PLTL - Philosophical Theology (PLTL)

An initiation into philosophical thinking, focusing on ancient and medieval philosophy. Special attention to the influences of Greek philosophy and the Gospel on each other. Includes: pre-Socratics; Socrates; Plato; Aristotle; Stoicism; Epicureanism; Neoplatonism; Augustine; Boethius; Bonaventure; and Aquinas.

An examination of four themes in modern and contemporary philosophy, starting with Ockham and Bacon through Descartes, Locke, the Empiricists, Enlightenment and contemporaries: the body-mind problem; success of the natural sciences; expansion of liberty and equality; the question of God.

Beginning with the end of the 19th century through the end of the 20th century, an analysis of the development of three major schools of contemporary philosophy – phenomenology, existentialism, and analytic philosophy – and more recent philosophical developments, such as postmodernism. Special emphasis is given to Christian philosophers and the revival of Thomism.

A study of the ens rationis, including: the nature of concept, judgment and inductive-deductive argument, basic notions of theory of language, theory of definitions, informal fallacies, syllogistic (Aristotelian) logic, propositional and predicate logic. The major emphasis is on the use of logic in philosophy and theology.

A classical description of being in terms of essence of being; substance and accidents; transcendental characteristics of being; the laws of being, such as the four causes. Alternative metaphysical systems as related to theology. (Formerly PLTL 1218)

A study of ens mobile, including the analysis of movement and nature, the first division of being into substance and accidents, and the second division of being into matter and form in the Aristotelian-Thomistic tradition. Special analysis is given to Aristotle’s physics and Aquinas’ commentaries on Aristotle’s books on nature. (Formerly PLTL 1223)

A study of ens qua bonum. The question of the moral nature of human action, what makes actions good and bad, and how this is knowable. Different ethical systems are examined along with the metaphysics they presuppose. Representative authors studied include Aristotle, Aquinas, Kant and Mill. Four areas are covered: the analysis of human action, natural law, moral conscience and theory of virtue. (Formerly PLTL 1241)

A study of ens qua verum, including a consideration of the ontological nature of human knowledge as knowledge, followed by an historical survey of epistemological theory, with special emphasis on the rise of critical philosophy in the modern period. Special emphasis is given to topics such as the notion of truth, certainty, evidence, the problem of skepticism, idealism and realism. (Formerly PLTL 1243)

A historical introduction to the philosophical principles, in metaphysics, natural theology, psychology, and ethics, that make the thought of St. Thomas Aquinas an attractive alternative for our present age.

Financial services industry ethics in thought and practice. Review of ethical concepts and terminology required today for employment, licensing, and certification in banking, brokerage, and insurance. Drawing from world philosophies, Catholic teachings on business, and financial industry regulations and rules. Emphasis on the application of traditional ethical theories to financial services business practices.

Basic issues of human reality and philosophical anthropology, including: fact of being; relation of body and soul; cognition; spirituality; relation of self to society; religion; and death. St. Thomas’ realist metaphysics, contemporary existentialism and phenomenological methodology are employed to discuss the spirituality of the soul. The role of imagination and subconsciousness, the meaning of male and female and the role of the person in society. (Formerly PLTL 1214)

That part of metaphysics dealing with Being that is first absolutely. First principles and natural knowledge; arguments for the existence of God; ways to God, including the Thomistic approach; pantheism; Divine attributes. (Formerly PLTL 1416)