Obiettivi formativi
The course aims to consolidate and deepen:
1: the following knowledge and understanding (1st Dublin descriptor):
(a) in-depth knowledge of authors and relevant themes in the history of philosophical texts from ancient, medieval and modern times;
(b) ability to read, analyze and critically interpret some classic texts from the history of philosophy, both in the original language (Latin) and in translation into modern languages;
(c) knowledge of the logical and philosophical technical terminology necessary for the interpretation of the texts;
(d) knowledge of the main interpretative positions in the contemporary debate, and knowledge of some contemporary debates in the fields of the history of philosophy that may be relevant for the interpretation of the authors.
2: the following skills in applying the knowledge acquired (2nd Dublin descriptor):
(a) ability to recognize the structure and know how to reformulate different types of logical and philosophical arguments, ability to criticize such arguments and argue one's criticism in a debate;
(b) ability to develop one's knowledge through oral and written reports and tests, through philosophical argumentation and based on historically documented reference to ancient and medieval texts, in their original version (primary literature) and in their different modern interpretations (literature secondary);
(c) ability to recognize the theoretical and conceptual connections between the history of philosophy and the history of the philosophical text.
3-4-5: The following knowledge and skills in judgment, communication and continuous learning
3rd, 4th and 5th Dublin descriptors):
(a) ability to analyze and criticize a philosophy text, both from a historical and philosophical point of view;
(b) ability to take a critical attitude towards the text and report one's analysis in oral and written form, through debates and by drafting short written reports;
(c) ability to interact on a philosophical level with teachers and colleagues, in Italian and English, through guided reading of texts, through questions and debates during lesson hours; through any group work aimed at drafting written reports.
Prerequisiti
The course is aimed at those who already have some skills and
knowledge in logic and the history of ancient and medieval philosophy.
Knowledge of Latin, at least elementary, and a good knowledge of English
are also recommended, since part of the bibliography required for the
exam will be in this language.
Students who believe they do not have sufficient knowledge of English to
deal with the bibliography, can agree on an alternative program (similar
to the program of non-attending students) with the Professor.
Contenuti dell'insegnamento
Title: “Boethius and his philosophy. At the roots of the European philosophical tradition”
Anicius Manlius Severinus Boethius is certainly one of the most important figures in the history of European philosophy, and his texts on logic, music, mathematics, and philosophy significantly shaped the philosophical mind of his successors in the Middle Ages, the Renaissance and the modern times.
This course is dedicated to the analysis and comment of some of Boethius’s texts, and to the study of their circulation and reception by later philosophers. We will read parts of Boethius’s Consolation of Philosophy (whose 1500 anniversary falls in 2024); Boethius’s commentaries on Aristotle; his logical treatise De Hypotheticis Syllogismis; and his treatise on mathematics and music. This overview of Boethius’s works will enable us to touch upon many important philosophical topics, among which that of fortune and freedom, contingency and necessity, atheisms and theology, what is a person and what does it mean to live a happy life. Moreover, through the reading of Boethius we will be able to follow some historical developments connected to the philosophical traditions of Platonism, Aristotelianism and Stoicism, and their survival in the medieval and modern era.
Programma esteso
Title: “Boethius and his philosophy. At the roots of the European philosophical tradition”
Anicius Manlius Severinus Boethius is certainly one of the most important figures in the history of European philosophy, and his texts on logic, music, mathematics, and philosophy significantly shaped the philosophical mind of his successors in the Middle Ages, the Renaissance and the modern times.
This course is dedicated to the analysis and comment of some of Boethius’s texts, and to the study of their circulation and reception by later philosophers. We will read parts of Boethius’s Consolation of Philosophy (whose 1500 anniversary falls in 2024); Boethius’s commentaries on Aristotle; his logical treatise De Hypotheticis Syllogismis; and his treatise on mathematics and music. This overview of Boethius’s works will enable us to touch upon many important philosophical topics, among which that of fortune and freedom, contingency and necessity, atheisms and theology, what is a person and what does it mean to live a happy life. Moreover, through the reading of Boethius we will be able to follow some historical developments connected to the philosophical traditions of Platonism, Aristotelianism and Stoicism, and their survival in the medieval and modern era.
Bibliografia
The course will be based on the following text:
• Marenbon, J., 2002, Boethius, New York: Oxford University Press.
Further readings from the following volumes will be used, and made available on ELLY by the teacher.
• De hypotheticis syllogismis, L. Obertello (ed.), with Italian translation, Brescia: Paideia, 1969 (Istituto di Filosoofia dell’Università di Parma, Logicalia 1).
• Bower, C. M., 1989, Boethius: Fundamental of Music, New Haven and London: Yale University Press.
• Spade, P.V. (trans.), 1994, Five Texts on the Mediaeval Problem of Universals: Porphyry, Boethius, Abelard, Duns Scotus, Ockham, Indianapolis, Ind./Cambridge, Mass.: Hackett. The passage on universals from the second commentary to the Isagoge.
• Stewart, H.F, E.K. Rand, and S.J. Tester, 1973, Boethius: the Theological Tractates; the Consolation of Philosophy, Cambridge, Mass./London: Harvard University Press.
• Marenbon, 2003, ‘Rationality and Happiness: interpreting Boethius’s Consolation of Philosophy,’ in J. Yu and J.J.E. Gracia (eds.), Rationality andt Happiness: from the Ancients to the Early Medievals, Rochester: University of Rochester Press, 175–97.
• Marenbon, 2013, ‘Divine Prescience and Contingency in Boethius’s Consolation of Philosophy’, Rivista di storia della filosofia, 68: 9–19.
• Marenbon (ed.), 2009, The Cambridge Companion to Boethius, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Metodi didattici
During the course, we will read together the philosophical texts covered by the course, trying to derive from the reading the different theories advanced by Boethius and to relate these theories to the historical context in which they were developed. Both in reading and in the interpretation and discussion of texts, the active participation of the whole class and continuous interaction between teacher and students are required.
Two educational trips are planned to archives and libraries in the national territory to view some manuscripts from the medieval and Renaissance era in person.
The lessons will take place in person, but will be video-recorded and the links to access the video recordings will be made available on the ELLY platform, on the course page.
Modalità verifica apprendimento
The exam consists in the drafting of a short written paper (about 10-12 pages, written in English or Italian) in which the student must demonstrate his / her ability to formulate and discuss a specific historical / textual / philosophical problem (related to the theme of the course), to reconstruct the theoretical position of a particular author and place it in the historical context of origin. The oral part of the exam consists of a discussion based on the essay.
Altre informazioni
Two or three exam sessions are scheduled per exam session, as per the official calendar.
The exam will consist of the presentation of the written report by the student and its discussion. The methods of drafting the written report must be agreed with the teacher.
Obiettivi agenda 2030 per lo sviluppo sostenibile
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