The information on this site is an archived previous calendar for the 2023-2024 academic year.

The current University Calendar is available at https://www.mun.ca/university-calendar/ 

16.25 Philosophy

Philosophy courses at the 1000-level are an introduction to the study of Philosophy, its methods, its general questions, and some of the major historical figures in the discipline. Courses at the 2000-level offer an introduction to major fields, applied ethics, and interdisciplinary electives, and can be taken beginning in a student's first year of study. Courses at the 3000-level usually assume that students have successfully completed at least two courses in Philosophy. At the 4000-level, courses are advanced seminars with small enrollment caps, and normally assume that students have taken at least two Philosophy courses at the 3000-level.

The second digit in each course number at the 2000-level designates an area in Philosophy.

Second Digit in 2000-level

  • 0 Major Areas in Philosophy
  • 1 Applied Ethics
  • 2 History of Philosophy
  • 3 Interdisciplinary Philosophy

The second digit in each course number at the 3000-level designates an historical period.

Second Digit in 3000-level

  • 0 Ancient Philosophy
  • 1 Medieval Philosophy
  • 2 Modern Philosophy
  • 3 18th and 19th Century Philosophy
  • 4 20th Century and Contemporary Philosophy

A tentative list of upcoming Philosophy course offerings can be found at www.mun.ca/hss/courses.php.

Philosophy courses are designated by PHIL.

PHIL 1002 Introduction to Philosophy

(same as the former PHIL 1200) is a general introduction to the study of Philosophy both as a contemporary intellectual discipline and as a body of knowledge. It introduces philosophy’s forms of enquiry, the nature of its concepts, and its fields (epistemology, logic, metaphysics, aesthetics, ethics, and political philosophy) by way of the critical study of primary works by major philosophers. Authors may include Plato, Aristotle, Aquinas, Descartes, Hume, Kant, Nietzsche, de Beauvoir, Arendt.

CR:
the former PHIL 1200
PHIL 1004 Philosophy as a Way of Life

is an introduction to the ancient ideal of philosophy as a way of life, or philosophy as a spiritual practice. We will examine how this ideal changes over time and returns in 20th century existentialism. We will compare the Western approach to philosophy as a way of life with Chinese and Japanese traditions, notably Daoism and Zen Buddhism. No prior knowledge of philosophy is required.

PHIL 1005 Philosophy of Human Nature

(same as the former PHIL 1000 and the former PHIL 1600) is an approach to philosophical thinking by way of analysis and critique of theories of human nature, classical and modern, and the world views associated with them. This course is of particular value to students interested in the Social Sciences and Humanities.

CR:
the former PHIL 1000, the former PHIL 1600
PHIL 1010 Critical Reading and Writing in Human Nature

(same as the former PHIL 1001) provides an overview of foundational knowledge and skills to enable critical reading and writing at the university level by way of analysis and critique of selected conceptions and theories of human nature raised throughout the history of philosophy. All sections of this course follow the Critical Reading and Writing Course Guidelines available at www.mun.ca/hss/crw.

CR:
the former PHIL 1001
PHIL 1011 Critical Reading and Writing in Ethics

(same as the former PHIL 1230) will focus on learning and practicing the fundamental skills required for university-level critical reading and writing that will prepare students for other Humanities and Social Sciences courses regardless of discipline. The course will focus on foundational skills in how to differentiate ethical questions (how ought we to live?) from other types of reasoning. All sections of this course follow the Critical Reading and Writing Course Guidelines available at www.mun.ca/hss/crw.

CR:
the former PHIL 1230
PHIL 1100 Critical Thinking

aims to impart critical analytic skills: i.e., the ability to recognize good and bad arguments, the ability to explain why a particular argument is good or bad, and a general understanding of why a good argument ought to persuade and a bad argument ought not to persuade.

PHIL 2010 Metaphysics

(same as the former PHIL 2000) is an introduction to the systematic inquiry into the nature of reality. Topic may include the nature of being, time, the question of God, appearance and reality, the one and the many, mind and matter, essence and existence.

CR:
the former PHIL 2000
PHIL 2020 Epistemology

(same as the former PHIL 2220) introduces philosophy by way of the question of the nature of knowledge. Is knowledge a possession or an activity? Is truth an illusion, a correspondence, or a form of coherence? What does it mean to ‘hold a belief’ or ‘affirm a proposition’? Short classical texts form the basis of the works studied and may include Plato, Descartes, and Ayer.

CR:
the former PHIL 2220
PHIL 2030 Logic

(same as the former PHIL 2210) aims to improve the student’s ability to formulate and evaluate arguments. At the end of the course, the student will have a thorough understanding of the essentials of argument, the rules of valid inference, and ways of proving the validity of good arguments and the invalidity of bad arguments. Open in any year to all students desiring acquaintance with basic logical skills. All sections of this course follow Quantitative Reasoning Course Guidelines available at www.mun.ca/hss/qr.

CR:
the former PHIL 2210
PHIL 2031 Intermediate Logic

(same as the former PHIL 2211, the former PHIL 3110) aims to give students a more thorough understanding of the essentials of argument, and, consequently, the opportunity to become better reasoners. The course builds on and further cultivates the skills and techniques previously developed. Thoroughly completing what is generally known as 'standard logic', the course then surveys important work in elementary meta-theory, modal logic, and other non-classical domains. All sections of this course follow Quantitative Reasoning Course Guidelines available at www.mun.ca/hss/qr.

