WMBD7001 Special Lecture on Western Philosophy

Hiroshima University Syllabus

Japanese

Academic Year 2026Year School/Graduate School Graduate School of Humanities and Social Sciences (Master's Course) Division of Humanities and Social Sciences Humanities Program

Lecture Code WMBD7001 Subject Classification Specialized Education

Subject Name 西洋哲学特講

Subject Name
（Katakana）セイヨウテツガクトッコウ

Subject Name in
English Special Lecture on Western Philosophy

Instructor TAKAHASHI SHOGO

Instructor
(Katakana) タカハシ　ショウゴ

Campus Higashi-Hiroshima Semester/Term 1st-Year, First Semester, OutOfTerm(1st)

Days, Periods, and Classrooms (O1) Inte：See the bulletin board for detail.

Lesson Style Lecture Lesson Style
(More Details) Face-to-face

Credits 2.0 Class Hours/Week 　 Language of Instruction J : Japanese

Course Level 5 : Graduate Basic

Course Area（Area） 23 : Arts and Humanities

Course Area（Discipline） 01 : Philosophy

Eligible Students

Keywords

Special Subject for Teacher Education 　 Special Subject 　

Class Status
within Educational
Program
(Applicable only to targeted subjects for undergraduate students)
Criterion referenced
Evaluation
(Applicable only to targeted subjects for undergraduate students)

Class Objectives
/Class Outline This course traces the history of philosophy from ancient Greece through the Middle Ages, centering on Aristotle. The goal is to understand the diverse ways in which the history of philosophy can be approached.

Class Schedule lesson1 This course traces the history of philosophy from ancient Greece through the Middle Ages, centering on Aristotle. The goal is to understand the diverse ways in which the history of philosophy can be approached.
lesson2 Overview of Ancient Philosophy 1: Pre-Socratic Philosophers
lesson3 Overview of Ancient Philosophy 2: Plato and Aristotle
lesson4 Overview of Ancient Philosophy 3: After Aristotle
lesson5 The Four Causes and Thales: Philosophers of Early Greek Philosophy
lesson6 Aristotle as Plato's Student
lesson7 Theory and Practice: Norio Fujisawa's Critique of Aristotle
lesson8 The Influence of the Peripatetic School
lesson9 Aristotle's Complete Works and Middle Platonism
lesson10 Neoplatonism and Aristotle
lesson11 Porphyry's Isagoge and Problem of universals
lesson12 Boethius and the Medieval Tradition of Logic
lesson13 Thomas Aquinas and Aristotle
lesson14 Outline of Aristotelianism from the Middle Ages Onward
lesson15 Summary

Reports will be assigned.

Text/Reference
Books,etc. Handouts

PC or AV used in
Class,etc. Handouts, Microsoft Teams

(More Details)

Learning techniques to be incorporated

Suggestions on
Preparation and
Review Post-class Report
lessons 1–4: Reading the high school textbook or reference books beforehand will likely make the course content easier to understand.
lessons 5–10: Reading History of Greek Philosophy (Noburu Notomi, Chikuma Shobo) is useful.
lesson 11: Reading The Problem of Universals (Shiro Yamauchi, Heibonsha) is useful.
lesson 12: Looking up Aristotle’s logic in the library's collection. will be helpful to understand this course content.
Session 13: Reading an introductory book on Thomas Aquinas is useful. Additionally, The Philosophy of Angels (by Ryuta Ishida, Keio University Press) is recommended as an introductory book to medieval philosophy.
Sessions 14 & 15: Please ensure you have at least a basic grasp of the content covered in the high school textbook and reference books.

Requirements This course assumes that students with limited knowledge of ancient philosophy may participate. However, it requires students to possess knowledge equivalent to the content of the high school textbook Ethics. Students will also need to independently research and supplement their knowledge. Useful information is scarce online. Please seek out materials in libraries and other resources.

Grading Method Report (100%)

Practical Experience

Summary of Practical Experience and Class Contents based on it

Message

Other

Please fill in the class improvement questionnaire which is carried out on all classes.
Instructors will reflect on your feedback and utilize the information for improving their teaching.

