Department of Philosophy Islamic Philosophy PHIL 203 (Section B1)
Winter 2021
Instructor: Hassan Masoud
Office: 2-67 Assiniboia Hall (Dept of Philosophy) E-mail: [email protected]
Office Hours (over Zoom): Wednesday 2:00 – 3:00 PM (or by appointment)
Course Location, Days & Time: Tuesday-Thursday 9:30 – 10:50 AM (Remote Delivery)
Course Description:
This course covers the main figures and schools of thought raised in the Islamic world during the period from 9th to 17th century CE. The figures include Al-Kindi, Al-Farabi, Avicenna,
Ghazali, Averroes, Suhrawardi, and Mulla Sadra. Islamic philosophy, especially in its formative period, is a crucial link between Greek philosophy and Western medieval philosophy. Much of the writings of medieval philosophers like Maimonides and Aquinas can be considered as dialogues between them and Muslim philosophers such as Avicenna and Averroes.
The readings of the course include both primary literature (English translations of the original Arabic or Persian writings) and contemporary secondary literature. The discussion will chiefly focus on metaphysical and epistemological theses, but occasionally moral and political thoughts might also be addressed. No knowledge of Arabic or Persian is assumed.
This course would be of interest not only to philosophy students, especially those with interests in the history of philosophy, epistemology and metaphysics, but also to students of history, religious studies, political science, and all other students who are interested in investigating the intellectual/philosophical background that underlies the contemporary worldviews of the Muslim societies.
Note: It is your responsibility as a student to ensure that you have the appropriate prerequisites for the course.
Course Objectives and Expected Learning Outcomes:
At the end of the term, you will be able to:
1- summarize the philosophies of key historical figures in the Islamic world between 9th and 17th century, such as Al-Kindi, Al-Farabi, Avicenna, Ghazali, Averroes, Suhrawardi, and Mulla Sadra
2- identify the key features of the main schools of thought in Islamic philosophy, such as the Peripatetic school, Illuminationism, Philosophical Sufism, and Transcendental
3- analyze and critically assess the influence of Greek philosophy and Islamic teachings on Islamic philosophy, and the relationship between Islamic philosophy and European Medieval philosophy
4- summarize and analyze some main metaphysical and epistemological themes in Islamic philosophy, such as “essence and existence”, “necessity and contingency”, “intellect”,
“knower and the known”, “creation”, and “God’s knowledge”
5- and, write short summaries and full-length research papers using primary and secondary literature on Islamic philosophy, and critically evaluate arguments of opposing sides of main debates through collaborative discussion groups
Note:
There are no formal prerequisites for this course. This is an Arts course and is useful for students with all backgrounds. All the concepts and arguments are explained from the scratch;
however, to gain a good grasp of philosophical issues, you are encouraged to read the assigned material prior to each session and spend a few moments thinking about the subject and come to class with a few questions. Like any other course, participating in class discussions is crucial.
Course Format:
This course is delivered remotely; no classes, office hours, or exams are held on campus. Each week our routine will be as follows:
- On Monday, a set of notes, video recordings, and guidelines regarding course works will be posted on eClass. So, the agenda of the week is set on Monday.
- On Tuesday, we do not have a live class; instead, you should work with the pre-recorded lectures.
- On Thursday, we have an online session (synchronous class) on Zoom from 9:30 to 10:30 AM. Attending Zoom sessions is not mandatory, and all the Zoom sessions are recorded and posted on eClass, but it provides an opportunity to get involved in live discussions and have a questions and answers period.
- Also, on Wednesday, I have my weekly office hours on Zoom from 2:00 to 3:00 PM. If you have any questions or need to discuss any part of course works, you can connect, and be in a queue to have a one-on-one meeting with me.
Textbooks:
There are two required textbooks for this course:
1. The Cambridge Companion to Arabic philosophy
Edited by Peter Adamson and Richard Taylor. 2005. Cambridge University Press.
The textbook is available through the University Library website:
https://search.library.ualberta.ca/catalog/7161869
In the schedule on page 4, this book is referred to as the “Companion”.
2. Classical Arabic Philosophy: An Anthology of Sources
Edited by Jon McGinnis and David Reisman. 2007. Hackett Publishing.