CR:
the former PHIL 2211, the former PHIL 3110
PR:
PHIL 2030 or the former PHIL 2210 or permission of the Department
PHIL 2040 Moral Philosophy

(same as the former PHIL 2230) aims to identify and justify the principles by which we evaluate our behaviour. It explores such questions as: Is there a universal moral principle governing the conduct of all human beings? Are there specific character traits necessary to being a good person? Can we determine a moral law that would guarantee right action? What is the role of emotion in moral behaviour? The course may also include treatment of specific moral problems.

CR:
the former PHIL 2230
PHIL 2050 Social and Political Philosophy

is concerned with the social and political institutions and practices by which human life is organized. Historical and/or contemporary texts will be engaged to explore some of the following issues: What is the nature of political authority? What is the nature of freedom? What material and social conditions must be met in order for societies to be just? How are existing societies unjust, and how should that injustice be addressed?

CR:
the former PHIL 3400
PHIL 2060 Philosophy of Language and Mind

(same as Linguistics 2300, the former Linguistics 2710, the former PHIL 2300) is a survey of philosophical thinking about human language and thought, and about how these phenomena relate to the rest of the natural world. Topics covered include the nature of language, the relations between thought and language, and the nature of consciousness.

CR:
Linguistics 2300, the former Linguistics 2710, the former PHIL 2300
PHIL 2070 Philosophy of Religion

(same as Religious Studies 2070) examines the philosophical aspects of religious belief, religious language, and theology. Topics may include: the distinction and relation between reason and faith, the existence of God, the meaning of human existence, the problem of evil, and the religious foundations of moral action.

CR:
the former PHIL 3500, Religious Studies 2070, the former Religious Studies 3500
PHIL 2080 Feminist Philosophy

will engage key feminist efforts to comprehend the nature of gendered experience and to investigate and redress the various dimensions of gender and sexist oppression.

PHIL 2100 Health Ethics

(same as the former PHIL 2551) examines concepts of health and illness and their ethical implications.

CR:
the former PHIL 2551
PHIL 2110 Biomedical Ethics

(same as the former PHIL 2553) examines medical dilemmas from legal and ethical points of view.

CR:
the former PHIL 2553
PHIL 2120 Mental Health Ethics

(same as the former PHIL 2552, the former PHIL 2802) is an inquiry into the morality of mental health care and the epistemology of mental illness claims. We will study the mental illness definitions in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders and the International Classification of Diseases, together with critical philosophical essays and nonmedical theories (e.g., Foucault, Mosher).

CR:
the former PHIL 2552, the former PHIL 2802
PHIL 2130 Environmental Ethics

(same as the former PHIL 2561, the former PHIL 2809) is a philosophical approach to issues in ecology. Topics may include historical and contemporary concepts of nature, technology, the ethical status of animals and the non-human, the application of traditional ethical paradigms to environmental issues, and the future of humanity in an age of climate change, ballooning human population, disappearing wilderness, and dwindling resources.

CR:
the former PHIL 2561, the former PHIL 2809
PHIL 2140 Media Ethics

(same as the former PHIL 2582) examines ethical issues and dilemmas arising in the realm of the mass media, within the context of foundational ethical theories and major philosophies of mass communication. Topics include the nature and structure of mass communication, the public sphere, and the role of the media in a functioning democracy. Subtopics include: propaganda, censorship, freedom of speech, and access to information and communication.

CR:
the former PHIL 2582
PHIL 2201 History of Ancient Philosophy

(same as Classics 2701, the former PHIL 2701) introduces students to the origins of philosophy among the ancient Greeks and Romans. Topics include cosmology, metaphysics, physics, ethics, God, and the ancient ideal of philosophy as a ‘way of life.’ We will examine the texts and fragments of the most influential and foundational philosophers of the ancient world, focusing primarily on the thought of Plato and Aristotle, their engagement with the Pre- Socratic philosophers who came before them, and their influence upon philosophers since.

CR:
Classics 2701, the former PHIL 2701
PHIL 2205 History of Medieval Philosophy

(same as Medieval and Early Modern Studies 2205, the former Medieval Studies 2205, Religious Studies 2205) examines and traces the historical developments of a number of philosophical themes, questions, and ideas throughout medieval philosophy by reading, analyzing, and discussing selected primary texts from philosophers and theologians from the 4th to 14th centuries. Authors may include Augustine, Proclus, Boethius, Al-Farabi, Ibn Sina, Anselm, Ibn Rushd, Maimonides, Aquinas, Bonaventure, Scotus, and Ockham, among others.

CR:

Medieval and Early Modern Studies 2205 (or the former Medieval Studies 2205), Religious Studies 2205

PHIL 2215 History of Modern Philosophy

(same as the former PHIL 2702) is a survey of the development of Western philosophy since the 17th century until the late 18th century. Topics may include the existence of God, whether nature is determined and if there is free will, the rise of early modern science, and the debates over rationalism and empiricism.

CR:
the former PHIL 2702
PHIL 2310 Philosophy and Literature

engages philosophically with different literary forms such as poetry, drama, and fiction. Possible topics include the use of literary works to express philosophical ideas, the nature of literary expression, and different traditions of literary criticism and interpretation. Course readings will comprise both literature and philosophy.

