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PHIL31160

Academic Year 2025/2026

Medieval Metaphysics: John Scotus Eriugena (PHIL31160)

Subject:
Philosophy
College:
Social Sciences & Law
School:
Philosophy
Level:
3 (Degree)
Credits:
10
Module Coordinator:
Assoc Professor Dragos Calma
Trimester:
Autumn
Mode of Delivery:
On Campus
Internship Module:
No
How will I be graded?
Letter grades

Curricular information is subject to change.

What was the contribution of Irish philosophers to the history of rationality? John Scotus Eriugena (9th c.) and George Berkley (17th c.) are arguably the most influential Irish-born philosophers. And yet, today most people who are (barely) familiar with his name are unaware of his thinking. Some of the most prominent scholars describe his masterpiece, "The Division of Nature", as a ‘metaphysical epic’. Indeed, this grandiose five-part text unfolds one of the most dense and comprehensive metaphysical systems ever known in the Western world.
By examining certain major themes (such as being, creation, time, mind, language) examined by "The Division of Nature", we will become familiar with some of the most important topics of Western metaphysics (and, at times, logic). Moreover, John Scotus assimilated diverse sources (from Aristotle to Dionysius the Areopagite, from Origen and Augustine to Gregory of Nyssa) and used them in unexpected ways to produce a system of thought (and the phrase is well chosen) that some scholars have compared to German Idealism.
Open to anyone interested to deepen and broaden their philosophical knowledge, this module encourages speculative and critical thinking, and helps students to develop their writing skills. Group work will facilitate understanding of the issues raised and analysis of the short weekly readings.

About this Module

Learning Outcomes:

ASSIMILATE concepts from various cultures and traditions

CRITICALLY ENGAGE with themes that have shaped seminal philosophical and theological views

DISCOVER the unexpected diversity and depth of philosophical topics from past centuries

READ fundamental, yet unduly ignored texts

WRITE well-structured essays

Indicative Module Content:

At the crossroads of Christian theology and philosophy, John Scotus's thinking offered, for the first time and in a lasting way in the West, a model of rational theology based on dialectics and open to metaphysical speculation. He forged a non-binary way of thinking based on the inclusion of opposites, not only of sources (Neoplatonism and Peripateticism, Christianity and paganism) but also of the most counterintuitive concepts (we will see the profound meaning of contradictions in language, such as “God is ignorant of himself” or “man creates God and the world”).
The module introduces both the thought of John Scotus Eriugena and, following the rhythms of the philosophical topics and authorities mentioned by the text, some of the greatest themes in the history of philosophy. Thus, this module not only provides an in-depth encounter with the work of one of the greatest philosophers of this country, but also with some of the greatest minds in the universal history of rationality. John Scotus Eriugena is not studied in isolation, but through his readings and influences. Indeed, some of these issues are taken up again in contemporary phenomenology (notably by J.-L. Marion and J. Derrida).

Student Effort Hours:
Student Effort Type Hours
Lectures

24
Tutorial

8
Autonomous Student Learning

200
Total

232

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 analyzed.

Essays: writing remains the most relevant way to structure personal thoughts and also how to engage with primary and secondary bibliographies.

Also:
* at least four hours of class and tutorial will be devoted entirely to preparing the essays, so that students can give their all and do their best to achieve good marks

* tutorials will be devoted to an in-depth study of the texts (a few short fragments), and will focus on students' questions about these texts

* attendance and active participation in courses and tutorials are not compulsory, but they are an aspect that can be taken into account for the final grades

Requirements, Exclusions and Recommendations

Not applicable to this module.


Module Requisites and Incompatibles
Incompatibles:
PHIL30990 - The Medieval Mind


 

Assessment Strategy
Description Timing Component Scale Must Pass Component % of Final Grade In Module Component Repeat Offered
Assignment(Including Essay): In week 12, students will be given a short sentence to comment upon: 1,500-word commentary is expected from students after 4 or 5 days (depending on the schedule). Week 12 Graded No
40
 No
Assignment(Including Essay): In week 6, students will be given a short sentence to comment upon: 1,500-word commentary is expected from students after 4 or 5 days (depending on the schedule). Week 6 Graded No
40
 No
Participation in Learning Activities: Each essay-commentary will count for 40% of the final mark and 20% will be represented by attendance and active participation in classes and tutorials. Week 1, Week 2, Week 3, Week 4, Week 5, Week 6, Week 7, Week 8, Week 9, Week 10, Week 11, Week 12, Week 14, Week 15 Other No
20
 No

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 in order to identify problems of comprehension and enhance written / oral skills for the group project. Individual feedback in tutorials related to the group project in advance of the discussion/essay. Individual or group feedback on the essay within two weeks of the assignment.

The detailed playlist (with explanations) will be provided during the first lesson. It will then be posted on Brightspace. We will study the Irishman John Scottus Eriugena (arguably one of the most original thinkers in the history of philosophy) and Thomas Aquinas (an author so well-known and influential that his name is often cited as the quintessence of all premodern philosophy).

For an initial familiarisation with the themes and authors, we recommend the following titles available in the UCD library:

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

More specifically:
Primary sources:
John Scottus Eriugena, Periphyseon: The Division of Nature, transl. John O'Meara, Dumbarton Oaks, 2020 (first published in 1987).
Thomas Aquinas, Summa theologiae (Latin-English Edition), NovAntiqua, 2008.

Secondary bibliography:
John O'Meara, Eriugena, Oxford, 1988.
Pasquale Porro, Thomas Aquinas. A Historical and Political Profile, CUA, 2016

Name Role
Jo James Tutor

Timetabling information is displayed only for guidance purposes, relates to the current Academic Year only and is subject to change.
Autumn Lecture Offering 1 Week(s) - 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12 Mon 09:00 - 10:50
Autumn Tutorial Offering 1 Week(s) - 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10 Mon 11:00 - 11:50
Autumn Tutorial Offering 2 Week(s) - 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10 Wed 09:00 - 09:50
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