The textbook is available through the University Library website:
https://search.library.ualberta.ca/catalog/9423096
In the schedule on page 4, this book is referred to as the “Anthology”.
In addition to the chapters of the two textbooks, other readings might be introduced as case studies for discussion forums or as recommended readings for essays. All the extra readings will be made available through eClass.
Additional Course Fees: N/A
Important Dates:
First Day of Class: Jan. 11 Add/Delete Date: Jan. 22 50% Withdrawal Date: Feb. 10 Withdrawal Date: April 9 Last Day of Class: April 16 Final Exam Date: April 20
Date of Deferred Final Exam: N/A
Lecture Schedule & Assigned Readings: (Note: Some of the book chapters in the reading list are long; hence, we will choose particular parts of the chapters to read and discuss.)
Week Dates Topic Readings
1 Jan. 11 – 17 Unit 1: Introduction Translation movement
Companion, ch. 1: “Introduction”
Anthology, ch. 1: “Introduction”
Companion, ch. 2: “Greek into Arabic:
Neoplatonism in translation”
2 Jan. 18 – 24
3 Jan. 25 – 31
Unit 2: Al-Kindi
The transition of Greek thought
Companion, ch. 3: “Al-Kindi and the reception of Greek philosophy”
Anthology, ch. 2: “Al-Kindi”
4 Feb. 1 – 7
Unit 3: Al-Farabi
The systematization of philosophy
Companion, ch. 4: Al-Farabi and the philosophical curriculum”
Anthology, ch. 4: “Al-Farabi”
5 Feb. 8 – 14
Unit 4: Avicenna The new approach
Companion, ch. 6: “Avicenna and the Avicennian tradition”
Anthology, ch. 6: “Ibn Sina”
RW Feb. 15 – 21 (Reading Week) 6 Feb. 22 – 28
7 Mar. 1 – 7 Unit 5: Al-Ghazali Theological attacks on philosophy
Companion, ch. 7: “Al-Ghazali”
Anthology, ch. 7: “Al-Ghazali”
8 Mar. 8 – 14
9 Mar. 15 – 21 Unit 6: Averroes Defending philosophy
Companion, ch. 9: “Averroes: religious dialectic and Aristotelian thought”
Anthology, ch. 10: “Ibn Rushd”
10 Mar. 22 – 28
11 Mar. 29 – Apr. 4
Unit 7: Suhrawardi Illuminationism
Companion, ch. 10: “Suhrawardi and Illuminationism”
Anthology, ch. 11: “As-Suhrawardi”
12 Apr. 5 – 11 Unit 8: Mulla Sadra Merging philosophical Sufism into philosophy
Companion, ch. 11: “Mysticism and philosophy: Ibn Arabi and Mulla Sadra”
13 Apr. 12 – 18
Components of Course Grade:
Component Weighting Due Date
Short Essays (2) 40% (2 X 20%) Mar. 1, Mar. 22 @ 11 AM
Participation 20% Throughout the term
Term Paper (in lieu of the final exam) 40% April 20 @ 2 PM
In this course:
Short essays: Each short essay (1200-1500 words) will be written about one of the topics of the course and submitted on eClass. The topics and guidelines will be posted on eClass 10 days before the due date. In short essays you mainly review and summarize lines of thought and arguments from the readings.
Term paper: The term paper (2400-2700 words), which is an argumentative research paper, will also be written about one of the topics of the course and submitted on eClass. The topics and guidelines will be posted on eClass 20 days before the due date. In the term paper you compare and evaluate lines of thought and arguments from the readings and take a position. The term paper is in lieu of the final exam.
Participation: For participation, see below (Attendance).
Grading:
Marks for assignments and exams are given in percentages. The percentage mark resulting from the entire term work and examination then produces the final letter grade for the course, according to the table below (“Department of Philosophy Undergraduate Grading Scale”). The final mark will be absolute, and no curves will be applied.
Percentage Letter grade 4-point value Descriptor
95.00-100 A+ 4.0
Excellent
90.00-94.99 A 4.0
85.00-89.99 A- 3.7
80.00-84.99 B+ 3.3
Good
75.00-79.99 B 3.0
70.00-74.99 B- 2.7
67.00-69.99 C+ 2.3
Satisfactory
63.00-66.99 C 2.0
60.00-62.99 C- 1.7
57.00-59.99 D+ 1.3 Poor
50.00-56.99 D 1.0 Minimal pass
0-49.99 F 0 Failure
Past Evaluative Material: Guidelines and samples will be available on eClass.
