Freddoso
Decio 324/631-7327
E-mail: Alfred.J.Freddoso.1@nd.edu
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Purpose of Course----Texts----Requirements----Reading
Assignments-----Paper
Assignments-----Handouts
The purpose of this course is to introduce students to philosophy through a close examination of classic philosophical works by Plato, Aristotle, St. Augustine and St. Thomas Aquinas (via Josef Pieper). Some recurrent themes: the nature of philosophy and of philosophical wisdom; the distinctiveness of the philosophical life; the relation between cognition and affection in the pursuit of wisdom; the relation between intellectual virtue and truth; the relation between faith and reason; the nature of human flourishing; the relation between moral virtue and happiness; the relation between being a philosopher and being a saint.
Plato, Gorgias (Hackett) [other translations acceptable]
Plato, Republic (Oxford) [other translations acceptable]
Aristotle, Nicomachean Ethics (Hackett) [other translations acceptable]
Josef Pieper, The Four Cardinal Virtues (Notre Dame)
St. Augustine of Hippo, Confessions (Hackett) [other translations
acceptable]
Scrupulous class attendance and reading of all assignments
Active class participation (25% of grade).
Six five-page papers (75% of grade), due on 1/29, 2/12, 2/24, 3/19, 4/7, 4/28
1/13: Introduction
1/15: Gorgias, pp. 1-20 [447a-461b]
1/20: Gorgias, pp. 20-50 [461b-481b]
1/22: Gorgias, pp. 50-113 [461b-end]
1/27: Republic, pp. 3-56 [327a-367e]
1/29 & 2/3: Republic, pp. 57-132 [368a-427c]
2/5: Republic, pp. 133-158 [412b-448e]
2/10: Republic, pp. 190-226 [471c-502c]
2/12: Republic, pp. 227-276 [502c-540b]
2/17: Republic, pp. 277-319 [543a-576b]
2/19: Republic, pp. 320-343 [576c-592a] and pp. 363-379 [608c-621d]
II. Aristotelian and Thomistic Ethics
2/24 & 2/26: Nicomachean Ethics, book 1, pp. 1-32 and book 10, chap. 6 - end, pp. 281-298.
3/3: Nicomachean Ethics, book 2, chap. 1 - book 3, chap. 5, pp. 33-70
3/5: Nicomachean Ethics, book 6, pp. 148-172
3/17: Prudence: The Four Cardinal Virtues, pp. 3-40
3/19: Justice: The Four Cardinal Virtues, pp. 43-80
3/24: Justice: The Four Cardinal Virtues, pp. 81-113
3/26: Fortitude: The Four Cardinal Virtues, pp. 117-141
3/31: Temperance: The Four Cardinal Virtues, pp. 145-180
4/2: Temperance: The Four Cardinal Virtues, pp. 181-206
III. Augustine and the search for the true and the good
4/7: Confessions, books 1 and 2, pp. 3-31
4/9: Confessions, books 3 and 4, pp. 35-66
4/14: Confessions, book 5, pp. 69-83
4/16: Confessions, book 6, pp. 87-104
4/21: Confessions, book 7, pp. 107-125
4/23: Confessions, book 8, pp. 129-147
4/28: Confessions, book 9, pp. 151-170