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PHIL20750

Academic Year 2026/2027

What was Philosophy? From Ancient Greece to Judaism, Islam and Christianity (PHIL20750)

Subject:
Philosophy
College:
Social Sciences & Law
School:
Philosophy
Level:
2 (Intermediate)
Credits:
5
Module Coordinator:
Assoc Professor Dragos Calma
Trimester:
Spring
Mode of Delivery:
On Campus
Internship Module:
No
How will I be graded?
Letter grades

Curricular information is subject to change.

We all have a more or less clear idea of what philosophy is today. Why do we feel the need to ask abstract questions? Let's try to understand this question by looking at the origins and development of this discipline over the centuries in the three monotheistic traditions: Christianity, Islam and Judaism.
Ultimately, why did we, humans, establish a space for abstract questioning that is separate from religion? How is it different from religion? It is not enough to ask these fundamental questions; we must also understand if, how, and why the practice of a religion has determined the approach, access, and assimilation of these abstract questions that are different from those about the divine. But are they? Or rather: were they different?
This module introduces the origins and development of philosophies (in the plural) in ancient Greek paganism and in the three great traditions of monotheism (or Abrahamic traditions).
Designed as an introduction to both the history of philosophy and the history of civilisations (from Antiquity to the Middle Ages), this module is a gateway to more than ten centuries of abstract reflection, history of religions and civilisations. The module is not challenging, open to all students of all levels. However, the students who enjoy reading 'something else' and are curious to discover relatively poorly studied authors, cultures and periods that have nevertheless shaped the history of the discipline known as philosophy will find something to suit their taste.

About this Module

Learning Outcomes:

* learn how to engage critically with unfamiliar theoretical concepts

* engage with texts rarely studied by scholars today

* reflect on philosophical themes from a long-term historical perspective

* appreciate the cultural diversity explored in these texts

Indicative Module Content:

The aim of the course is to show that the study of unduly ignored authors is not only important for understanding the conceptual (successful) innovations of thinking in general, but also essential for grasping the differences between these innovations in respect to their diverse background (paganism, Eastern and Western Christianity, Islam and Judaism).

The module will introduce key philosophical topics recovered by modern thinkers, such as primary and secondary causality, individual thinking, nominalism and realism, being, nothingness etc.

The United Nations identified seventeen Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as core to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and UCD contributes in general to SDG 4 Quality Education. Further SDGs explored within this module if relevant are listed below. A scale of 1 - 5 indicates the extent to which the SDG is covered.


 

Student Effort Hours:
Student Effort Type Hours
Lectures

24
Tutorial

8
Autonomous Student Learning

93
Total

125

Approaches to Teaching and Learning:
Reading: an essential component of this module is *reading* and interpreting philosophical texts. Explaining and understanding seminal works is a necessary step to assimilate concepts and stimulate a solid and creative, personal thinking. Students will have to read between 2 to 5 pages every week.

Group projects: students learn when discussing and even contradicting one another. Collaborative work is also an effective way to negotiate or accommodate different opinions. Small groups will be encouraged to discuss in class various problems on the themes analysed.

Requirements, Exclusions and Recommendations

Not applicable to this module.


Module Requisites and Incompatibles
Not applicable to this module.
 

Assessment Strategy
Description Timing Component Scale Must Pass Component % of Final Grade Component repeat (in-module) Offered
Participation in Learning Activities: attendance to at least nine classes is required from every student; three or more absences are penalised with at least one point (for medical or personal contraints, contact the module coordinator) Week 1, Week 2, Week 3, Week 4, Week 5, Week 6, Week 7, Week 8, Week 9, Week 10, Week 11, Week 12 Graded No
20
 No
Quizzes/Short Exercises: In Week 6, students will complete an in-class quiz requiring short answers (two to three paragraphs) to specific questions relating to topics covered in the module during the first six weeks. Week 6 Graded No
40
 No
Quizzes/Short Exercises: In Week 12, students will complete an in-class quiz requiring short answers (two to three paragraphs) to specific questions relating to topics covered in the module during the first six weeks. Week 12 Graded No
40
 No

As part of UCD's student support, under the Additional Consideration policy, extensions may be available for the following assessments in the module: Assignment (including essay/poster), Portfolio, Reflective Assignment, Report(s), and Individual Project.


Carry forward of passed components
No
 

Remediation Type Remediation Timing
In-Module Resit Prior to relevant Programme Exam Board
Please see Student Jargon Buster for more information about remediation types and timing. 

Feedback Strategy/Strategies

• Feedback individually to students, on an activity or draft prior to summative assessment
• Feedback individually to students, post-assessment
• Group/class feedback, post-assessment

How will my Feedback be Delivered?

One-on-one meetings with registered students in weeks 2 to 11 (upon their request) in order to identify problems of comprehension and enhance written / oral skills for the group project.

The detailed playlist (with explanations) will be provided during the first lesson. It will then be posted on Brightspace.
For an initial familiarisation with the themes and authors, we suggest:

John Marenbon, Medieval Philosophy: A Very Short Introduction, OUP, 2016.
Peter Adamson, Philosophy in the Islamic World: A Very Short Introduction, OUP, 2015.

Timetabling information is displayed only for guidance purposes, relates to the current Academic Year only and is subject to change.
Spring Lecture Offering 1 Week(s) - 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33 Tues 11:00 - 12:50
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