CR:
the former PHIL 3610
PHIL 2320 Philosophy and Psychoanalysis

(same as the former PHIL 2541) examines Western theories and practices of soul-care (especially traditions of depth psychology) in a historical perspective, with selections from Augustine, Eckhart, Schelling, Schopenhauer, Freud, Jung, Lacan and Foucault. Students will not only gain knowledge of Western therapeutical cultures, but also an understanding of themselves.

CR:
the former PHIL 2541
PHIL 2330 Philosophy and Technology

(same as the former PHIL 2571, the former PHIL 2801) examines concepts of technology and their ethical implications.

CR:
the former PHIL 2571, the former PHIL 2801
PHIL 2340 Philosophy of Film

(same as the former PHIL 2581) introduces some of the central philosophers, topics, and themes in the philosophy of film. Topics and themes include: the nature of film image, the relationship between film and “reality”, the social/ political role and function of film, and the nature and value of the documentary. The course will also consider the representation of broader philosophical ideas in film. A film or films will accompany each section.

CR:
the former PHIL 2581
PHIL 2360 Philosophy and Art

(same as the former PHIL 3620) addresses various philosophical questions concerning art, such as the nature of the work of art, the nature of beauty, the nature of artistic experience, and the social function of art. Course content will include historical and/or contemporary works of art and philosophical texts.

CR:
the former PHIL 3620
PHIL 2370 Philosophy of Law

(same as the former PHIL 2400) examines the nature, history, purpose, and operation of law. It covers such topics as natural law, legal positivism, responsibility, justice, individual human rights, the relationship between law and individual freedom, the idea of international law, prominent critiques of law, and the historical development of conceptions of law from the ancient world to the contemporary era.

CR:
the former PHIL 2400
PHIL 3010 Plato

(same as the former PHIL 3730) examines Plato’s philosophy from selections representing the Socratic, transitional, eidetic, and stoichiological dialogues, as well as Plato’s philosophy of the concrete. Plato’s thought will be examined as a development of ideas and problems raised in Pre-Socratic philosophy, and the development of his own philosophy will be traced throughout a selection of his writings.

CR:
the former PHIL 3730
PR:
6 credit hours in Philosophy courses at the 1000 or 2000 level
PHIL 3020 Aristotle

(same as the former PHIL 3740) examines Aristotle’s philosophy of nature, logical works, metaphysics, psychology, and ethics. Attention will also be given to Aristotle’s philosophy as a development of and response to Plato’s thought. Whether one is a student of Philosophy, History, English, Religion, Classics, Political Science or History of Science, a familiarity with the thought of Aristotle is indispensable. For all these disciplines, not only is his place in history foundational, but his influence often remains formidable today.

CR:
the former PHIL 3740
PR:
6 credit hours in Philosophy courses at the 1000 or 2000 level
PHIL 3110 Medieval and Renaissance Philosophy

(same as the former Medieval Studies 3004, Medieval and Early Modern Studies 3110, the former Medieval Studies 3110, and the former PHIL 3760) examines developments in Philosophy from Augustine to Descartes, looking back on their dependence on Ancient and Hellenistic thought and forward to their influence on Modern philosophy. This course focuses on a particular question or figure during this period. Topics may include: universals and particulars, the existence of God, free will and determinism, the problem of evil, the status of nature, soul and body, and mysticism.

CR:

the former Medieval Studies 3004, Medieval and Early Modern Studies 3110 (or the former Medieval Studies 3110), the former PHIL 3760

PR:

6 credit hours in Philosophy courses at the 1000 or 2000 level

PHIL 3210 Rationalism

(same as the former PHIL 3820) holds that reason is the main source of human knowledge, and it has a long history extending from the Pre-Socratics and Plato to the present. This course examines texts and thinkers from the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, such as Descartes, Spinoza, Leibniz, and others. Topics may include themes and problems such as: the theory of ideas, the question of God's existence and nature, the nature of mind and body, the distinction between primary and secondary qualities, causation, induction, personal identity, and human agency.

CR:
the former PHIL 3820
PR:
6 credit hours in Philosophy courses at the 1000 or 2000 level
PHIL 3220 Empiricism

(same as the former PHIL 3830) holds that all human knowledge comes from experience, and it has a long history extending arguably from Aristotle to the present. The "British Empiricists" -- Locke, Berkeley and Hume -- crystallized empiricist concerns in the late seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. This course explores themes and problems in early modern empiricism such as: the theory of ideas, the nature of body, the distinction between primary and secondary qualities, causation, induction, personal identity, and human agency.

CR:
the former PHIL 3830
PR:
6 credit hours in Philosophy courses at the 1000 or 2000 level
PHIL 3230 Kant's Theoretical Philosophy

(same as the former PHIL 3850) is an introduction to Kant’s theoretical philosophy, concentrating on his theory of knowledge, particularly as stated in the Critique of Pure Reason.

CR:

the former PHIL 3850

PR:

6 credit hours in Philosophy courses at the 1000 or 2000 level

PHIL 3231 Kant's Practical Philosophy

(same as the former PHIL 3851) is an introduction to Kant’s practical philosophy, concentrating on his ethics, particularly as stated in The Foundations of the Metaphysics of Morals and the Critique of Practical Reason.

CR:
the former PHIL 3851
PR:
6 credit hours in Philosophy courses at the 1000 or 2000 level
PHIL 3310 German Idealism

(same as the former PHIL 3860) is a study of post-Kantian classical German philosophy from 1787-1831. The generation of philosophers immediately following Kant - most notably Fichte, Schelling, and Hegel - took his ideas and developed systematic interpretations of human experience, emphasizing its embodied and social nature, and interpreting history in terms of the struggle between freedom and oppression. This course studies these "German Idealists" who have continued to shape major developments in European philosophy.

