SACRED HEART SEMINARY – BACOLOD

SCHOOL OF PHILOSOPHY
Lizares Avenue, Bacolod, 6100 Negros Occidental
(034) 431 1317

COURSE SYLLABUS

I. PRELIMINARIES

Course Title COSMOLOGY School Year 2020 – 2021

No. of Units 3 Term 2ND
Facilitator Very Rev. Fr. Ronaldo S. Quijano, SThD Pre-requisite: None
Schedule T, Th | 8:00 – 9:30 Meeting Place Pius X Aula

II. COURSE DESCRIPTION

Cosmology is a philosophical discipline that is directed to the contemplation of the universe
as a totality, and to its conceptual foundations. As a philosophical discipline, this course
deals primarily with the principles of natural things, rather than the physical theories or
investigation of the particular contents of the universe as modern sciences do. The chief
purpose of this course, therefore, is to discover and understand the principles and causes of
change, movement and motion, the reality of time, and the distinction between matter and
form.

III. INTENDED LEARNING OUTCOMES

From the discussions, the students are expected to;

(1) gain philosophical understanding of principles governing the cosmos,

(2) appreciate the significance of cosmology in relation to science in the modern world,
(3) develop aptitude to utilize these concepts and articulate these ideas in understanding the
problem concerning nature and God,
(4) To enable students to have a grasp of the subject matter and to present a philosophical
position in their required papers.

IV. Course outline [Work in Progress]

Date Topic Required Readings (Required) Assigned
Student/s
TOPICS FOR THE MONTH OF JANUARY
1 1 – 19 Orientation, Expectations, Schedules and other
Administrative matters FACILITATOR
2 1 - 21 INTRODUCTION
3 1 - 26 Aristotle’s Method James G. Lennox, How to Study
Natural Bodies: Aristotle’s μέθοδος in
 Aristotle’s Physics: A Critical Guide,
ed. Mariska Leunissen (UK:
Cambridge University Press, 2015),
10 - 30
1 - 28 FEAST OF SAINT THOMAS AQUINAS
TOPICS FOR THE MONTH OF FEBRUARY
4 2-2 Sean Kelsey, Aristotle on Interpreting
On Nature Nature in Aristotle’s Physics: A
Critical Guide, ed. Mariska Leunissen
(UK: Cambridge University Press,
2015), 31 – 45.
5 2-4 On Change Stasinos Stavrianeas, Nature as a
Principle of Change in Aristotle’s
Physics: A Critical Guide, ed. Mariska
Leunissen (UK: Cambridge University
Press, 2015), 46 – 65.
6 2-9 Andrea Falcon, "Aristotle on
Causal Explanations Causality," The Stanford
in Nature: Encyclopedia of Philosophy, 2019.
Aristotle’s Four Retrieved January 17, 2021 from
Causes https://plato.stanford.edu/archives/spr
2019/entries/aristotle-causality/.
7 2 - 11 J. Allen, Aristotle on Chance as an
Aristotle on Chance Accidental Cause in Aristotle’s
and Luck Physics: A Critical Guide, ed. Mariska
Leunissen (UK: Cambridge University
Press, 2015), 66-87.
8 2 - 16 Aristotle’s Theory David Bostock, Space, Time, Matter,
of Matter and Form: Essays on Aristotle’s
Physics (Oxford: Clarendon Press,
2006), 30 - 47.
9 2 - 18 Aristotle’s Natural Joseph Owens, "Teleology of Nature
Teleology in Aristotle, " Monist 52, no. 2 (1968),
159–173.
2 - 23 PRELIMINARY EXAMINATIONS
Submission of Abstract for Research Paper
2 - 25 EDSA DAY [NO CLASS]
Submission of Abstract for Research Paper
TOPICS FOR THE MONTH OF MARCH
10 3-2 Aristotle’s Theory David Bostock, Space, Time, Matter,
of Form and Form: Essays on Aristotle’s
Physics (Oxford: Clarendon Press,
2006), 79 - 102.
11 3-4 Aristotle’s Theory Devin Henry, Substantial Generation
of Generation and in Physics I.5–7 in Aristotle’s Physics:
Corruption A Critical Guide, ed. Mariska
Leunissen (UK: Cambridge University
Press, 2015), 144 – 161.
12 3-9 On Substantial Diana Quarantotto, A Dynamic
 Change Ontology: On How Aristotle Arrived
at the Conclusion that Eternal Change
Accomplishes Ousia in Aristotle’s
Physics: A Critical Guide, ed. Mariska
Leunissen (UK: Cambridge University
Press, 2015), 162 - 185.
13 3 - 11 On Motion L. A. Kosman, "Aristotle’s Definition
of Motion," Phronesis 14, no. 1
(1969), 40–62.
14 3 - 16 On Infinity Saint Thomas Aquinas, Commentary
on Aristotle’s Physics, III, Lec. 6 – 13.
15 3 - 18 On Place Saint Thomas Aquinas, Commentary
on Aristotle’s Physics, IV, Lec. 1 – 8.
16 3 - 23 On Void Saint Thomas Aquinas, Commentary
on Aristotle’s Physics, IV, Lec. 9 -14.
17 3 - 25 On the Notion of Saint Thomas Aquinas, Commentary
Time on Aristotle’s Physics, IV, Lec. 15 –
23.
3 -30 THESIS DEFENSE PROPOSAL
TOPICS FOR THE MONTH OF APRIL
18 4-1 MAUNDY THURSDAY
4-6 MID-TERM EXAMINATIONS
19 4-8 The Kinds of Saint Thomas Aquinas, Commentary
Motion and their on Aristotle’s Physics, V, Lec. 1 – 10.
Contrariety
20 4 - 14 The Divisibility of Saint Thomas Aquinas, Commentary
Motion on Aristotle’s Physics, VI, Lec. 1 – 13.
21 4-16 The Cause of Saint Thomas Aquinas, Commentary
Motion on Aristotle’s Physics, VII, Lec. 1 – 9
22 4 - 20 The Prime Mover Saint Thomas Aquinas, Commentary
on Aristotle’s Physics, VIII, Lec. 1 –
23
23 4 - 22 Aquinas’ Saint Thomas Aquinas, Summa
Cosmological Theologica Ia, q. 2, a. 1-3
Arguments
Demonstrating
God’s Existence
4 -27 TRIBUNAL EXAM
24 4 - 29 Significance of Class Integration
Aristotle’s Physics
to Science in the
Modern World
TOPICS FOR THE MONTH OF MAY
25 5-4
26 5-6 LIBRARY WORKS
27 5 - 11
5 - 13 EID AL-FITR
FINAL EXAMINATION
Submission of the Final Paper via email
V. Readings (interspersed in the table of course outline)

