Learning objectives
The course is addressed to students who already have some specific
expertise and acquaintance with medieval philosophy. It aims to enhance
students' capacity of making critical, informed and independent
judgment especially in the field of medieval philosophy, their
communication skills and continue learning (Descriptors III-V of Dublin).
In particular, the course aims to provide students with the following
knowledge and understanding skills (Descriptor I of Dublin): 1.1) detailed
knowledge of the medieval philosophical, theological and scientific
thought; 1.2) reading skills and in-depth understanding and comparison
of the classics of medieval philosophy, both in the original Latin and in
Italian translation; 1.3) critical assessment and comparison of the
different interpretations of texts and topics, and of their significance for
the historiography of medieval philosophy. The course also aims to
provide students with the following abilities to apply the acquired
knowledge and understanding skills (Descriptor II of Dublin): 2.1) writing
of text-documented and argument-based papers, practice of oral
expositions; 2.2) application to contemporary issues and debates of the
methodology and the argumentative techniques developed in the
historico-philosophical tradition.
Prerequisites
It is recommended an acquaintance with the Latin and a good knowledge of the history of ancient and medieval philosophy
Course unit content
Soul and body in medieval thought
The course will deal with the problem of the nature of the soul and its relations with the body in medieval philosophy, analyzing some key texts from the fourth to the thirteenth century
Full programme
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Bibliography
Tentative bibliography:
Agostino, La città di Dio, Torino, Einaudi-Gallimard;
Guglielmo di Saint Thierry, La natura del corpo e dell'anima, a cura di Alberto Siclari, Firenze : Nardini, 1991
Tommaso d'Aquino, Summa theologiae
j.C.Schmitt, Corpo e anima, in Dizionario dell’Occidente medievale. Temi e percorsi, Einaudi, Torino 2003
Anima e corpo nella cultura medievale, a cura di C. Casagrande e S. Vecchio, SISMEL Edizioni del Galluzzo, ©1999
The examination program will be supplied at the beginning of the course
Teaching methods
The course includes lectures with direct reading of texts and active participation of students, who will be invited to hold individual or group relationships on specific topics addressed in the course
Assessment methods and criteria
Oral examination on the on the most significant moments and the authors analised during the course; it will be preceded by a written paper on a subject chosen by the student among those treated in the course. The grade depends on the student's level of learning of the course's contents and his/her ability to make connections between the different topics.
Other information
The course requires attendance. Students who can not or do not want to attend are advised to contact the teacher promptly