CR:
the former PHIL 3860
PR:
6 credit hours in Philosophy courses at the 1000 or 2000 level
PHIL 3320 19th Century Philosophy

(same as the former PHIL 3880) treats some of the creative and critical thinkers of the philosophically rich 19th century. The course will explore the philosophical insights offered by movements such as Marxism, psychoanalysis, early existentialism, American pragmatism, and utilitarianism, reading work from figures such as Marx, Freud, Nietzsche, Kierkegaard, James, and Mill.

CR:
the former PHIL 3880
PR:
6 credit hours in Philosophy courses at the 1000 or 2000 level
PHIL 3330 Marx and Marxism

(same as the former PHIL 3890) examines the work of Marx and Engels and their followers, focusing on analysis of the nature of modern political economy. It covers such topics as class, capital, capitalism, freedom, the labour theory of value, historical materialism, and communism.

CR:
the former PHIL 3890
PR:
6 credit hours in Philosophy courses at the 1000 or 2000 level
PHIL 3410 Analytic Philosophy

(same as the former PHIL 3910) is a loosely connected family of philosophical problems and philosophical methods. Its key precipitant was the development of modern logic, and the myriad ways in which it prompted and abetted certain philosophical projects. Primary readings for the course will stretch from roughly 1880-1950, and may include works by Frege, Russell, and Wittgenstein, among others.

CR:
the former PHIL 3910
PR:
6 credit hours in Philosophy courses at the 1000 or 2000 level
PHIL 3420 Phenomenology

(same as the former PHIL 3920) is the tradition that aims to “look on” at experience, allowing experience to teach its observer what it is and how it should be understood. This course will address primary figures in the phenomenological tradition, exploring their rich analyses of human existence and their claims about how it should be lived. Authors may include Husserl, Heidegger, Sartre, de Beauvoir, and Merleau-Ponty.

CR:
the former PHIL 3920
PR:
6 credit hours in Philosophy courses at the 1000 or 2000 level
PHIL 3430 Existentialism

(same as the former PHIL 3940) is a philosophical tradition dedicated to thinking through the experience of human freedom and to casting doubt on conventional answers to the question of how we should live. Human beings are free to define themselves, according to existentialism, but with that freedom comes a forbidding challenge: the responsibility to define themselves, without any easy answers to the question of how. This course will address some of the central figures associated with existentialism. Authors may include Nietzsche, Kierkegaard, Sartre, de Beauvoir, and Camus.

CR:
the former PHIL 3940, the former PHIL 3980
PR:
6 credit hours in Philosophy courses at the 1000 or 2000 level
PHIL 3440 Pragmatism

(same as the former PHIL 3930) is the first and only wholly American philosophical school of thought and remains a leading school of thought within American philosophy. We will discuss the issues of experience, truth, justification, nature, science, and method with the “classical” pragmatists C.S. Peirce, W. James and J. Dewey and continue to the pragmatists and neo-pragmatists of the mid and late 20th century, which may include Quine, Sellars, Putnam, Rorty, and Brandom.

CR:
the former PHIL 3930
PR:
6 credit hours in Philosophy courses at the 1000 or 2000 level
PHIL 3450 Philosophy of Language

(same as the former PHIL 3120) investigates various uses of language and its relationship to thought, as well as particular features of language, such as meaning, synonymy, reference, translation and interpretation.

CR:
the former PHIL 3120
PR:
6 credit hours in Philosophy courses at the 1000 or 2000 level
PHIL 3460 Philosophy of the Natural Sciences

(same as the former PHIL 3150) examines major issues in the origins, methods, and philosophical implications of science. Topics may include: science as a form of knowledge; the relations between science and metaphysics to more general theories of knowledge; and the connection between science and values.

CR:
the former PHIL 3150
PR:
6 credit hours in Philosophy courses at the 1000 or 2000 level
PHIL 4000 Seminar in Metaphysics

(same as the former PHIL 4250) focuses on a primary text or texts surrounding a particular metaphysical question. Topics may include: the nature of being, causality, order, unity, essence and existence, and freedom.

CR:
the former PHIL 4250
PR:
6 credit hours in Philosophy courses at the 3000 level
PHIL 4001 Seminar in Epistemology

(same as the former PHIL 4260) focuses on a primary text or texts surrounding a particular epistemological question. Topics may include: knowledge vs. mere opinion; kinds of justification or warrant; reasons and rationality; theory change, paradigm shift, among others.

CR:
the former PHIL 4260
PR:
6 credit hours in Philosophy courses at the 3000 level
PHIL 4002 Seminar in Logic

(same as the former PHIL 4100) focuses on a primary text or texts in logic. Topics may include: inference; proof; computability; consequence; non-classical logics; meta-theory, among others.

CR:
the former PHIL 4100
PR:
6 credit hours in Philosophy courses at the 3000 level
PHIL 4003 Seminar in Ethics

(same as the former PHIL 4300) examines ethical questions through the study of primary and secondary texts in the field. The course may focus on metaethics, examining questions such as: what is happiness? what is the ground of one’s duty?, or on applied ethics, by looking at specific cases such as euthanasia and genetic engineering, among others.

CR:
the former PHIL 4300
PR:
6 credit hours in Philosophy courses at the 3000 level
PHIL 4004 Seminar in Social and Political Philosophy

(same as the former PHIL 4400) examines concepts at the heart of being together, such as power, justice, law, the State and the common good. It will do so by drawing from classical sources in the tradition or from contemporary writers.

CR:
the former PHIL 4400
PR:
6 credit hours in Philosophy courses at the 3000 level
PHIL 4005 Seminar in the Philosophy of Mind

(same as the former PHIL 4200) focuses on a primary text or texts surrounding a particular question in the philosophy of mind. Topics may include: dualism vs. materialism; computational models of mind; philosophy of psychology/psychiatry, among others.

CR:
the former PHIL 4200
PR:
6 credit hours in Philosophy courses at the 3000 level
PHIL 4006 Seminar in the Philosophy of Religion

(same as the former PHIL 4500) focuses on a primary text or texts surrounding a particular question in the philosophy of religion. Topics may include: the distinction and relation between reason and faith, the existence of God, the meaning of human existence, the problem of evil, and the religious foundations of moral action.

CR:
the former PHIL 4500
PR:
6 credit hours in Philosophy courses at the 3000 level
PHIL 4007 Seminar in the Philosophy of Science

(same as the former PHIL 4150) focuses on a primary text or texts surrounding a particular question in the philosophy of science. Topics may include: science vs. non-science; kinds of scientific theory; the scope and range of scientific inquiry; science as a form of knowledge; the relations between science and metaphysics; and the connection between science and values.

CR:
the former PHIL 4150
PR:
6 credit hours in Philosophy courses at the 3000 level
PHIL 4008 Seminar in the Philosophy of Language

(same as the former PHIL 4550) focuses on a primary text or texts surrounding a particular question in the philosophy of language. Topics may include: meaning, reference, truth; communication; interpretation; semantics/pragmatics interface, among others.

CR:
the former PHIL 4550
PR:
6 credit hours in Philosophy courses at the 3000 level
PHIL 4009 Seminar in the History of Philosophy

focuses on a primary text or texts by a particular thinker or group of thinkers and traditions in the history of philosophy. Texts and philosophers will range from the ancient and medieval world to early modernity and the nineteenth and early twentieth century.

PR:
6 credit hours in Philosophy courses at the 3000 level
PHIL 4010 Seminar in Continental Philosophy

examines figures and issues important in 19th-21st-century European philosophy. Dominant schools include post-German Idealism, Marxism, psychoanalysis, phenomenology, structuralism, post-structuralism, and Continental realisms.

PR:
6 credit hours in Philosophy courses at the 3000 level
PHIL 4100-4199 Special Topics in Major Authors and Texts

(same as the former PHIL 4700-4790, the former PHIL 4800-4890) will be announced by the Department.

CR:
the former PHIL 4700-4790, the former PHIL 4800-4890
PR:
6 credit hours in Philosophy courses at the 3000 level
PHIL 4998 Comprehensive Examination

is a course that meets regularly throughout the semester to prepare students to write the comprehensive examination at the end of the term. Lectures and review are provided by various Departmental experts throughout the semester. The examination comprises questions on figures, topics, and areas throughout the history of philosophy. To complete the Honours Program in Philosophy, students must successfully complete either the Honours Essay or the Comprehensive Examination. Normally this course is offered in the Winter Term and taken in a student’s final semester of study.

PR:
enrollment in the Honours program and 6 credit hours in Philosophy courses at the 3000 level
PHIL 4999 Honours Essay

develops independent research and writing skills through regular meetings with a supervisor, the preparation of an approved research proposal, and the completion of the final Honours essay by the end of the semester. Prior to enrolling, ideally a semester in advance, students must contact the Head of the Department to identify a potential supervisor. To complete the Honours Program in Philosophy, students must successfully complete either the Honours Essay or the Comprehensive Examination.

PR:
enrollment in the Honours program and permission of the Head of the Department

16.25.1 Medieval and Early Modern Studies

In accordance with Senate's Policy Regarding Inactive Courses, the course descriptions for courses which have not been offered in the previous three academic years and which are not scheduled to be offered in the current academic year have been removed from the following listing. For information about any of these inactive courses, please contact the Head of the Department.

A tentative list of upcoming Medieval and Early Modern Studies course offerings can be found at www.mun.ca/hss/courses.php.

Medieval and Early Modern Studies courses are designated by MEMS.

MEMS 1000 The Cultural Legacy of the Middle Ages

(same as the former MST 1000 and the former MST 2000) will survey the formative cultures of the Middle Ages - Latin, Celtic, Arabic - as well as the rise of the new vernacular cultures, English, Germanic and Romance. Literary trends such as the reliance on authority, the emergence of national epic and the development of court literature will be studied. The course examines the interplay of all the arts - literature, music, art and architecture.

CR:

the former MST 1000, the former MST 2000

MEMS 1001 Culture and Society in the Early Modern Period

surveys the cultural changes that emerged in the arts and society during the early modern period. The course examines the intellectual movement of humanism, the religious Reformations, the rise of science, the spread of print media, the expanding world of learning, the so-called “Age of Discovery,” discourses of colonialism, and the use of new religious and political beliefs to develop ethnocentric and racist ideologies.

MEMS 1120 Introductory Latin I

(same as the former MST 1120 and Classics 1120, and the former Classics 120A) familiarizes students with the basics of the Latin language. Students will learn how to read simple narratives and short poems in Latin and examine the connections between language and culture. Evaluation will focus largely on comprehension of written Latin. All sections of this course follow the Language Study Course Guidelines available at www.mun.ca/hss/ls.

CR:

the former MST 1120, Classics 1120, the former Classics 120A

MEMS 1121 Introductory Latin II

(same as the former MST 1121, Classics 1121, and the former Classics 120B) continues to familiarize students with the Latin language and Roman culture and society. Students will acquire a broad vocabulary, learn to read more complex passages of prose and poetry in Latin, and gain insights into key social concepts through study of language. All sections of this course follow the Language Study Course Guidelines available at www.mun.ca/hss/ls.

CR:

the former MST 1121, Classics 1121, the former Classics 120B

PR:

Classics 1120 or MEMS 1120 (or the former MST 1120)

MEMS 1130 Introductory Ancient Greek I

(same as the former MST 1130 and Classics 1130) familiarizes students with the basics of the Ancient Greek language. Students will master the Ancient Greek alphabet, learn how to read simple narratives in Ancient Greek, and examine the connections between language and culture. Evaluation will focus largely on comprehension of written Ancient Greek. All sections of this course follow the Language Study Course Guidelines available at www.mun.ca/hss/ls.

CR:

the former MST 1130, Classics 1130

MEMS 1131 Introductory Ancient Greek II

(same as the former MST 1131 and Classics 1131) continues to familiarize students with the Ancient Greek language. Students will acquire a broad vocabulary, learn to read more complex passages of prose and poetry, and gain insights into key social concepts through study of language. All sections of this course follow the Language Study Course Guidelines available at www.mun.ca/hss/ls.

CR:

the former MST 1131, Classics 1131

PR:

Classics 1130 or MEMS 1130 (or the former MST 1130)

MEMS 2001 Medieval Europe to the Eleventh Century

(same as the former MST 2001 and History 2320) is a survey of the economic, social, political and cultural developments of the early Middle Ages.

CR:

the former MST 2001, History 2320

MEMS 2002 Medieval Europe Since the Eleventh Century

(same as the former MST 2002 and History 2330) is a survey of the economic, social, political and cultural developments of Europe in the high and late Middle Ages.

CR:

the former MST 2002, History 2330

MEMS 2003 Early Modern European History, 1500-1789

(same as History 2300) is an introduction to the main issues and problems in early modern European history with an emphasis on the political, social, economic and cultural developments from the sixteenth to the eighteenth century.

CR:

History 2300

MEMS 2004 Medieval Central and Eastern Europe

(same as HIST 2335) is an introduction to the history of Central and Eastern Europe – from the Balkans to Finland and from the Czech lands to Rus’ – in the Middle Ages (500-1500 CE).

CR:

HIST 2335

MEMS 2200 Intermediate Latin

(same as the former MST 2200 and Classics 2200) provides a deeper knowledge of the Latin language while offering a window onto the culture and society of Ancient Rome. Students will read selections from works of history, literature, philosophy and oratory in Latin. All sections of this course follow the Language Study Course Guidelines available at www.mun.ca/hss/ls.

CR:

the former MST 2200, Classics 2200

PR:

Classics 1121 or MEMS 1121 (or the former MST 1121)

MEMS 2205 History of Medieval Philosophy

(same as the former MST 2205, Philosophy 2205, and Religious Studies 2205) examines and traces the historical developments of a number of philosophical themes, questions and ideas throughout medieval philosophy by reading, analyzing and discussing selected primary texts from philosophers and theologians from the 4th to 14th centuries. Authors may include Augustine, Proclus, Boethius, Al-Farabi Ibn Sina, Anselm, Ibn Rushd, Maimonides, Aquinas, Bonaventure, Scotus and Ockham, among others.

CR:

the former MST 2205, Philosophy 2205, Religious Studies 2205

MEMS 2300 Intermediate Greek

(same as the former MST 1131 and Classics 2300) provides a deeper knowledge of the Ancient Greek language while offering a window onto the culture and society of Ancient Greece. Students will read selections from works of history, literature, philosophy and oratory in Ancient Greek. All sections of this course follow the Language Study Course Guidelines available at www.mun.ca/hss/ls.

CR:

the former MST 2300, Classics 2300

PR:

Classics 1131

MEMS 2494 Medieval Genders and Identities

(same as the former MST 2494 and Archaeology 2494) introduces students to considerations and expressions of gender in northern medieval society. The course explores the concept of gender and considers varied gendered identities found in material and textual evidence. Students will reflect on how significant cultural changes, such as the conversion to Christianity and the expansion to the North Atlantic and to L'Anse aux Meadows, laid the foundation for gender normative roles in Western society.

CR:

the former MST 2494, Archaeology 2494

PR:

it is recommended, but not obligatory, that students should have successfully completed Archaeology 1000 or the former Archaeology 1030 or Gender Studies 1000

MEMS 2600 Introduction to Middle English

(same as the former MST 2600 and English 2600) is a study of the language and literature of the later medieval period, excluding Chaucer.

CR:

the former MST 2600, English 2600

PR:

6 credit hours in English at the 1000 level, or 6 credit hours at the 1000 level chosen from Table 1 Core Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences Courses Approved for the Major and Minor in Medieval and Early Modern Studies

MEMS 3000 Medieval Books

(same as the former MST 3000, English 3002, History 3000, Religious Studies 3000) is an examination of the development and role of the manuscript book during the Middle Ages. Topics covered will include book production and dissemination; authors, scribes and audiences; and various kinds of books (e.g. glossed Bibles, anthologies, books of hours, etc.) and their uses.

