HISTORY OF ANCIENT PHILOSOPHY
cod. 00963

Academic year 2014/15
1° year of course - First semester
Professor
Academic discipline
Storia della filosofia antica (M-FIL/07)
Field
Discipline filosofiche
Type of training activity
Characterising
30 hours
of face-to-face activities
6 credits
hub: -
course unit
in - - -

Learning objectives

The course aims to provide students with critical, informed and independent judgment, and to enhance their skills for communication and continue learning (Descriptors III-V of Dublin). In particular, the course aims to provide students with the following abilities of acquiring knowledge and understanding (Descriptor I of Dublin): 1.1) knowledge of the philosophical and scientific thought during the ancient and late ancient period; 1.2) abilities to read and understand the classics of ancient philosophy, both in the original Greek and in Italian translation; 1.3) knowledge of the ancient philosophical vocabulary and the different philosophical methods required for the discussion of topics and the interpretation of texts; 1.4) knowledge of the historiographical methodology of ancient philosophy. The course also aims to provide students with the following abilities to apply the acquired knowledge and understanding (Descriptor II of Dublin): 2.1) writing clear, documented and argument-based papers, by a proper use of the texts of secondary literature and primary sources; 2.2) application of the acquired knowledge in interdisciplinary areas; 2.3) reconstruction of the genesis and development of a concept or a doctrine; 2.4) identification of the connection of ideas between the history of philosophy and other areas of science and philosophy, in particular medieval and modern philosophy; 2.5) reconstruction of cultural contexts with particular attention to the interplay of the different positions that are involved.

Prerequisites

A first-level knowledge of ancient philosophy.

Course unit content

After a general presentation of the main issues addressed by the ancient philosophy, Greek and Latin, pagan and Christian, the course will deal with a specific theme: that of the nature of things, in particular within the Epicurean thought and Christian worlds of Augustine

Full programme

- - -

Bibliography

Bibliography:
1) A university-level handbook of history of ancient philosophy. 2) Plotino, Enneadi, I,8 e VI,6 (all edition).

3) The "Confessions" of Augustine, in particular books VII and VIII (an edition with parallel Latin text). 4) F. De Capitani, Male, libertà, anima e arti nel pensiero antico e medievale, Uninova, Parma 2006

Teaching methods

Lectures, presentations, term papers prepared by individual students or groups and their classroom discussion; eventual vision of bibliographic material preserved in libraries and related to the course; oral exposure of philosophical positions with public debate.

Assessment methods and criteria

Written essays personal oral verification of the levels of learning achieved

Other information

Also a good knowledge of Latin and Greek, as well as the principal modern languages ​​would greatly help the understanding of the course content and facilitate literature searches of books and foreign magazines.