History of Medieval Philosophy (MA)
A.Y. 2021/2022
Learning objectives
This course aims at providing students, through the study of relevant authors and problems, with 1) a thorough understanding of the history of medieval thought; 2) the essential critical tools that allow them to read autonomously and critically philosophical texts authored by medieval authors and to analyze their context, their sources, their argumentative forms.
Expected learning outcomes
Knowledge and understanding
At the end of the course, the student
- knows a decisive phase of the development of philosophical and scientific thought through the reading of primary and secondary sources
- understands how scientific traditions, ideas and argumentative forms changed between the Middle Ages and the Renaissance
- has an advanced knowledge of the bibliographical and methodological tools of research in the history of philosophy.
Ability to apply knowledge and understanding
At the end of the course, the student
- is able to philologically understand texts and essays examined in class
- is able to clearly and thoroughly expound the problems discussed in these texts and to critically evaluate their interpretations
- can apply the knowledge and reading methods learned in class to other philosophical and scientific texts and problems.
At the end of the course, the student
- knows a decisive phase of the development of philosophical and scientific thought through the reading of primary and secondary sources
- understands how scientific traditions, ideas and argumentative forms changed between the Middle Ages and the Renaissance
- has an advanced knowledge of the bibliographical and methodological tools of research in the history of philosophy.
Ability to apply knowledge and understanding
At the end of the course, the student
- is able to philologically understand texts and essays examined in class
- is able to clearly and thoroughly expound the problems discussed in these texts and to critically evaluate their interpretations
- can apply the knowledge and reading methods learned in class to other philosophical and scientific texts and problems.
Lesson period: First semester
Assessment methods: Esame
Assessment result: voto verbalizzato in trentesimi
Single course
This course cannot be attended as a single course. Please check our list of single courses to find the ones available for enrolment.
Course syllabus and organization
Single session
Responsible
Lesson period
First semester
During the ongoing covid emergency, the course syllabus will be maintained with the following changes made to enhance the effectiveness of the online version of the course, which was originally designed for face-to-face teaching.
The lessons will be held in dual mode. The face-to-face lessons will allow the participation of students connected with MSTeams as well as students in the classroom.
The recordings of the lessons will remain available until the end of the lessons.
Online environments used:
Ariel: https://lcampisfmlm.ariel.ctu.unimi.it/v5/home/Default.aspx
Teams (keycode in Ariel)
Students wishing to participate in face-to-face lessons must refer to the following University provisions: https://www.unimi.it/en/study/bachelor-and-master-study/following-your-programme-study/teaching-activities-campus
Students wishing to participate in MSTeams lessons must refer to the following technical guides: https://www.unimi.it/en/study/student-services/technology-and-online-services/microsoft-office-365-education
To participate in the exam sessions, students must refer to the following provisions:
https://www.unimi.it/en/study/bachelor-and-master-study/following-your-programme-study/sitting-exams
The lessons will be held in dual mode. The face-to-face lessons will allow the participation of students connected with MSTeams as well as students in the classroom.
The recordings of the lessons will remain available until the end of the lessons.
Online environments used:
Ariel: https://lcampisfmlm.ariel.ctu.unimi.it/v5/home/Default.aspx
Teams (keycode in Ariel)
Students wishing to participate in face-to-face lessons must refer to the following University provisions: https://www.unimi.it/en/study/bachelor-and-master-study/following-your-programme-study/teaching-activities-campus
Students wishing to participate in MSTeams lessons must refer to the following technical guides: https://www.unimi.it/en/study/student-services/technology-and-online-services/microsoft-office-365-education
To participate in the exam sessions, students must refer to the following provisions:
https://www.unimi.it/en/study/bachelor-and-master-study/following-your-programme-study/sitting-exams
Course syllabus
The course is open to all students of the degree course in Philosophical Sciences (6 and 9 ECTS) and to all students of other courses of the University of Milan who are interested in medieval philosophy.
The course aims at:
1) Examining how an anthropobiology of the state of innocence emerged and developed from fifth to thirteenth centuries in the Latin-speaking medieval mileu, through the reading of texts by Augustine of Hippo, Peter Lombard and Thomas Aquinas.
2) Tracing the sources and evaluating the role they played in the formulation of anthropological and biological theories of the Edenic state (as well as in the gnoseological, moral and political theories stemming from them), with particular attention to the Platonic and Aristotelian traditions.
3) Reconstructing historiographical debates, with particular attention to the elaboration of a philosophy of history originating from the distinction between prelapsarian and postlapsarian human nature (that is, human nature before and after the original sin).
The course aims at:
1) Examining how an anthropobiology of the state of innocence emerged and developed from fifth to thirteenth centuries in the Latin-speaking medieval mileu, through the reading of texts by Augustine of Hippo, Peter Lombard and Thomas Aquinas.
2) Tracing the sources and evaluating the role they played in the formulation of anthropological and biological theories of the Edenic state (as well as in the gnoseological, moral and political theories stemming from them), with particular attention to the Platonic and Aristotelian traditions.
3) Reconstructing historiographical debates, with particular attention to the elaboration of a philosophy of history originating from the distinction between prelapsarian and postlapsarian human nature (that is, human nature before and after the original sin).