CR:

the former MST 3000, English 3002, History 3000, Religious Studies 3000

UL:

this course may be substituted for a Greek and Roman Studies course in both the Classics degree programs (Honours, Joint Honours and general degree) and the Greek and Roman Studies degree programs (Honours, Joint Honours and general degree)

MEMS 3001 Art, Architecture and Medieval Life

(same as the former MST 3001, the former Anthropology 3589, Archaeology 3001, Folklore 3001, the former History 3020) is an examination of the development of medieval art and architecture and of the ways in which they mirror various aspects of life in the Middle Ages. This course will include a discussion of art and architecture in the countryside, in the town, in the castle, in the cathedral and in the cloister.

CR:

the former MST 3001, the former Anthropology 3589, Archaeology 3001, Folklore 3001, the former History 3020

MEMS 3003 Christian Thought in the Middle Ages

(same as the former MST 3003 and Religious Studies 3560) is a study of the development of Christianity in the West from the eleventh century to the eve of the Reformation, through an examination of its principal thinkers and the most significant societal forces and events: the crusades, the universities, monasticism, religious dissent and mysticism.

CR:

the former MST 3003, Religious Studies 3560

MEMS 3006 Medieval and Early Modern Women Writers

(same as the former MST 3006, the former MST 3351, English 3006, Gender Studies 3001, and the former Women's Studies 3001) will study selections from the considerable corpus of women's writings in the Medieval and Early Modern period, as well as issues which affected women's writing. All selections will be read in English translation.

CR:

the former MST 3006, the former MST 3351, English 3006, the former MST 3351, Gender Studies 3001, the former Women's Studies 3001

MEMS 3021 Medieval and Tudor Drama

(same as the former MST 3021 and English 3021) is a study of the development of pre-Shakespearean drama, including representative cycle plays, morality plays, moral interludes, comedies, tragedies, folk plays, and royal entries.

CR:

the former MST 3021, English 3021

PR:

3 credit hours in English at the 2000 level, or 3 credit hours at the 2000 level chosen from Table 1 Core Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences Courses Approved for the Major and Minor in Medieval and Early Modern Studies

MEMS 3110 Medieval and Renaissance Philosophy

(same as the former MST 3110, the former MST 3004, Philosophy 3110, and the former Philosophy 3760) examines developments in Philosophy from Augustine to Descartes, looking back on their dependence on Ancient and Hellenistic thought and forward to their influence on Modern philosophy. This course focuses on a particular question or figure during this period. Topics may include: universals and particulars, the existence of God, free will and determinism, the problem of evil, the status of nature, soul and body, and mysticism.

CR:

the former MST 3110, the former MST 3004, Philosophy 3110, the former Philosophy 3760

PR:

6 credit hours in Philosophy courses at the 1000 or 2000 level

MEMS 3200 Advanced Latin

(same as the former MST 3200 and Classics 3200, and the former Classics 2205) provides advanced knowledge of the Latin language while offering a window onto the culture and society of Ancient Rome. Students will begin to apply their knowledge to the close reading and interpretation of major works of Latin literature. All sections of this course follow the Language Study Course Guidelines available at www.mun.ca/hss/ls.

CR:

the former MST 3200, Classics 3200, the former Classics 2205

PR:

Classics 2200 or MEMS 2200 (or the former MST 2200)

MEMS 3270 Christianity and the Roman Empire

(same as the former MST 3270, Classics 3270, History 3270, and Religious Studies 3270) is a study of the relationship between Christianity and the Roman Empire from the first to the fourth century.

CR:

the former MST 3270, Classics 3270, History 3270, Religious Studies 3270

MEMS 3300 Advanced Ancient Greek

(same as the former MST 3300, Classics 3300, and the former Classics 2305) provides advanced knowledge of the Ancient Greek language while offering a window onto the culture and society of Ancient Greece. Students will begin to apply their knowledge to the close reading and interpretation of major works of Ancient Greek literature. All sections of this course follow the Language Study Course Guidelines available at www.mun.ca/hss/ls.

CR:

the former MST 3300, Classics 3300, the former Classics 2305

PR:

Classics 2300 or MEMS 2300 (or the former MST 2300)

MEMS 3302 History of the French Language

(same as the former MST 3302, French 3302, and Linguistics 3302) is a study of the origins of French, including the influence of Gaulish, Vulgar Latin, Frankish and the langue d'oc/langue d'oïl division, a survey of the dialects, morphology and syntax of Old French and of the evolution from Old to Middle French, including phonology, morphology, syntax and vocabulary.

CR:

the former MST 3302, French 3302, Linguistics 3302

PR:

15 credit hours in French and/or Linguistics at the 2000 level or permission of the Head of the Department; MEMS 1120 (or the former MST 1120) or Classics 1120 is strongly recommended

MEMS 3500 Introduction to Old English Language and Literature

(same as the former MST 3500, English 3500, and the former English 250A/B) introduces students to the basic elements of Old English grammar and vocabulary through the practice of translating one or more texts from Old English into modern English and the study of the Old English corpus in modern translations.

CR:

the former MST 3500, English 3500, the former English 250A/B

PR:

3 credit hours in English at the 2000 level, or 3 credit hours at the 2000 level chosen from Table 1 Core Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences Courses Approved for the Major and Minor in Medieval and Early Modern Studies, or enrollment in the Certificate in Ancient Languages

MEMS 3592 Norse Archaeology

(same as the former MST 3592, Archaeology 3592, and the former Archaeology 3685) explores the influence of the Vikings on the medieval world and the place of L'Anse aux Meadows within this cultural milieu. Students will be introduced to Viking-Age archaeological and literary texts to gain knowledge of specific questions and problems concerning multicultural contact within the Viking-Age world, specifically the North Atlantic region. They will also gain an appreciation of the challenges associated with using interdisciplinary evidence as well as migration and multicultural issues in the past and present.

CR:

the former MST 3592, Archaeology 3592, the former Archaeology 3685

PR:

Archaeology 1000 or the former Archaeology 1030

MEMS 3600 Chaucer

(same as the former MST 3600 and English 3600) is a study of representative poems.

CR:

the former MST 3600, English 3600

PR:

3 credit hours in English at the 2000 level, or 3 credit hours at the 2000 level chosen from Table 1 Core Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences Courses Approved for the Major and Minor in Medieval and Early Modern Studies. English 2600 is strongly recommended.

MEMS 3828 The Middle Ages and the Movies

(same as the former MST 3828 and English 3828) explores the ways medieval sources are represented in modern films, and how modern cultural and political concerns influence how these medieval sources are presented. Through a selection of medieval films and their historical and literary inspirations, we will see how films shape our present-day concepts of history, identity, freedom, knowledge and creativity.

CR:

the former MST 3828, English 3828

PR:

3 credit hours in English at the 2000-level, or 3 credit hours at the 2000 level chosen from Table 1 Core Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences Courses Approved for the Major and Minor in Medieval and Early Modern Studies.

MEMS 4000 Medieval Spanish Literature

- inactive course.

MEMS 4001-4020 Special Topics in Medieval and Early Modern Studies

are seminars on such general, interdisciplinary or comparative subjects as, e.g., Popular Culture in the Middle Ages and the Early Modern Period, The Medieval and the Early Modern Stage, The Medieval and the Early Modern Court, The Religious Orders, Women in Medieval and the Early Modern Society, Medieval and the Early Modern Universities, Scholasticism, Dante's Divine Comedy, Medieval and Early Modern Historiography, Arthurian Romance, Jewish Medieval and the Early Modern Communities, Muslim Art and Architecture and The Byzantine World, The Global Renaissance.

PR:

6 credit hours in MST courses at the 3000-level or above, or permission of the instructor

MEMS 4021 Post-Classical Latin

- inactive course.

MEMS 4300 Middle High German Language and Literature I

(same as the former MST 4300 and German 4300) is an introduction to the German language, literature and culture of the eleventh to fifteenth centuries: historical linguistics, Middle High German grammar and the court epic.

CR:

the former MST 4300, German 4300

PR:

one of German 2011, 2511, 3011 or permission of the Head of the Department of Modern Languages, Literatures and Cultures

MEMS 4500 Advanced Old English Language and Literature

(same as the former MST 4500 and English 4500) is a detailed study of one or more major texts in Old English, depending on student interest.

CR:

the former MST 4500, English 4500

PR:

English 3500 or MEMS 3500 (or the former MST 3500), and 3 additional credit hours in English at the 3000 level, or 3 credit hours at the 3000 level chosen from Table 1 Core Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences Courses Approved for the Major and Minor in Medieval and Early Modern Studies, or enrollment in the Certificate in Ancient Languages

MEMS 4600 Chaucer and His Contemporaries

(same as the former MST 4600 and English 4600) is an in-depth study of some of the major writers of the fourteenth century.

CR:

the former MST 4600, English 4600

PR:

3 credit hours in English at the 3000 level, or 3 credit hours at the 3000 level chosen from Table 1 Core Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences Courses Approved for the Major and Minor in Medieval and Early Modern Studies. English 2600 or 3600 is strongly recommended.

MEMS 4601 Medieval Romance Literature

(same as the former MST 4601 and English 4601) is a study of representative texts of the medieval romance genre from the twelfth to the fifteenth century.

CR:

the former MST 4601, English 4601

PR:

3 credit hours in English at the 3000 level, or 3 credit hours at the 3000 level chosen from Table 1 Core Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences Courses Approved for the Major and Minor in Medieval and Early Modern Studies. English 2600 or 3600 is strongly recommended.

AR = Attendance requirement as noted.

CH = Credit hours: unless otherwise noted, a course normally has a credit value of 3 credit hours.

CO = Co-requisite(s): course(s) listed must be taken concurrently with or successfully completed prior to the course being described.

CR = Credit restricted: The course being described and the course(s) listed are closely related but not equivalent.  Credit is limited to one of these courses.  Normally, these courses cannot be substituted, one for the other, to satisfy program requirements.

EQ = Equivalent: the course being described and the course(s) listed are equal for credit determination.  Credit is limited to one of these courses.  These courses can be substituted, one for the other, to satisfy program requirements.

LC = Lecture hours per week: lecture hours are 3 per week unless otherwise noted.

LH = Laboratory hours per week.

OR = Other requirements of the course such as tutorials, practical sessions, or seminars.

PR = Prerequisite(s): course(s) listed must be successfully completed prior to commencing the course being described.

UL = Usage limitation(s) as noted.

The information on this site is an archived previous calendar for the 2023-2024 academic year.

The current University Calendar is available at https://www.mun.ca/university-calendar/ 

Copyright © 2023 Memorial University of Newfoundland.
Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada.
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