CVSP 202 Final, Fall 2008

American University of Beirut School of Arts and Sciences Beirut – Lebanon CVSP 202 Final Exam Fall 2009 Dr H.Bualuan I- Identify FOUR of the following by author and title, then place each identification in its proper context.( 10-15 lines for each identification) (40%) a- “In this whole matter the first and most important thing is that we take earnest heed not to enter on it trusting great might or in human reason, even though all power in the world were ours; for God cannot and will not suffer a good work to be begun with trust in our own power or reason..” b- “Since it is an obligation of the law to study intellectual reasoning and its kinds, just as there is an obligation to study legal reasoning, it is clear that, if none of our predecessors had formerly examined intellectual reasoning and its kinds, we should be obliged to undertake such an examination from the beginning, and that each succeeding scholar would have to seek help in that task from his predecessor in order that knowledge of the subject might be completed…” c- “There are three kinds of intelligences: one kind understands things for itself, the second appreciates what others can understand, the third understands neither for itself nor through others.” d- “It should be known that differences of conditions among people are the result of the different way in which they make their living.” e- “ Allegorical interpretations ought to be set down only in demonstrative books, because if they are in demonstrative books, they are encountered by no one but men of demonstrative class” II- Write a well developed essay on ONE of the following questions: (60 points) a – “With your eyes fixed on the eternal day, Darkness of night or sleep cannot conceal From you a single act performed on earth; and though I speak to you, my purpose is to make the one who weeps on that far bank perceive the truth and match his guilt with grief. Not only through the working of the spheres, Which brings each seed to its appropriate end according as the stars keep company, but also through the bounty f God’s grace, raining from vapors born so high above they cannot be discerned by human sight.. 1- Who is addressing the pilgrim here? 2- How is reason, faith and love reflected in these lines? 3- How would you compare Dante’s ideas in The Divine Comedy to two texts(other than Dante’ text) that we have discussed this semester? b- Ibn Khaldun is described as “ a siyasah oriented historian”. Explain referring to his philosophy of history and the basic principles in his cyclical theory. How is Ibn Khaldun’ s conception of power similar to or different from Machiavelli’s conception of politics in The Prince? Are these ideas, in your opinion, relevant to our contemporary world and why?