Metaphysics
Metaphysics
Metaphysics
Syllabus
Course
Prerequisites
1
Course Format
I. Introduction
(Course Outline)
Reading: Excerpt from Josef Pieper, “The
Philosophical Act”
2
VI. Conclusion
Reading: Josef Pieper, “The Negative Element in
the Philosophy of St. Thomas Aquinas” in The
Silence of St. Thomas Aquinas: Three Essays
Course Requirements
1. Quizzes (15%)
This will be done at the beginning of the class. Quizzes are to assess the
students' understanding of the assigned text/reading to be discussed.
Students will be assigned to a group and each group will be asked to report an
assigned chapter of the required reading with critical analysis and evaluation
and concrete application of the assigned chapter.
The preliminary examination will be a written examination that will take place
inside the classroom. Students will be given the entire period to answer the
questions, hand-written on a size one (1) paper. The questions will be provided
on the day of the examination. Absent students on the day of the exam will
automatically get a grade of F (0) unless there is a valid reason for being
absent. If that is the case, immediately write me an e-mail to re-schedule a new
exam indicating the valid reason for missing the scheduled exam. However,
expect that a different set of questions will be asked from those who took the
exam on the scheduled day.
3
4. Midterm Examination (25%)
The midterm examination will be oral. The oral examination tests the capacity
of the students to explain in a coherent, logical, reflective, creative, and
synthetic manner the key philosophical concepts and ideas discussed in class.
It will be done by group. The students will be asked to explain a thesis
statement coming come from the assigned chapter in their group report, and
defend their answer on the thesis statement. Each group will be given 20
minutes to answer the thesis statement and defend their answer. Failure to
show up in the oral exam will automatically merit a grade of F (0) unless the
student/s have a valid reason for being absent.
The final examination will be oral. The students will be asked to explain a
thesis statement and defend their answer on the thesis statement. It will be
done individually. The oral examination tests the capacity of the students to
explain in a coherent, logical, reflective, creative, and synthetic manner the
key philosophical concepts and ideas discussed in class. A student will be given
12 minutes to answer the thesis statement and defend his answer. Failure to
show up in the oral exam will automatically merit a grade of F (0) unless the
student/s have a valid reason for being absent.
Evaluation
Methods A (1) Excellent. A critical and comprehensive grasp of the
& subject matter, and showing original, profound, personal
Grading system insight that contributes to the philosophical discussion at
hand.
4
D (3) Unsatisfactory. Little evidence of study; vague and
disordered; errors in the details and flaws in reasoning are
very evident.
A 100-96
B+ 95-91
B 90-86
C+ 85-81
C 80-76
D 75-71
F 70 and below
Suggested Readings:
5
Marion, Jean-Luc. “Metaphysics and Phenomenology: A
Relief for Theology.” In in Critical Inquiry, vol. 20, no. 4,
Symposium on “God.”Summer, 1994: pp. 572-591.
Prepared by:
Signed by: