Theo 43203/Phil 43801 -- Joint Phil/Theo Seminar: Augustine

Freddoso and Heintz

304 Malloy and  131 Malloy 

E-mail: afreddos@gmail.com and mheintz1@nd.edu

Home page for course: http://www.nd.edu/~afreddos/courses/43801-Augustine/phil43801-Augustine.html

Purpose----Texts----Requirements---- Syllabus----Online Handouts----Next Paper Assignment

Purpose of Course: 

A close reading and analysis of the some of the more important works of Augustine of Hippo (+430), whose influence on subsequent Western intellectual history has had very few rivals. Particular attention will be paid to questions of faith and reason, God and the soul, and the human person in the light of grace. 
Texts:
  • John M Rist, Augustine: Ancient Thought Baptized  (Cambridge) (ISBN: 978-0521589529)
  • Henry Chadwick, trans. Confessions (Oxford) (ISBN: 978-0192817747)
  • Thomas Williams, trans. On Free Choice of the Will  (Hackett) (ISBN: 978-0872201880)
  • RPH Green, trans. On Christian Teaching (Oxford) (ISBN: 978-0199540631)
  • RW Dyson, trans. The City of God against the Pagans (Cambridge) (ISBN: 978-0521468435)
All other texts will either be made available through Electronic Reserve [ER] or will be distributed in class as handouts, as in the case of the Sermons to be read at the end of the course. 
Requirements:
  • Three Short papers (60% of course grade).  Each student will be required to write three 6-7-page papers on assigned topics.  The first two papers will be close analyses of a primary text; the third will be an extended book report on a major secondary work Augustine from a list provided by the instructors.  The first paper will be due on Wednesday February 23; the second will be due on Wednesday March 30; the final paper will be due on Wednesday, April 27.

  • Class Participation (40% of course grade).  This consists of two separate things:  

    (a) By 12:00AM midnight on the day before each class meeting, you must submit to Professor Freddoso by email a question/comment based on the readings assigned for that day.  We expect the questions/comments to be well thought out and well articulated.  They will serve as a partial guide for our class comments on the day in question.  (We pay close attention to the quality of these questions in determining the participation component of the grade.)

    (b) Active and intelligent participation in seminar discussions.  In general, student initiative and signs of self-motivation will be rewarded in this course.
Syllabus:
  • 1/19:   J.J. O'Donnell, "Augustine the African," ER (all)
               Background:  Rist, Augustine, pp. 1-22

  • 1/24:   True Religion (De Vera Religione), ER, pp. 29-50 (1.1-18.34)
                   Background:  Rist, Augustine, pp. 41-91

  • 1/26:  True Religion (De Vera Religione), ER, pp. 51-103 (18.35-55.113)
  • 1/31:  On Free Choice of the Will (De Libero Arbitrio), Book 1, pp. 1-28
               Background:  Rist, Augustine, pp. 148-202
  • 2/2:    On Free Choice of the Will (De Libero Arbitrio), Book 2, pp. 29-69
  • 2/7:    On Free Choice of the Will (De Libero Arbitrio), Book 3, pp. 70-129

  • 2/9:    Confessions (Confessiones), Books 1-3, pp. 3-51
               Background:  Frederick Crosson, "Structure and Meaning in Augustine's Confessions," ER (all)
      •  
  • 2/14:  Confessions (Confessiones), Books 4-5, pp. 52-89

  • 2/16:  Confessions (Confessiones), Books 6-7, pp. 90-132
    •    
  • 2/21:  Confessions (Confessiones), Books 8-9, pp. 133-178
    •    
  • 2/23:  Confessions (Confessiones), Book 10, pp. 179-220
  • 2/28:  Confessions (Confessiones), Books 11-13, pp. 221-305
  • 3/2:    On Christian Doctrine (De Doctrina Christiana), Preface and Book 1, pp. 3-29
               Background:  Rist, Augustine, pp. 23-40
  • 3/7:   The City of God Against the Pagans (De Civitate Dei), book 1, pp. 3-50
              Background: J.J. O'Donnell, "The Inspiration for Augustine's De civitate Dei," ER
              Background:  Robert Markus, "De civitate Dei: Pride and the Common Good," ER
              Background:  Rist, Augustine, pp. 203-255
  • 3/9:    The City of God Against the Pagans (De Civitate Dei), books 2-3, pp. 51-142

  • 3/21:  The City of God Against the Pagans (De Civitate Dei), books 4-5, pp. 143-236

  • 3/23:  The City of God Against the Pagans (De Civitate Dei), books 6-7, pp. 237-311
  • 3/28:  The City of God Against the Pagans (De Civitate Dei), books 8-9, pp. 312-389
      •  
  • 3/30:  The City of God Against the Pagans (De Civitate Dei), book 10, pp. 390-448

  • 4/4:    The City of God Against the Pagans (De Civitate Dei), books 11-12, pp. 449-540

  • 4/6:    The City of God Against the Pagans (De Civitate Dei), books 13-14, pp. 541-633

  • 4/11:  The City of God Against the Pagans (De Civitate Dei), books 15-16, pp. 634-764

  • 4/13:  The City of God Against the Pagans (De Civitate Dei), books 17-18, pp. 765-908

  • 4/18:  The City of God Against the Pagans (De Civitate Dei), books 19-20, pp. 909-1043

  • 4/20:  The City of God Against the Pagans (De Civitate Dei), books 21-22, pp. 1045-1182

  • 4/27:  Sermons (to be handed out)

  • 5/2:    Sermons (to be handed out)

  • 5/4:    Sermons (to be handed out)