Faculty of Islamic Sciences · Islamic Sciences (Arabic) · Undergraduate
Course Objective
The History of Philosophy II course examines the development of philosophy from the post-Classical period through Medieval and Early Modern thought, focusing on major problems, key philosophers, and conceptual shifts in their historical contexts. Through close reading of primary texts, the course explores themes such as the relationship between reason and faith, changing views of being and knowledge, and turning points in ethics and political philosophy, encouraging students to interpret ideas in light of their social, scientific, and cultural conditions. In doing so, it offers a perspective that traces how philosophical concepts take shape and strengthens comparative thinking across different traditions.
Course Content
History of Philosophy II examines the development of philosophical thought from the medieval period through the Renaissance and early modern era into modern philosophy, focusing on major problems, concepts, and representative thinkers. The course addresses themes such as the relationship between faith and reason, theories of being and knowledge, debates on method, transformations in political philosophy, and the emergence of the modern notion of the subject, all through close reading of primary texts within their historical contexts. By doing so, students learn to trace continuities and ruptures among philosophical movements while strengthening their critical evaluation and textual analysis skills.
Course Learning Outcomes
- Explain the major movements, philosophers, and concepts from the medieval to the modern period within their historical contexts.
- Discuss key problems—faith and reason, being, knowledge, method, and the subject—in a comparative way.
- Read primary philosophical texts and interpret them by analyzing arguments, concepts, and assumptions.
- Evaluate continuities and ruptures between philosophical positions, including their underlying reasons.
- Communicate philosophical analyses and positions in well-justified written and oral form according to academic standards.
Core Area Distribution
Teaching Methods
Assessment & Evaluation
ECTS / Workload
| Activity | Quantity | Duration (h) | Total Workload |
|---|---|---|---|
| Course Duration (Including Exam Week) | 14 | 2 | 28 |
| Out of Class Study Period | 14 | 3 | 42 |
| Midterm | 1 | 15 | 15 |
| Quiz | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Assignment | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Practice | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Final | 1 | 15 | 15 |
Course Schedule
| Week | Subject | Preparation |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | A general introduction to philosophy and its departments | Read about the topic |
| 2 | Evolution of the meaning and mission of philosophy | Read about the topic |
| 3 | The relationship of philosophy to religion | Read about the topic |
| 4 | The relationship of philosophy with science and art | Read about the topic |
| 5 | Departments of Philosophy | Read about the topic |
| 6 | The theory of knowledge and the study of values in philosophy | Read about the topic |
| 7 | Problems of Philosophy First, the problem of the metaphysics of existence | Read about the topic |
| 8 | The legality of metaphysical research | Read about the topic |
| 9 | Doctrines of metaphysical unity | Read about the topic |
| 10 | Materialist unitary doctrine and its response | Read about the topic |
| 11 | The doctrine of spiritual monism | Read about the topic |
| 12 | Ontological dualism | Read about the topic |
| 13 | Trends in the possibility of knowledge | Read about the topic |
| 14 | Departments of Philosophy | Read about the topic |
| 15 | Final | Final |