A Brief History of Medieval Philosophy [2494]

General Information

• Credits: 6 ECTS
• Prerequisites: baccalaureate level or equivalent; proficiency in French
• Learning format: asynchronous distance learning – 100% e-learning
• Language of instruction: French
• Course access: available at any time of year
• Disability liaison officer: Cécile Boucherle

Course Overview

This course provides an overview of the history of medieval philosophy in the Latin West from the sixth to the fifteenth century. It examines how Christian thought engaged with the philosophical heritage of Plato and Aristotle through the works of major thinkers, from Augustine to William of Ockham. The course traces the development of scholasticism, from the early Middle Ages to the rise of the medieval universities, while exploring the central relationship between faith and reason. It also analyzes key debates on knowledge, truth, being, and God, highlighting the diversity of medieval philosophical traditions and their lasting influence on Western philosophy. 

Learning Outcomes

This course enables you to:

• Discover the historical development of medieval philosophy and its principal intellectual traditions from Late Antiquity to the end of the Middle Ages.
  
• Understand the major philosophical doctrines and arguments developed by key medieval thinkers, particularly concerning faith and reason, metaphysics, knowledge, and the human person.
  
• Compare the different philosophical approaches of influential medieval authors and evaluate their contributions to the development of Western philosophy.
  
• Interpret medieval philosophical texts within their historical, theological, and cultural contexts while assessing their continuing philosophical significance.

Course Competencies

This course is linked to the following competency:

• Situate and interpret the major currents of ancient and medieval philosophy in their context. 

Course Outline

Section 1: Introduction

Section 2: What Is “Philosophy” in the Middle Ages?

Section 3: Saint Augustine

Section 4: The Early Middle Ages

Section 5: Faith and Dialectic in the 11th Century

Section 6: The 12th Century

Section 7: General Conditions of the 13th Century

Section 8: Saint Bonaventure

Section 9: Saint Thomas Aquinas

Section 10: Radical Aristotelianism

Section 11: The Late 13th Century

Section 12: John Duns Scotus

Section 13: The 14th Century

Section 14: William of Ockham

Assessment Methods 

Course assessment is based on:

• tracking and completion of the course and of all learning activities. These activities, designed as essential practice and learning exercises, may be completed multiple times and are not factored into the final grade,
• the final assessment quiz, which constitutes the graded evaluation.

Learning Format

The course is taught entirely online via the MyDomuni platform, accessible 24/7.
Learning resources include:

• written course materials;
• supplementary documents and, depending on the content, video resources;
• interactive learning activities (quizzes, exercises);
• a discussion forum with the course instructor and fellow participants.

Prerequisites

This course is open to anyone with a general level of education equivalent to the baccalaureate, or with personal or academic experience related to the topics covered.

A good command of written French is recommended to facilitate understanding of the content and participation in the activities offered. 

Accessibility

The course is accessible at any time, from any internet-connected device, via the MyDomuni platform.
For students with disabilities, specific support can be arranged upon request to ensure equitable access to course content and activities.

Disability liaison officer: cecile.boucherle@domuni.eu.

Selective Bibliography

• Étienne Gilson, History of Christian Philosophy in the Middle Ages, New York, Random House, 1955.
• Joseph W. Koterski, S.J., An Introduction to Medieval Philosophy: Basic Concepts, Chichester, Wiley-Blackwell, 2009.
• D. E. Luscombe, Medieval Thought, History of Western Philosophy, vol. 2, Oxford, Oxford University Press, 1997.
• John Marenbon, Medieval Philosophy: An Historical and Philosophical Introduction, London, Routledge, 2007.
• Armand Maurer, Medieval Philosophy, New York, Random House, 1967.