 St. Thomas Aquinas |
The Centre for
Thomistic Studies Inc., Sydney, Australia 2001 Course Program  John Young, Don Boland, Robert Haddad, Alice Nelson, John Ziegler, Andrew Nimmo 
Course Dates and Address | Contact Us | Year
2001 Brochure (PDF format, 194 KB)
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Description of Courses 5-6 PM Logic II - Don Boland This is the second part of a full, two-year 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:
This course covers the application of logical procedures to those areas of discussion where scientific and probable proof can be had. It also examines the various kinds of logical fallacy. It thus deals with practically all kinds of proof both real and apparent. It includes a close study of scientific method as it is employed in the mathematical and empirical sciences as well as the study of the philosophical methods used in the resolution of ethical and metaphysical questions. It is however only concerned with these questions in a general and introductory way and is designed so that the student beginning philosophical studies may follow it. It is divided into three parts which correspond in general terms to the material dealt with in Aristotle's Posterior Analytics, Topics and Sophistical Refutations. The text for the course is sections four to nine of the third part of Woodbury's Logic. Copy of the text will be provided to students during the course for a small charge. There are three assignments and a final examination at the end of the year. These are optional but those students who wish to obtain a Certificate of Approval from the Centre must do the assignments and sit for the exam. |
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or 5-6 PM Apologetics II - Robert Haddad This course continues the Apologetics course that began in 2000. Topics to be discussed include the holy sacrifice of the Mass and the real presence, the forgiveness of sins, the prerogatives of the blessed Virgin Mary, the invocation of the saints, purgatory, indulgences, guardian angels, infant baptism, Sunday worship, statues and many more. No prior knowledge is required and it is not necessary to have attended the course in 2000. All are welcome. |
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6-7 PM The Divine Attributes - Alice Nelson This course considers what we can know about God from the light of natural reason. We cannot know everything about God, but what we do know is certain and therefore of great value. or 6-7 PM Reasoning Things Out - John Young Using the lecturer's internationally known booklet Reasoning Things Out as a text, this course will look at such questions as: How do we know reality? How does our knowledge differ from that of the lower animals? Has man an immortal soul? Have we free will? Can God's existence be proved? What does philosophy show about God's nature and His relation to the world? Are there objective and unchangeable moral principles? The course will conclude with an historical sketch of philosophical themes from early times to the present. The course is suitable both for beginners and those who have previously studied philosophy. It is based on reason alone, although with reference to Divine Revelation. It aims to show how philosophy develops our commonsense knowledge and gives our thought a firm foundation. Indeed, it is impossible to be truly educated unless one has some formation in sound philosophy; yet today it is neglected, with most people having no more than a vague idea of what philosophy deals with. Worse still, there are so many erroneous notions put forward in the name of philosophy. Quotes from reviews of Reasoning Things Out: [It offers] "teachers, mature students, especially university students, concerned parents and priests a basis of understanding on which to build, or a concise and useful review of some of the key questions in philosophy." - Australian Catholic Record "It will serve as an excellent introduction to philosophy, and whet the students' appetites for the more detailed studies ahead." - Harvest "Mr John Young has now provided us with an admirable compendium of the realistic philosophy on which the Christian faith is based. One has only to glance at the table of contents to be astonished and delighted at the range of his treatment ..." - New Zealand Tablet. |
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7-8 PM Ethics II - John Ziegler This is the second 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 has been 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 has been made available to the class. Ethics II will be given also in three Sections over two semesters (one year):
This year Ethics will consider Law (natural and human), which is very timely now when the foundations of both are widely forgotten. It will go on to treat of Passions, Habits, and Virtues. This continues Ethics for those who studied Ethics I, but the course is particularly addressed to beginners in Ethics, who are most welcome. For those proceeding to the Centre's Approval in Moral Philosophy, doing assignments and exam in Ethics II will complete the main requirements. (For others, the exam is voluntary.) 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 The Cycle of the Church's Year - Fr. F. Callanan, SM This course will be based on selected texts of St. Thomas and will take us through the annual church cycle from Advent through Easter and Pentecost. It will relate the significant events of the liturgical year to the long haul of our spiritual life leading up to death and eternal life. Nobody does it better than St. Thomas. His rich fare always inspires mind and heart. |
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8-9 PM Introduction to Thomism - Andrew Nimmo An introduction to key concepts in Thomistic philosophy and theology. The course will be based on Reality, a synthesis of Thomistic thought by Fr R. Garrigou-Lagrange, O.P. Concepts such as matter and form, act and potency, cause and effect, as well as supernatural truths such as the Trinity, grace and the Mass will be considered.  |
