Course Catalogue 2024-2025

This an introduction to the main concepts and terminology developed by thinkers between the fifth and fourteenth centuries. Special attention is given to scholastic philosophy. We will cover topics such as the relation between faith and reason, the existence and nature of God, human life and happiness, virtue and vice, and the difference between divine and human law.

This course introduces students to the origins of philosophy in classical antiquity, from the 7th c. BC to the 4th c. AD. The course will treat the most important Greek and Latin philosophers. Important topics that will be considered are cosmology and physics, philosophical theology, moral and political philosophy, with an emphasis on Plato and Aristotle, their sources and followers or critics.

This course introduces students to the origins of philosophy in classical antiquity, from the 7th c. BC to the 4th c. AD. The course will treat the most important Greek and Latin philosophers. Important topics that will be considered are cosmology and physics, philosophical theology, moral and political philosophy, with an emphasis on Plato and Aristotle, their sources and followers or critics.

This course introduces logic, critical thinking, and the philosophy of language. It presupposes that human beings are social and linguistic creatures endowed with the gift of communicating, meaning acquisition, and transmission. Language has a well-defined structure, a set of logical and grammatical rules that enables people to communicate and understand themselves and each other effectively. This course contains three parts. The first part is logic as an art of reasoning, including deductive reasoning and categorical and propositional logic. The second part, critical thinking, is related to philosophical and scientific reasoning but deals with informal and formal fallacies in ordinary, everyday reasoning and argumentation. The third part focuses on theories of meaning (from the ancient to the contemporary authors), pragmatic theories, and various expressive linguistic forms. The course will instruct students to express themselves clearly in speech and writing, which will be indispensable in their further theological studies.

This course introduces logic, critical thinking, and the philosophy of language. It presupposes that human beings are social and linguistic creatures endowed with the gift of communicating, meaning acquisition, and transmission. Language has a well-defined structure, a set of logical and grammatical rules that enables people to communicate and understand themselves and each other effectively. This course contains three parts. The first part is logic as an art of reasoning, including deductive reasoning and categorical and propositional logic. The second part, critical thinking, is related to philosophical and scientific reasoning but deals with informal and formal fallacies in ordinary, everyday reasoning and argumentation. The third part focuses on theories of meaning (from the ancient to the contemporary authors), pragmatic theories, and various expressive linguistic forms. The course will instruct students to express themselves clearly in speech and writing, which will be indispensable in their further theological studies.

Located in the beginning of the Qur'an immediately following a short introductory prayer, Surat al-Baqara is the doorway to understanding this scripture and its distinctive style and organization of ideas. The largest chapter in the corpus, it covers the major themes and discourses and is uniquely suited to begin the study of the Qur'an and related scholarship. This course is an introduction to the Qur'an and will familiarize students with the hallmarks of both traditional and western scholarships. It will cover topics such as the collection of the Qur'an, abrogation, mysterious letters and the Quranic sciences. Students will become acquainted with some of the main classical and modern commentaries and will learn how to identify Surat al-Baqara's distinctive structure and unifying themes.

An introduction to the foundations of Catholic moral theology (Part 1 of 2). Among topics to be studied are scripture, natural moral law and the law of the Gospel, anthropology, relationship between faith and morality, freedom and law, responsibility, etc.

An introduction to foundations of Catholic moral theology (Part 2 of 2). Among the topics to be studied are conscience, aspects of moral decision-making, virtue and vice.

Basic principles of Christian ethics, with special attention to the pastoral application of moral theology.

Introduction to Catholic moral theology. Among the topics to be studied are: scripture, tradition, natural law, relationship between faith and morality, moral norms, virtue and vice, freedom, conscience and magisterium, etc. Assigned readings, discussion board assignments and responses, unit tests, written assignment paper.

Introduction to Catholic moral theology. Among the topics to be studied are: scripture, tradition, natural law, relationship between faith and morality, moral norms, virtue and vice, freedom, conscience and magisterium, etc. Assigned readings, discussion board assignments and responses, unit tests, written assignment paper.

Current Buddhist views of mental health incorporate the Dharma and Western psychological approaches to mental health that include a broad range of behavioural, cognitive, and experiential approaches. Key features of approaches using mindfulness are the cultivation of a fluid sense of self, emotion regulation and the modulation of the causes of stress. These parallel the Buddhist concepts of non-self, skillful or appropriate responses, and the understanding of the causes of suffering. This understanding of mental health has shifted concepts of mental illness with promises of success and cautionary tales of risk. Buddhist and Western psychological perspectives of mental health share a commonality of being culturally influenced. To understand the impact and implications of the Buddhist view of mental health, the root Buddhist teachings need to be understood in their cultural context. Because we are embedded in a culture vastly different from the Buddha's time, the exploration must include our perspectives of mental health and how our own views are socio-cultural constructions. From this platform, we can examine how Buddhist teachings and their integration with Western models seek to sustain mental health. Secularized adaptations of the Dharma for psychological treatment will be examined with consideration of risks of appropriation, dilution, and distortion as well as potential negative effects of mindfulness-based therapies.