Metaphysics

Duration

30h Th

Number of credits

Lecturer

Julien Pieron

Substitute(s)

Corentin Tresnie

Language(s) of instruction

French language

Organisation and examination

Teaching in the second semester

Schedule

Schedule online

Units courses prerequisite and corequisite

Prerequisite or corequisite units are presented within each program

Learning unit contents

The history of Western thought, from the Middle Ages onwards, was deeply influenced by a science called Metaphysics, after the traditional name of a coherent collection of Aristotelian essays. The science consisted of a study of Being, the One, the divine, the first causes, and separated realities, considered as converging towards a single object. From this endeavour it drew a wide variety of epistemological, ethical, theological and cosmological consequences.

In this course, we will survey the main steps (conceptual as well as historical) of the history of this « Metaphysics », as a science but also as a set of doctrines. We will read how it started with Aristotle answering to Platonic theses. We will follow its transformations during Imperial and Late Antiquity, mainly by reading Plotinus and Proclus, up to the ambiguous orthodoxy of the Liber de Causis in the ninth century. In doing so, we will have the opportunity to discuss several questions that were crucial to this development, as the problem of cosmic and divine Providence.

Learning outcomes of the learning unit

This course has two main goals:

• Provide students with an overview of Ancient metaphysical canon, as it influenced and structured medieval and modern conceptions of the organisation of reality. It will enable them to understand the (often implicit) references to that canon in the metaphysical texts. This goal contributes to building a solid base knowledge of the history of the philosophical tradition.

• Acquaint students with the relevance of classical questions, especially when they are formulated in a way that may appear outdated. The course will consider it fruitful to use conceptual tools from Ancient texts in order to answer problems within and without their historical context. The questioning task referred to below will contribute to this way of approaching texts.

Prerequisite knowledge and skills

• A general knowledge of Ancient and Medieval philosophy, as provided in the courses PHIL0009 and PHIL0011.

• A familiarity with metaphysical questioning, as provided in the course PHIL0015.

• Students might find it useful to have notions of Latin and Ancient Greek in order to better appreciate technical vocabulary. However, everything that is necessary to follow the course will be explained or reminded during the lectures.

Planned learning activities and teaching methods

Most lectures will consist of three learning activities:

• The reading of a text (see below). Students are required to have completed the reading no later than the day communicated by the professor.
  
  
• The formulation of (at least) one question concerning the abovementioned text. The question will have to be sent to the professor for the same day as above.
  
  
• The attendance to the lecture proper, which will consist in a commentary on the text that was read, often in relation with the rest of the corpus. The questions from the students will be used when appropriate. Additional questions and remarks on the topics and texts of the day are welcome.

Mode of delivery (face to face, distance learning, hybrid learning)

Face-to-face course


Further information:

In presence. Required readings and questions are of course expected to take place between the lectures.

Course materials and recommended or required readings

Platform(s) used for course materials:
- eCampus
- MyULiège


Further information:

Required readings (the list may be modified during the semester) :

• Aristotle, Metaphysics, book Zeta.
• Aristotle, Metaphysics, book Lambda.
• Plotinus, Enneads, V, 1 [10].
• Plotinus, Enneads, VI, 9 [9].
• Proclus, Elements of Theology, prop. 1-20.
• Proclus, Ten Problems Concerning Providence, problems 1, 2, 3, 6 et 10.
• Extracts from Aristotle (Metaphysics, book Theta), Plotinus (Enneads II, 5 [25]) and Proclus (In Parm. IV).
• Liber de Causis

• Aristotle, Metaphysics, book Eta.
• Aristotle, Metaphysics, book Iota.
• Alexander of Aphrodisias, On the Principles of the Universe.
• Plotinus, Enneads, V, 5 [32].
• Plotinus, Enneads, V, 6 [5].
• Proclus, On Providence, Fate and What Depends on Us.
• Proclus, On the Existence of Evils.
• Eriugena, The Division of Nature, 441-464.

• P. Aubenque, Le problème de l'être chez Aristote, PUF, 1962.
• G. Aubry, L. Brisson, P. Hoffmann et L. Lavaud (dir.), Relire les Éléments de Théologie de Proclus: Réceptions, interprétations antiques et modernes, Hermann, 2021.
• W. Beierwaltes, Denken des Einen, Klostermann, 1985.
• R. Chlup, Proclus: An Introduction, Cambridge University Press, 2012.
• C. D'Ancona Costa, Recherches sur le Liber de Causis, Vrin, 1995.
• S. Delcomminette, Aristote et la nécessité, Vrin, 2018.
• S. Gersh, From Iamblichus to Eriugena: An Investigation of the Prehistory and Evolution of the Pseudo-Dionysian Tradition, Brill, 1978.
• J. M. Rist, Plotinus: The Road to Reality, Cambridge University Press, 1967.
• J. Trouillard, La procession plotinienne, PUF, 1955.
• N. Zaks, Apparences et dialectique: Un commentaire du Sophiste de Platon, Brill, 2023.

Exam(s) in session

Any session

- In-person

oral exam


Further information:

Students will be graded on the basis of an oral examination. They are expected to display a proper understanding of the doctrines, problems and concepts explained in the required readings and during the lectures. They are also expected to prepare an additional text, chosen from the above list. Part of the exam will be based on this latter reading.

Work placement(s)

Organisational remarks and main changes to the course

In 2025-2026, the course is given by C. Tresnie, as a substitute for J. Pieron. Most of its organisation may thus be specific to this academic year. C. Tresnie will of course communicate any relevant additional information during the lectures.

Contacts

corentin.tresnie@uliege.be

Association of one or more MOOCs