Attendance: Regular attendance is essential for optimal performance in any course. Since this course is delivered remotely, participation is evaluated based on the quality and quantity of participation in weekly discussion forums. Guidelines for discussion forums and the criteria of evaluation will be available on eClass.
Policy for Late Assignments: Extensions for essays can only be granted for serious reasons and if you email me before the due time. Late essays will be penalized 4% (from the total of 20%) per day. Essays will not be accepted later than 4 days after the due time.
Missed Tests and Assignments: Deferral of term work is a privilege and not a right; there is no guarantee that a deferral will be granted. Misrepresentation of Facts to gain a deferral is a serious breach of the Code of Student Behaviour.
Deferred Final Examination: For information on how to apply for a deferred exam see “I Missed my Final Exam, Now What?”
Student Responsibilities:
Academic Integrity:
The University of Alberta is committed to the highest standards of academic integrity and
honesty. Students are expected to be familiar with these standards regarding academic honesty and to uphold the policies of the University in this respect. Students are particularly urged to familiarize themselves with the provisions of the Code of Student Behaviour and avoid any behaviour that could potentially result in suspicions of cheating, plagiarism, misrepresentation of facts and/or participation in an offence. Academic dishonesty is a serious offence and can result in suspension or expulsion from the University.
All students should consult the Academic Integrity website. If you have any questions, ask your instructor.
An instructor or coordinator who is convinced that a student has handed in work that he or she could not possibly reproduce without outside assistance is obliged, out of consideration of fairness to other students, to report the case to the Associate Dean of the Faculty. See the Academic Discipline Process.
Recording of Lectures:
Audio or video recording, digital or otherwise, of lectures, labs, seminars or any other teaching environment by students is allowed only with the prior written consent of the instructor or as a part of an approved accommodation plan. Student or instructor content, digital or otherwise, created and/or used within the context of the course is to be used solely for personal study, and is not to be used or distributed for any other purpose without prior written consent from the content author(s).
Disclaimer: Any typographical errors in this syllabus are subject to change and will be announced in class and posted on eClass. The date of the final examination is set by the Registrar and takes precedence over the final examination date reported in this syllabus.
Student Resources:
The best all-purpose website for student services is: https://www.ualberta.ca/current-students.
Accessibility Resources: (1 – 80 SUB)
The University of Alberta is committed to creating work and learning communities that inspire and enable all people to reach their full potential. Accessibility Resources promotes an accessible, inclusive, and universally designed environment. For general information and to register for services visit the Accessibility Resources webpage.
The Academic Success Centre: (1-80 SUB)
The Academic Success Centre offers a variety of workshops on effective study and exam strategies. There are in-person and online sessions available for a modest fee.
The Centre for Writers: (1-42 Assiniboia Hall)
The Centre for Writers offers free one-on-one writing support to students, faculty, and staff.
Students can request consultation for a writing project at any stage of development. Instructors can request class visits and presentations.
Health and Wellness Support:
There are many health and community services available to current students. For more information visit the Health and Wellness Support webpage.
Office of the Student Ombuds:
The Office of the Student Ombuds offers confidential interviews, advice and support to students facing academic, discipline, interpersonal and financial difficulties.
Learning and working environment:
The Faculty of Arts is committed to ensuring that all students, faculty and staff are able to work and study in an environment that is safe and free from discrimination and harassment. It does not tolerate behaviour that undermines that environment.
It is the policy of the University of Alberta that sexual violence committed by any member of the University community is prohibited and constitutes misconduct. Resources and more
information can be found at https://www.ualberta.ca/campus-life/sexual-violence
The University of Alberta acknowledges that we are located on Treaty 6 territory, and respects the histories, languages, and cultures of the First Nations, Métis, Inuit, and all First Peoples of Canada, whose presence continues to enrich our vibrant community.
Policy about course outlines can be found in the Evaluation Procedures and Grading System section of the University Calendar.
Copyright: Hassan Masoud, Faculty of Arts, University of Alberta (2021)