Course
GP105 - Philosophy of Nature
General Information
| Course Type | On Campus |
| Course Category | P2. Systematic Philosophy |
| Description | Teaching Objective: This course examines fundamental philosophical questions regarding nature, causality, change, and the principles of physical reality. It engages with classical Aristotelian-Thomistic frameworks, modern scientific developments, and contemporary philosophical debates. Special attention is given to the dialogue among philosophy, natural science, and theology. In the second semester, the course focuses on the rise of modern philosophy, marked by a departure from Aristotle’s qualitative, teleological conception of nature—where natural entities possess inherent goals—in favour of a mechanistic, mathematically driven universe. This modern paradigm separates matter from mind, reduces physical phenomena to quantitative laws, and prioritizes empirical observation. Teaching Content: By the end of this course, students will: 1. Understand key concepts in the philosophy of nature (e.g., substance, accident, potency, act, causality, teleology). 2. Analyse the relationship between philosophy and natural science. 3. Evaluate different metaphysical accounts of nature (e.g., mechanistic vs. hylomorphic). 4. Engage critically with modern challenges (e.g., evolution, quantum mechanics, reductionism). 5. Develop a coherent philosophical perspective on nature in dialogue with theology. 6. Trace the historical transition from Aristotelian-Scholastic natural philosophy to the mechanistic worldview of the 17th century (e.g., Galileo, Descartes). 7. Analyse key modern concepts such as primary/secondary qualities, inertial motion, laws of nature, efficient causality, and the rejection of final causes. 8. Evaluate the philosophical implications of mathematical physics, particularly the shift from qualitative to quantitative explanations of natural phenomena. 9. Investigate the impact of Newtonian science on concepts of space, time, gravity, and the limits of mechanistic explanation. 10. Discuss the relevance of modern philosophy of nature to later developments (e.g., Kant’s critical philosophy) Teaching Mode: Lecture Assessment Mode: Class Participation, Oral Presentation and Written Examination |
| College Organization Structure | Holy Spirit Institute of Philosophy |
| Course Tuition Fee | 2760.00 |
| Course Combination | There is no records at the moment. |
