Learning objectives
The course is addressed to students with no specific acquaintance with
ancient and medieval philosophy. It aims to provide students with tools for critical, informed and independent judgment, and to enhance their skills for communication and continuing education.
In particular, the course proposes to provide students with the following abilities of acquiring knowledge and understanding (Dublin Descriptor I): - knowing the philosophical, theological, and scientific thought in the Middle Ages; - being able of reading and understanding the classical texts of medieval philosophy; - knowing the terminology of medieval philosophy and of the different philosophical methods required for the discussion of topics and the interpretation of texts; - knowing and assessing the historiography of medieval philosophy.
The course also proposes to provide students with the following abilities to apply the acquired knowledge and understanding (Dublin Descriptor II): - being able of elaborating clear, documented and argument-based papers; - being able of acquiring and applying knowledge in interdisciplinary fields; - being able of reconstructing the genesis and development of a concept, a doctrine or a philosophical debate; - being able of identifying the connection of ideas between the history of philosophy and other areas of science and philosophy, in particular early-modern philosophy and theology; being able of reconstructing the cultural contexts, with particular attention to the interplay of the different positions that are involved.
Finally, the course proposes Finally, the course proposes to provide students with the following communication and learning skills and abilities of making judgments (Dublin Descriptors III - IV - V): - being able of analyzing a philosophical text, both from a historical and a philosophical point of view; - being able of assessing the arguments used in a philosophical debate in order to resolve a problem or to defend a thesis; - being able of criticizing a philosophical position and/or a topic; - being able of analyzing concepts and their relations, also with regard to other disciplinary areas; - being able of reconstructing, historically as well as philosophically, the genesis of a concept, a problem or a philosophical debate; - being able of communicating the acquired knowledge and ablities of analysis and judgment in a clear, documented, complete and logically consequential and well-organized way, both orally and through written papers; - being able of evaluating and reconstructing their learning process and the skills, abilities and knowledge they have acquired.
Prerequisites
No specific prerequisite. However, it is recommended the
knowledge of Latin and a good acquaintance with the history of
philosophy in general and with the history of ancient and medieval
philosophy in particular.
Course unit content
Title: "The 'Itinerarium mentis in Deum' of Bonaventure". The course is devoted to the reading of one of the most significant and influential works of medieval philosophy and the masterpiece of Bonaventure: the 'Itinerarium mentis in Deum'. Starting from this text, the course will reconstruct the main characteristics of Bonaventure's philosophy and theology. Lessons will be alternated with seminars. Seminars will require the active participation of students and will be organized in collaboration with Italian and foreign scholars.
Full programme
The "Itinerarium mentis in Deum" is considered one of the most important works of Bonaventure and one of the most significant texts of the mature medieval theology and philosophy. In it, Bonaventura traces the human soul's journey to God, making many sources and traditions of thought interact with each other: from Aristotle to the Neo-Platonism, from Augustine to the Pseudo-Dionysius. The course intends to read and comment on Bonaventure's work, departing from the text to reconstruct and discuss the main characteristics of Bonaventure's philosophy and theology.
Bibliography
BIBLIOGRAPHY (FOR ATTENDING STUDENTS)
1) Bonaventura da Bagnoregio, "Itinerario dell'anima a Dio", a cura di L. Mauro, Bompiani, Milano 2002.
2) E. Gilson, "La filosofia di S. Bonaventura", ed. it. a cura di C. Marabelli, Jaca Book, Milano 1995.
For those who are interested in deepening the knowledge of Bonaventure, see:
- C. Cullen, "Bonaventure", Oxford University Press, Oxford 2006.
- J.M. Hammond, J.A. Wayne Hellmann & J. Goff (eds.), "A Companion to Bonaventure", Brill, Leiden-Boston 2014.
Any material that could be distributed during the lessons will be make available on the ELLY platform.
BIBLIOGRAPHY (FOR NON-ATTENDING STUDENTS)
1) Bonaventura da Bagnoregio, "Itinerario dell'anima a Dio", a cura di L. Mauro, Bompiani, Milano 2002.
2) E. Gilson, "La filosofia di S. Bonaventura", ed. it. a cura di C. Marabelli, Jaca Book, Milano 1995.
3) B. Faes, "Bonaventura da Bagnoregio", Biblioteca Francescana, Milano 2017.
Any material that could be distributed during the lessons will be make available on the ELLY platform.
Teaching methods
Oral lessons. During the classes the topics that will be discussed are
those of the general contents of the course. Oral lessons will be
supplemented by seminars devoted to the reading and discussion of
medieval texts, and research seminars, to which students are invited
to participate actively.
Assessment methods and criteria
Students' knowledge and understanding skills, and their abilities to apply
them, will be verified in two ways:
1) in itinere: elaboration of a written paper in which students are requested to analyze (philosophically and historically) a text, a topic or
an article of secondary literature. The written paper aims to verify students’ ability to apply the acquired
knowledge and understanding skills by elaborating a paper according to international scientific standards. Student must present and discuss their papers orally.
2) Final examination: oral exam based upon the texts of the bibliography, and with the discussion of the written paper.
The final exam aims to verify the degree of advancement of students’ knowledge and understanding skills. Average duration of the examination
is about 30 min. The types of questions are determined by the features of students’ education and learning that need to be verified. In particular,the oral exam aims to verify: 1) the degree of students’ historical and philosophical formation and preparation, both with respect to the primary sources and the secondary literature; 2) students’ ability to assess and compare texts, interpretations of texts, and historiographical theses; 3) the ability to understand, analyze, and contextualize philosophical texts. The final score (on scale 0-30) is the result of the written paper and the oral exam. The written paper will be evaluated according to four criteria: 1) clearness and accuracy of the paper; 2) the degree of textual, historical, philosophical, and historiographical documentation; 3) logical precision; 4) argumentation technique and philosophical reasoning. The oral exam will be evaluated according to three criteria: 1) speech clearness and accuracy; 2) critical thinking and independent judgment; 3) ability to analyze and contextualize a philosophical text and/or a problem.
The exam is passed if the minimum grade of 18/30 is reached. The final mark will be awarded according to the following scheme:
30 and praise: excellent; extensive knowledge and solid preparation, excellent expressive skills, capacity of comprehension and analysis of concepts, topics and arguments complete and exhaustive;
30: excellent; complete and adequate knowledge, excellent analysis skills, correct and well articulated expression;
27-29: very good; more than satisfactory knowledge, adequate analysis skills and essentially correct and structured expression;
24-26: good; good but not complete knowledge, satisfactory analysis skills and not always correct expression;
21-23: discrete; discrete knowledge although superficial, sometimes unsatisfactory analysis skills and sometimes inappropriate ability to express;
18-21: sufficient; acceptable but very superficial knowledge, unsatisfactory analysis skills, often inappropriate expression;
0-18: insufficient; the preparation has important gaps in terms of content, lack of clarity in exposition, inability to understand and analyze concepts, topics and arguments.
Other information
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