VI. Course Requirements

Needless to say, students are expected to read the assigned literature and obtain decent
understanding of the text. Class discussion is expected throughout the course. Read the
assignments before class and be prepared to discuss them. Class Participation helps bring
about personal engagement with the material, which in turn greatly facilitates learning. Since
the course goals include being able to enter into dialogue about cosmology, the seminarian is
expected to exercise and practice this ability during the class meetings. The following are key
requirements of this course;

a. Reporting
 There will be an assigned readings and topics every meeting. Assigned students are
expected to deliver a report aided by audio visual tool. They are expected to end the
report with a thought piece.
 While this course uses the book Commentary on Aristotle’s Physics by Saint Thomas
Aquinas as a textbook, students are expected to use and cite other sources in their
presentation and in their research.
 N.B. Reporters are required to submit word document of their report, as well as, the
PowerPoint presentation.

b. Examination

c. Research paper
 Final deliverable of this course requires students to write a research paper
 The paper shall follow academic format (i.e., proper citation1, typical research paper
structure – to be discussed in class).
 The following are the guidelines for the research paper
1. The paper should not exceed 15 pages and minimum of 10 pages, double space,
Times New Roman, 12. Should be divided into sections (Introduction, Body,
Conclusion (with recommendations), and References.
Students are reminded of the importance of academic integrity. Each paper (exams and
research) will be subjected to Turnitin for integrity evaluation.

VII. ACADEMIC INTEGRITY

Seminary students are expected to follow a strict honor code in taking examinations and in
preparing papers, presentations, and class assignments. All work submitted by students
must represent their own work or their own research into the work of others. When an
assignment calls for research, students must give proper credit to the persons whose work
they consult. Violation of the academic integrity is a serious offense. Therefore, any form
of cheating or plagiarism must be avoided. Plagiarized papers will be automatically graded
zero

1
See the Research and Thesis Writing Manual of the Sacred Heart Seminary for guide. For footnoting we will
follow the Turabian Notes and Bibliography Style. This is to prepare you for future researches and thesis writing.