Learning objectives
The course aims to achieve the following educational objectives:
- in-depth knowledge of the most important aspects and authors as for the construction of the philosophical anthropology in the Middle Ages and Renaissance; ability to understand and analyze the philosophical and scientific text; knowledge of the specific terminology (1st Dublin descriptor);
- ability to reconstruct in critical way the genesis and the historical-philosophical development of a concept, theme or philosophical position (2nd Dublin descriptor);
- ability to analyze and synthesize correctly and completely the most significant aspects of the course; ability to identify key concepts by making appropriate connections and comparisons between epochs and cultural contexts; ability to express reasoned judgments and to structure a clearly and logically coherent argument; ability to reorganize the contents in a personal, critical and documented way, with an autonomous and aware use of the specific terminology (3rd, 4th and 5th Dublin descriptor).
Prerequisites
Knowledge of the history of medieval and Renaissance philosophy, and a basic knowledge of Latin language are fundamental prerequisites for attending the course. English language is essential in order to understand some of the texts included in the bibliography.
Course unit content
Philosophy and Medicine in Medieval and Renaissance Anthropology.
Full programme
The course aims to present some of the main moments of the construction of medieval anthropology and its legacy. It will consider the reception and reworking of ancient and late ancient philosophical sources by the Fathers of the Church, and the contributions of the medical theories developed by Hippocrates and Galen, illustrating the fruitful dialogue between philosophical and medical-scientific discourse through the ages and spaces of medieval culture.
Bibliography
A) Works
Aurelio Agostino, La città di Dio, libri XIII-XIV (any edition).
Nemesio di Emesa, La natura dell’uomo, a cura di Moreno Morani e Giulia Regoliosi, Bologna, Edizioni Studio Domenicano, 2018, chapters 1, 2, 3.
Guglielmo di Saint-Thierry, La natura del corpo e dell’anima, a cura di Alberto Siclari, Firenze, Nardini Editore, 1991, books 1-2.
Jole Agrimi, Chiara Crisciani, Malato, medico e medicina nel Medioevo, Torino, Loescher, 1980, pp. 65-94; 100-138; 144-172; 179-214; 220-252; 259-301 (photocopies provided by the teacher in digital format).
B) Essays (photocopies provided by the teacher in digital format)
Jole Agrimi, Chiara Crisciani, Carità e assistenza nella civiltà cristiana medievale, in Mirko D. Grmek (a cura di), Storia del pensiero medico occidentale, vol. 1, Antichità e Medioevo, Roma-Bari, Laterza, 20072, pp. 217-259.
Danielle Jacquart, La scolastica medica, in Mirko D. Grmek (a cura di), Storia del pensiero medico occidentale, vol. 1, Antichità e Medioevo, Roma-Bari, Laterza, 20072, pp. 261-322.
Jerome L. Bylebyl, Medicine, Philosophy, and Humanism in Renaissance Italy, in John W. Shirley, F. David Hoeniger (eds.), Science and the Arts in the Renaissance, Washington, The Folger Shakespeare Library – London and Toronto, Associated University Presses, 1985, pp. 27-49.
C) Optional essays (photocopies provided by the teacher in digital format)
Jacques Jouanna, La nascita dell’arte medica occidentale, in Mirko D. Grmek (a cura di), Storia del pensiero medico occidentale, vol. 1, Antichità e Medioevo, Roma-Bari, Laterza, 20072, pp. 3-72.
Mario Vegetti, Tra il sapere e la pratica: la medicina ellenistica, in Mirko D. Grmek (a cura di), Storia del pensiero medico occidentale, vol. 1, Antichità e Medioevo, Roma-Bari, Laterza, 20072, pp. pp. 73-120.
Danielle Gourevitch, Le vie della conoscenza: la medicina nel mondo romano, in Mirko D. Grmek (a cura di), Storia del pensiero medico occidentale, vol. 1, Antichità e Medioevo, Roma-Bari, Laterza, 20072, pp. pp. 121-165.
Teaching methods
In compliance with the deliberation of the Academic Senate n. 115 of 07/09/2021, the course will be held in two equivalent ways:
1) attending students: the course will be held in presence. Classes will take place on Thursday afternoons according to the official calendar and timetable. Classes will not be recorded.
2) non-attending students: the course will be held remotely. The teacher will prepare recorded videoclasses equivalent to and replacing those in presence.
All students are invited to register in the Google Classroom of the course (https://classroom.google.com/c/NDY2NDY3MTg1NzA3?cjc=qi7xpfp; registration code: qi7xpfp), where bibliographic materials and recorded video-lessons will be available.
Assessment methods and criteria
In compliance with the deliberation of the Academic Senate n. 115 of 07/09/2021, all exams will be held in presence at the University of Ferrara. The exam consists of an oral interview aimed at ascertaining the knowledge of the topics covered in the course and the argumentation skills.
