Medieval Psychology and Empirical Science

Syllabus

Medieval Psychology and Empirical Science

General Description:

FALL TERM 2023, BA + Erasmus Module

Mondays, 12:30-14:05, P225V

Instructor & contact: Dr. André Martin, [e-mail]  

This course will serve as an introduction to Latin medieval psychology and its place in the history of (empirical) science. We will pursue such questions as: What role does experience and intuition play in the generation of scientific knowledge? How do medieval philosophers conceive of “experience” and “intuition” and are they exclusively sensitive/material concepts? Is psychology a properly “natural” science? How does our modern conception of “psychology” emerge from the prior, ancient, study of the “soul” in general (as a principle of life)? We will begin this course by looking at some of the relevant context for later medieval thinkers: Aristotle’s general account of “science”, along with his science of the soul, Augustine’s account of the mind and our privileged self-knowledge, and some of Aristotle’s Arabic medieval commentators. We will then survey a variety of figures and debates in later Latin medieval psychology, including philosophers and theologians such as: Thomas Aquinas, an Anonymous Arts Master c.1270, Peter John Olivi, Gonsalvus of Spain, John Duns Scotus, and Peter Auriol.  

Aims of the Course:

This course will aim to introduce students to Latin medieval philosophy by looking at this period through its prior and immediate context and by examining its specific arguments and debates. It will also more generally aim to improve students’ abilities to process, present, and discuss difficult historical texts. The course meetings will consist of both lectures and discussion. Students are expected to have read the day’s texts and be ready to discuss, especially if one is presenting that day. Class discussion will aim to provide students with a low-risk environment to ask questions, try out different interpretations, and make use of each others’ perspectives.

Course Materials:

All required readings will be made available through the course website.  

Methods of Evaluation:

Evaluation will be based on (i) in class participation (50%) and (ii) a final essay or oral exam (50%). In class participation will chiefly include signing up to present the readings for a given week (up to two times), but will also include regular discussion and comments. Consultation with the instructor will be provided before and after presentations.  

Schedule:

Week 1: Introduction

[Optional: André Martin, “Introduction: Two General Pictures of Cognition”, from The Gaze of the Mind (2022)]

Part I: Ancient and Early Medieval Psychology

Weeks 2-3: Plato, the Naturalists, and Aristotle on Science and the Soul

Plato, “The Allegory of the Cave”, from The Republic, and The Meno/The Phaedo

Aristotle, excerpts from the Posterior Analytics, Physics, and Metaphysics

Aristotle, excerpts from the De anima

Week 4: Augustine on Learning, Self-Knowledge, and Sense, Memory, & Intellect

Augustine, excerpts from the De Trinitate and De Magistro

Week 5: Avicenna’s Aristotelian Psychology and Intellectual Intuition of the Self

Avicenna (Ibn Sīnā), excerpts from the Al Nafs (“On Soul”)

Week 6: Averroes’s Aristotelian Psychology and the Separate-ness of the Intellect(s)

Averroes (Ibn Rushd), excerpts from the Long Commentary on the De anima  

Part II: Later Latin Medieval Psychology

Week 7: Thomas Aquinas on Science, Theology, and Human Psychology

Aquinas, “Is Theology a Science?” (ST I, Q.1)

Aquinas, excerpts from the so-called “Treatise on Human Nature”, (ST Ia, QQ.75-)

Week 8: An Anonymous “Aristotelian” Arts Master: Is A Science of the Soul Possible?

Anonymous Arts Master (c.1270), excerpts from his Questions on De anima I-II

Week 9: Peter John Olivi and Later Medieval “Augustinianism”

Peter John Olivi, Commentary on Book II of the Sentences, Q.72

Week 10: Gonsalvus of Spain on Will and Intellect

Gonsalvus of Spain, Disputed Questions, QQ.2-3

Week 11: John Duns Scotus on Cognition

John Duns Scotus, excerpts from Ordinatio, I.3

Week 12: Peter Auriol on Intuition, Abstraction, & Demonstrative Knowledge

Peter Auriol, Commentary on Book I of the Sentences, Scriptum, preface, Q.2

Week 13 & 14: To Be Discussed