 St. Thomas Aquinas |
The Centre for Thomistic Studies Inc.,
Sydney, Australia 2000 Course Program  John Young, Don Boland, Robert Haddad, Alice Nelson, John Ziegler, Andrew Nimmo 
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Year 2000 Brochure (PDF format, 181 KB)
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Description of Courses
5-6 PM Logic I - Don Boland This is the first part of a full course in Logic, with Woodbury's Logic the prescribed text. The full course falls naturally into two parts of three sections, to each of which there corresponds a book of Aristotle's logical works. Aristotle regarded this science and art as the instrument of rational thinking on any subject; hence the name given to this collection of his works of "Organon" (from Gk. word for "instrument"). The six sections with the corresponding work of Aristotle are listed below:
As indicated, Logic I will cover the first part of Logic, or the first three sections. This part of Logic is sometimes described as "Formal Logic". It is fundamental to all the treatments of logic over the ages, not only Aristotle's, but also Stoic, Kantian and modern Symbolic or Mathematical Logic. These other treatments of Logic will be discussed in the course. But it is important to understand that Logic as such provides a necessary foundation for a sure grasp of all philosophical studies and indeed is necessary for us to proceed "easily and without error" (St. Thomas) in all rational argumentation and debate. Furthermore, it is basic to our understanding of how our own (English) language works. It is, indeed, necessary for a proper appreciation of grammatical structures, prose compositions and even poetry. |
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It is aimed at beginners - for it is the proper place to begin philosophical studies.
But being the orderly study of how to reason rightly, or of proper logical method, it is
a subject to which even those who have studied philosophy for some time should return again
and again. Nor should it be thought to be relevant to the discipline of the mind of the
philosopher only. All studies from the scientific to the theological depend upon a capacity
to reason "easily and without error". The academic year is divided into two semesters or four terms. In Logic I, Classification and Interpretation will occupy the first semester or first two terms. Formal Analysis, i.e. the logical form of reasoning, will be covered in the second semester, or the last two terms. Many basic questions much discussed in the history of philosophy belong to what is dealt with in the earlier sections of Logic I; such as the question of universals, the problem of analogous terms, the various kinds of opposition, and so on. It is part of the discipline of Logic that these questions are discussed in their proper order and place. or 5-6 PM Apologetics I - Robert Haddad The first year of a two-year, 33-part course on Catholic Apologetics. The focus is primarily aimed at addressing over 90 questions and objections raised against the Catholic faith by Protestant Fundamentalism. Topics for 2000 include the Blessed Trinity, the Divinity of Christ, Justification, the Bible, the Church, the Papacy, the Priesthood, the Mass and the Real Presence and the forgiveness of sins. Each topic has been revised and will be presented in an extended format for the first time. |
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6-7 PM Natural Theology - Alice Nelson This is not a course in Sacred Theology as some may suppose since it does not deal with God as He is in Himself, but rather with God as He is the cause of being. Because it deals with God it is called 'theology' and because its subject is God as He is known by human reason unaided by revelation it is a part of philosophy. Whereas the subject of Sacred Theology is "God as He is in Himself" that is, God as He transcends human reason or God as He is supernatural, the subject of natural theology is defined as "that part of metaphysics which is concerned about the prime cause of being in common." The treatise on Natural Theology deals with the existence of God - (the 5 ways of St. Thomas) - as He is the prime cause of being in common and with the essence and attributes of this prime cause; in other words, it considers God's existence, His essence and His attributes as known by human reason unaided by revelation. or 6-7 PM Theology and Philosophy Discussion - John Young Bring your questions along - no fees required! | ||||
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7-8 PM Ethics I - John Ziegler This is the first part of a full course in Ethics or Moral Philosophy. A full Ethics course covers first, under the heading of General Ethics, the end on account of which man acts, the nature of the human act, and what morality is. It continues by considering Law (and Conscience) as the rule of morals, Habits and Passions, and the attainment of the ultimate end (the treatise on the Virtues). Secondly, a full Ethics course covers under the heading of Special Ethics the notion of Common Good in Social Ethics and the two chief branches of social ethics, Economic Philosophy and Political Philosophy. The notions encountered in Ethics will be had more easily by those who have studied or are studying Metaphysics, but all will be welcome and should find the course extremely interesting. Ethics I will be given in three Sections over two semesters (i.e., four terms or one year):
For Ethics I the prescribed text is Woodbury's Ethics covering those sections. This text will be made available to the class. Ethics II will be given also in three Sections over two semesters (one year):
Special Ethics will be addressed in separate courses in the program on Economic Philosophy and Political Philosophy. Whilst attendance at both Ethics I and Ethics II is part of what is required for those who seek the Centre's Certificate of Approval in Moral Philosophy, as is an option taken from Special Ethics, both Special Ethics and Ethics I and Ethics II are open to all. or 7-8 PM Grace and the Church - Fr. F. Callanan, SM Grace in itself and in its concomitants; Actual and Habitual Grace; justification; predestination; Grace as it was in Adam; Grace before the coming of Christ; Grace during and after His coming; the final state of Grace in heaven; is there salvation outside the Church?; Grace as the efficient cause of the Church; the life of Grace within us - an infinite treasure and mystery that cannot be captured in finite concepts. |
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8-9 PM Psychology (first two terms) - John Ziegler Psychology is the continuation of Natural Philosophy into the philosophical study of living things, culminating in the study of the nature of intellect and will and its freedom. It considers what 'live' is, and especially what knowledge is, both sensitive and intellective. The emotions are analysed. "Know thyself", said Socrates. For man in general, that is the goal of psychology. |
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8-9 PM The Teaching of the Commandments - Andrew Nimmo God has revealed to us the path to take to attain our happiness. The Ten Commandments tell us the good we are to do and the evil we are to avoid in order to live a good life. The Church is the infallible interpreter of the moral teaching contained in the Decalogue. The Catechism of the Catholic Church will be the basis of the teaching in this course. Some topics to be covered include: 1) What is contained in divine revelation? 2) Different kinds of law eg. Divine, civil, ecclesiastical 3) Private, public and common good 4) The obligation to acknowledge and worship God 5) Human rights, the right to life, the rights of the family 6) The relation between the Church and society 7) Mortal and venial sin, occasions of sin, cooperation to sin 8) Grace and the virtues, infused and acquired.  |
