard copy.
 

W Nov. 8 (21) IP Ch 8 on Philosophy and Religion "Is Robinson Crusoe opposed to Hayy Ibn Yaqzan?
 

M Nov. 13 (22) IP Ch 9 on Language, 200 words on Ibn Rushd's position on mysticism ( e-mail) (Paper outline and research sources to be handed in).
 

W Nov. 15 (23) Outline handed back with suggestions and handout - my article about Aquinas on the theological virtue of charity. Does Aquinas derive his virtue ethics from Aristotle's biology? (Be working on your paper)
 

M Nov. 20 (24) Movie - "The name of the Rose" - (It will be longer than our class time) It is about the end of the western medieval period and is based on Umberto Eco's work. Look up on Internet.
 

M Nov. 27 (25) IP Ch 7 Politics should our values, political and otherwise, be an application of cosmology. (The role of kalifa and prophet in Islam.) Some historical examples considered. (Be working on your paper.)
 

W Nov. 29 (26) Presentations begin on final paper -- a major Islamic cosmological philosopher(rough drafts turned in). Outline of paper for class.
 

M Dec. 4 (27) Presentations continue (rough draft is due for class).
 

W Dec. 6 (28) Presentation is given, final summary remarks and course evaluation. (Final seminar paper is due -- hard copy is e-mailed.)