Medieval Islamic Theology and Philosophy (P02498)

? Credit Points : 20 ? SCQF Level : 11 ? Acronym : LLC-P-P02498

This course will consist of two main parts. First, it will provide an introduction to medieval Islamic intellectual history focusing on the traditions of philosophy (falsafa) and rational theology (kalam), and to the state of the contemporary academic field of study specialising in these subjects. It will then take a closer look at the main schools, trends, philosophers and theologians, providing an overview of the nature of their thought and their key doctrines and contributions.

Second, the course will cover a balanced and representative selection of key topics and problems, which will comprise some of the following: ethical theory (especially the nature of ethical value, and the problem of evil); psychology and human nature (especially perception); metaphysics (especially the existence and nature of God); and the philosophy of religion (especially theories of prophecy, and the relation between philosophy and religion).

Teaching will consist of a combination of lectures and seminars. In the latter, the class will engage in discussions focused around selections of primary texts, translated into English, and secondary texts, as well as sets of discussion questions. No knowledge of any language other than English is required.

Entry Requirements

? This course is not available to visting students.

Subject Areas

Home subject area

Islamic and Middle Eastern Studies, (School of Literatures, Languages and Cultures, Schedule G)

Delivery Information

? Normal year taken : Postgraduate

? Delivery Period : Semester 1 (Blocks 1-2)

? Contact Teaching Time : 3 hour(s) per week for 10 weeks

All of the following classes

Type	Day	Start	End	Area
Tutorial	Monday	11:10	13:00	Central
Tutorial	Thursday	11:10	13:00	Central

Summary of Intended Learning Outcomes

1. should have acquired knowledge of the history of medieval Islamic philosophy and theology,
2. should have a good understanding of key philosophical and theological concepts, problems and debates, and of their broader
historical and intellectual contexts,
3. should be able to read and understand various types of medieval Arabic intellectual texts in translation,
4. should be able critically to examine and interpret historical materials, and
5. should have competence in analysing medieval intellectual notions and modes of reasoning.