The Philosophy of Nature

PHILOSOPHY OF NATURE AND MAN SYLLABUS

The ordering of the cosmos and of man by God toward Himself is an essential item of the Christian faith which is strengthened when man’s faculty of reason recognizes this order through philosophical reflection. This course, which assumes little prior knowledge of philosophy, covers the basic principles of the philosophy of nature and man, including basic principles of metaphysics. Such a philosophy, developed by Aristotle and clarified by St Thomas Aquinas, provides students of theology the rational tools and framework to deepen their understanding of revealed truths.
Some of the lectures refer to the Master of Sacred Arts program for which some of this material was originally created. This material is appropriate to this course too and so the decision was made to keep it intact.

Texts for the course:

1. Dodds, M. The Philosophy of Nature.  Available at Lulu.com.  Paperback: http://bit.ly/2DvBxuD eBook: http://bit.ly/2CjBV2d
2. Dodds, M. Philosophical Anthropology. Available at Lulu.com. Paperback: http://bit.ly/2liVspW
3. Searle, John. Minds, Brains, and Science. Harvard University Press.  Available on Amazon.com
4. Clarke, W. Norris. Person and Being. Marquette University Press. Available on Amazon.com
5. Readings assignments for selected texts from Aristotle and St. Thomas Aquinas are available free online at http://classics.mit.edu/Browse/browse-Aristotle.html and http://dhspriory.org/thomas.
6. Other reading assignments will be provided in each lesson’s folder as downloadable material. 

Introduction to the course

1. Introduction to the philosophical approach
2. First principles of accidental change
3. Substantial change
4. Prime matter
5. Substantial form
6. Platonic forms
7. Ancient philosophical accounts of nature
8. Substances: reductionism and emergentism versus hylomorphism
9. Elements and the doctrine of “virtual presence” part 1
10. Elements and the doctrine of “virtual presence” part 2
11. Nature
12. Principles of causality
13. REVIEW!
14. Quantity and motion
15. Scientific challenges I
16. Scientific challenges II
17. Life I
18. Life II
19. The soul
20. Vegetative life
21. Vegetative life and cells
22. Knowledge
23. Sense knowledge I
24. Colors and reality
25. Internal senses I
26. Sense appetite
27. The Intellect I
28. The intellect II
29. The intellect III
30. The will I
31. The will II
32. Review
33. Artificial intelligence, mind and brain
34. Artificial intelligence, mind, and brain
35. The human soul and its immortality
36. The origin of the human soul and being
37. Biological evolution
38. Person and Being I
39. Person and Being II
40. Person and Being III
41. Person and Being IV
42. SPECIAL TOPIC I: Natural philosophy and the artist
43. SPECIAL TOPIC II: The Creative imagination
44. SPECIAL TOPIC III: Health

Proprietary Interest Policy:

Faculty are permitted to refer to notable past work and achievements (including publications and educational activities not offered by Pontifex University, and even those offered for personal profit) in their published biography on the Pontifex website and course promotions. In the context of educational activities undertaken for Pontifex University, including videos, live or recorded, teachers, can recommend or bring to the attention such work for students (even if for personal profit, for example, books or podcasts) but only with approval by Pontifex University and when it is related to the teaching purpose of the class.  An instructor’s related work will be noted in the syllabus as appropriate.  Instructors may use their own materials as required in their courses and learning events as long as the materials are appropriate for the particular learning event.

Failure to comply with this policy will result in a warning or administration modification of course materials. Violations of this policy should be reported to the Provost.