Academic Year	2026Year	School/Graduate School	Graduate School of Humanities and Social Sciences (Master's Course) Division of Humanities and Social Sciences Humanities Program
Lecture Code	WMBD7001	Subject Classification	Specialized Education
Subject Name	西洋哲学特講
Subject Name （Katakana）	セイヨウテツガクトッコウ
Subject Name in English	Special Lecture on Western Philosophy
Instructor	TAKAHASHI SHOGO
Instructor (Katakana)	タカハシ　ショウゴ
Campus	Higashi-Hiroshima	Semester/Term	1st-Year, First Semester, OutOfTerm(1st)
Days, Periods, and Classrooms	(O1) Inte：See the bulletin board for detail.
Lesson Style	Lecture	Lesson Style (More Details)	Face-to-face

Credits	2.0	Class Hours/Week		Language of Instruction	J : Japanese
Course Level	5 : Graduate Basic
Course Area（Area）	23 : Arts and Humanities
Course Area（Discipline）	01 : Philosophy
Eligible Students
Keywords
Special Subject for Teacher Education		Special Subject
Class Status within Educational Program (Applicable only to targeted subjects for undergraduate students)
Criterion referenced Evaluation (Applicable only to targeted subjects for undergraduate students)
Class Objectives /Class Outline	This course traces the history of philosophy from ancient Greece through the Middle Ages, centering on Aristotle. The goal is to understand the diverse ways in which the history of philosophy can be approached.
Class Schedule	lesson1 This course traces the history of philosophy from ancient Greece through the Middle Ages, centering on Aristotle. The goal is to understand the diverse ways in which the history of philosophy can be approached. lesson2 Overview of Ancient Philosophy 1: Pre-Socratic Philosophers lesson3 Overview of Ancient Philosophy 2: Plato and Aristotle lesson4 Overview of Ancient Philosophy 3: After Aristotle lesson5 The Four Causes and Thales: Philosophers of Early Greek Philosophy lesson6 Aristotle as Plato's Student lesson7 Theory and Practice: Norio Fujisawa's Critique of Aristotle lesson8 The Influence of the Peripatetic School lesson9 Aristotle's Complete Works and Middle Platonism lesson10 Neoplatonism and Aristotle lesson11 Porphyry's Isagoge and Problem of universals lesson12 Boethius and the Medieval Tradition of Logic lesson13 Thomas Aquinas and Aristotle lesson14 Outline of Aristotelianism from the Middle Ages Onward lesson15 Summary Reports will be assigned.
Text/Reference Books,etc.	Handouts
PC or AV used in Class,etc.	Handouts, Microsoft Teams
(More Details)
Learning techniques to be incorporated
Suggestions on Preparation and Review	Post-class Report lessons 1–4: Reading the high school textbook or reference books beforehand will likely make the course content easier to understand. lessons 5–10: Reading History of Greek Philosophy (Noburu Notomi, Chikuma Shobo) is useful. lesson 11: Reading The Problem of Universals (Shiro Yamauchi, Heibonsha) is useful. lesson 12: Looking up Aristotle’s logic in the library's collection. will be helpful to understand this course content. Session 13: Reading an introductory book on Thomas Aquinas is useful. Additionally, The Philosophy of Angels (by Ryuta Ishida, Keio University Press) is recommended as an introductory book to medieval philosophy. Sessions 14 & 15: Please ensure you have at least a basic grasp of the content covered in the high school textbook and reference books.
Requirements	This course assumes that students with limited knowledge of ancient philosophy may participate. However, it requires students to possess knowledge equivalent to the content of the high school textbook Ethics. Students will also need to independently research and supplement their knowledge. Useful information is scarce online. Please seek out materials in libraries and other resources.
Grading Method	Report (100%)
Practical Experience
Summary of Practical Experience and Class Contents based on it
Message
Other
Please fill in the class improvement questionnaire which is carried out on all classes. Instructors will reflect on your feedback and utilize the information for improving their teaching.

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