Prerequisites for admission
Basic knowledge of medieval, renaissance and modern philosophy
Teaching methods
Lectures and debates
Teaching Resources
Readings and assignments for attending students
Assignments for both 6 and 9 ECTS exams:
1. Agostino d'Ippona, La Genesi alla lettera, a cura di L. Carozzi, Città Nuova, Roma 1989 («Opera omnia di sant'Agostino»), libri 3 (frammento), 8-11, pp. 156, 386-630.
2. Pietro Lombardo, Sentenze, libro II, in TOMMASO D'AQUINO, Commento alle Sentenze di Pietro Lombardo, a cura di R. Coggi, Edizioni Studio Domenicano, Bologna 2000-2001, distinzioni 16, 18-24, 29-31, vol. 3, pp. 755-759, 845-953; vol. 4, pp. 11-141, 399-509.
3. Francesca Garlatti, "La dottrina agostiniana del peccato originale", in Ead. Natura lapsa e peccati di ignoranza nell'antropologia di Agostino, ETS, Pisa 2016, pp. 19-78.
4. Luciano Cova, "L'Eden come laboratorio antropologico", in Id., Peccato originale. Agostino e il Medioevo, il Mulino, Bologna 2014, pp. 285-355.
Additional assignments for 9 ECTS exams:
1. Tommaso d'Aquino, La Somma Teologica, a cura della redazione dell'Edizioni Studio Domenicano, ESD, Bologna 1996, prima parte, questioni 90-99, 102, pp. 163-309, 323-333; seconda sezione della seconda parte, q. 81, p. 231-247.
2. Sofia Vanni Rovighi, Introduzione a Tommaso d'Aquino, Laterza, Roma-Bari 1973, pp. 82-108.
Additional readings and assignments for non-attending students
For both 6 and 9 ECTS
1. Luciano Cova, "Originale peccatum: retaggio agostiniano e metamorfosi medievali", in ID., Peccato originale. Agostino e il Medioevo, il Mulino, Bologna 2014, pp. 163-234.
2. Marcia Colish, Peter Lombard, Brill, Leiden 1994, vol. 1, pp. 15-32; 303-397.
Assignments for both 6 and 9 ECTS exams:
1. Agostino d'Ippona, La Genesi alla lettera, a cura di L. Carozzi, Città Nuova, Roma 1989 («Opera omnia di sant'Agostino»), libri 3 (frammento), 8-11, pp. 156, 386-630.
2. Pietro Lombardo, Sentenze, libro II, in TOMMASO D'AQUINO, Commento alle Sentenze di Pietro Lombardo, a cura di R. Coggi, Edizioni Studio Domenicano, Bologna 2000-2001, distinzioni 16, 18-24, 29-31, vol. 3, pp. 755-759, 845-953; vol. 4, pp. 11-141, 399-509.
3. Francesca Garlatti, "La dottrina agostiniana del peccato originale", in Ead. Natura lapsa e peccati di ignoranza nell'antropologia di Agostino, ETS, Pisa 2016, pp. 19-78.
4. Luciano Cova, "L'Eden come laboratorio antropologico", in Id., Peccato originale. Agostino e il Medioevo, il Mulino, Bologna 2014, pp. 285-355.
Additional assignments for 9 ECTS exams:
1. Tommaso d'Aquino, La Somma Teologica, a cura della redazione dell'Edizioni Studio Domenicano, ESD, Bologna 1996, prima parte, questioni 90-99, 102, pp. 163-309, 323-333; seconda sezione della seconda parte, q. 81, p. 231-247.
2. Sofia Vanni Rovighi, Introduzione a Tommaso d'Aquino, Laterza, Roma-Bari 1973, pp. 82-108.
Additional readings and assignments for non-attending students
For both 6 and 9 ECTS
1. Luciano Cova, "Originale peccatum: retaggio agostiniano e metamorfosi medievali", in ID., Peccato originale. Agostino e il Medioevo, il Mulino, Bologna 2014, pp. 163-234.
2. Marcia Colish, Peter Lombard, Brill, Leiden 1994, vol. 1, pp. 15-32; 303-397.
Assessment methods and Criteria
The final examination consists of an oral exam, whose purpose is to test the knowledge and skills acquired by students. The grading system for the final exam is based on a 0-30 scale, 18 being the lowest passing mark. Evaluation criteria:
- knowledge of texts and essays examined during the course (knowledge);
- ability to clarify concepts and analyse arguments (understanding)
- ability to critically evaluate different interpretations of texts and historical problems (development);
- use of language (exposition)
- knowledge of texts and essays examined during the course (knowledge);
- ability to clarify concepts and analyse arguments (understanding)
- ability to critically evaluate different interpretations of texts and historical problems (development);
- use of language (exposition)
Unità didattica A
M-FIL/08 - HISTORY OF MEDIEVAL PHILOSOPHY - University credits: 3
Lessons: 20 hours
Unità didattica B
M-FIL/08 - HISTORY OF MEDIEVAL PHILOSOPHY - University credits: 3
Lessons: 20 hours
Unità didattica C
M-FIL/08 - HISTORY OF MEDIEVAL PHILOSOPHY - University credits: 3
Lessons: 20 hours
Professor(s)
Reception:
Office hours will take place on Mondays, 2.30-5.00 pm (please, send an email to agree on the reception time)
In my office (first floor) and on MS Teams