Topics in Ancient and Medieval Logic

Goal. Increase the sensitivity for historical issues in logic. Develop a more holistic view of logic in ancient and medieval times. Train skills of historical exposition.

Course Description. Students will be handed a topic to work on shortly before the Christmas break. The task is to find as much information from secondary sources about the given topic as possible, then synthetize the information into an expository paper of 10 to 20 pages. At the end of January, all students will present their papers before handing them in.

Possible topics are:

• Future contingents and the immutability of God.
• Stoic Logic
• Hypothetical syllogisms in Aristotle and Boethius
• Eucharist 1: Linguistic analysis of pronouns in 'Hoc est enim corpus meum' in the early middle ages (Berengar of Tour).
• Eucharist 2: Linguistic analysis of 'Hoc est enim corpus meum' in Early Modern Times.
• Thomas Aquinas, De propositionibus modalibus

Examination. Grades are based on an expository paper.