Syllabus
Medieval, Islamic and Renaissance Civilizations
Semester: Fall, Spring, Summer
What is a CVSP Course?
CVSP courses deal with primary texts from different historical and cultural backgrounds and pursue an interdisciplinary approach. Their aim is to introduce the students to diverse world views and to a variety of methodological approaches. Sequence one courses (201, 202, 205) focus on the ancient world up to the Renaissance, sequence two courses (203, 204, 206) on the pre-modern to contemporary world. Students have to take a sequence one course, before enrolling in a sequence two course.
CVSP 202 Course description:
This course offers an introductory exploration of selected expressions of philosophical, theological, and literary thought within the monotheistic traditions of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, as anchored in the ancient Platonist, Aristotelian, and Neo-Platonist legacies, with a focus on the epoch spanning from the third to the thirteenth century CE.
I. Course Objectives & Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of the course, students will have gained abilities in:
§ Recalling central features of the intellectual history of the monotheistic traditions of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam as encountered in the epoch spanning from the third to the thirteenth century CE.
§ Examining various elements of the philosophical, theological, and literary expressions of the intellectual history of the monotheistic traditions of said epoch.
§ Identifying central elements of the Platonist, Aristotelian, and Neo-Platonist legacies as encountered in the intellectual history of the monotheistic traditions of the epoch covered.
§ Discussing the central components of the intellectual history of the monotheistic traditions as seen in various genres and modes of expressions.
§ Tracing the central premises and arguments of various texts in the Judaic, Christian and Islamic intellectual history of the epoch.
§ Relating the central elements of the intellectual history of the monotheistic traditions to their philosophical precursors and other sources of influence on them.
§ Interpreting primary texts of the intellectual history of the monotheistic traditions of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam as encountered through various genres of expression in the epoch spanning from the third to the thirteenth century CE.
§ Illustrating the relationship between various central elements of the intellectual history of the monotheistic traditions and their theological and philosophical backdrop.
II. Grading Criteria:
A student’s performance is graded according in view of the course learning outcomes he/she attains through the semester.
Components:
a. Written work: normally, two 'midterms' and a Final Exam are graded on a basis of 20% for each of the midterms and 40-50% for the Final Exam.
b. Oral presentations, drop quizzes and/or class attendance and participation normally are the basis for the remaining 10-20% of the Final Grade.
c. Teacher discretion: individual instructors may choose to vary the above criteria. In every case, they must announce any diversion from the above clearly and in writing to the students at the outset of the semester.
III. Schedule (at http://staff.aub.edu.lb/~webcsp/lecture202.htm)
Classes meet three times a week: either one common lecture and two discussion sessions, or (when no common lecture is assigned) three discussion sessions.
Note: the CVSP reserves the right to alter specific readings for any given semester. This is part of the dynamism of ongoing evaluation and improvement of course offerings. Such changes will always be in line with the general stated course objectives as described in I above.
IV. A note on academic integrity:
Academic integrity and honesty are central components of a student's education. Ethical conduct maintained in an academic context will be taken eventually into a student's professional career. Academic honesty is essential to a community of scholars searching for and learning to seek the truth. Anything less than total commitment to honesty undermines the efforts of the entire academic community. Both students and faculty are responsible for ensuring the academic integrity of the University. (AUB Student Handbook, p. 33) For definitions of cheating and plagiarism as well as the consequences for such, see the AUB "Student Code of Conduct" as found in the Student Handbook and on the AUB website. http://www.aub.edu.lb/pnp/generaluniversitiesmanuals/Documents/StudentHandbook/Student%20Handbook%202011-12%20web%20version.pdf
At minimum, anyone caught in violation of academic integrity will receive, as per the "Student Code of Conduct", a failing grade of forty points for the assignment in question. Should the violation deserve greater punishment, it will be referred to the Dean and the Dean's Administrative Committee.