History of Ancient Philosophy (MA)
A.Y. 2023/2024
Learning objectives
The course aims to provide students with the necessary tools to read, understand, and critically discuss texts and periods in the history of ancient philosophy, from its origins to late antiquity. For this reason, in addition to the texts of the authors, the course will give ample space to the international critical debate on the topics covered.
Expected learning outcomes
Knowledge and understanding
At the end of the course, students will be able to:
- Identify and understand in an advanced manner the different philosophical schools, key concepts, technical vocabulary, and historical contexts in which they emerged.
- Critically analyze ancient sources, also in light of the international debate.
- Independently grasp implicit meanings, polemical references, and conceptual nuances present in ancient philosophical texts.
- Critically compare philosophers' positions on the fundamental problems of ancient philosophy, taking a conscious stance in the scientific debate.
- Proficiently recognize the methodological tools and bibliographic resources specific to research on ancient philosophy.
Ability to apply knowledge and understanding
At the end of the course, students will be able to:
- Independently and critically apply the concepts learned during the course to the analysis of complex philosophical texts from different periods.
- Contextualize texts and problems, demonstrating advanced knowledge of them.
- Write a paper on the topics covered during the course, fully complying with editorial standards.
At the end of the course, students will be able to:
- Identify and understand in an advanced manner the different philosophical schools, key concepts, technical vocabulary, and historical contexts in which they emerged.
- Critically analyze ancient sources, also in light of the international debate.
- Independently grasp implicit meanings, polemical references, and conceptual nuances present in ancient philosophical texts.
- Critically compare philosophers' positions on the fundamental problems of ancient philosophy, taking a conscious stance in the scientific debate.
- Proficiently recognize the methodological tools and bibliographic resources specific to research on ancient philosophy.
Ability to apply knowledge and understanding
At the end of the course, students will be able to:
- Independently and critically apply the concepts learned during the course to the analysis of complex philosophical texts from different periods.
- Contextualize texts and problems, demonstrating advanced knowledge of them.
- Write a paper on the topics covered during the course, fully complying with editorial standards.
Lesson period: Second semester
Assessment methods: Esame
Assessment result: voto verbalizzato in trentesimi
Single course
This course can be attended as a single course.
Course syllabus and organization
Single session
Responsible
Lesson period
Second semester
Course syllabus
During the last years of Plato's life and immediately after his death, the Academy fervently discussed his philosophical legacy. The course will start with the first part of the "Parmenides," which is dedicated to the discussion of the theory of Forms, and will continue with the annotated reading of the fragments from Aristotle's "On Ideas" (Περὶ ἰδεῶν), where the Forms are rejected. The metaphysical proposals of Speusippus, Xenocrates, and Eudoxus will then be considered, as far as they can be reconstructed. In the second part of the course, the available sources on debates about the theory of the soul (Speusippus and Xenocrates) will be discussed, and starting from Plato's "Philebus," the topic of pleasure (Speusippus, Xenocrates, Eudoxus) will be examined.
Prerequisites for admission
Basic knowledge of the main authors and topics in ancient philosophy; basic knowledge of ancient philosophical terminology. Knowledge of Greek is not required.
Teaching methods
Lectures.
Seminar-style talks by scholars.
Debate (the format and frequency will depend on the number of participants in the course).
Non-attending students must promptly contact the instructor.
Seminar-style talks by scholars.
Debate (the format and frequency will depend on the number of participants in the course).
Non-attending students must promptly contact the instructor.
Teaching Resources
The course will utilize a Moodle platform where the instructor will upload all the working materials (texts and translations).
Assessment methods and Criteria
The students will be required to produce a paper of maximum six pages on one of the topics covered during the course or on a related topic. In both cases, it is necessary to agree on the topic with the instructor. The paper must be submitted 15 working days before the exam date. The following aspects will be evaluated: the ability to critically analyze texts and problems; the ability to critically compare the positions of the authors studied and/or those of critical studies addressed; the awareness of using the methodological tools of the discipline; the writing style, understood both as argumentative rigor and adherence to the formatting guidelines used in the scientific community. The paper will be evaluated on a scale of thirty.
There will be an oral examination of approximately half an hour on the texts and problems covered during the course, in which, in addition to the parameters already mentioned for the paper, the ability to critically comment on the philosophical and stylistic peculiarities of the texts discussed in class and the ability to rigorously and correctly present advanced historical-philosophical content orally will be evaluated.
The final grade will take into account the evaluation of the paper, but it will not be the average of the two evaluations.
There will be an oral examination of approximately half an hour on the texts and problems covered during the course, in which, in addition to the parameters already mentioned for the paper, the ability to critically comment on the philosophical and stylistic peculiarities of the texts discussed in class and the ability to rigorously and correctly present advanced historical-philosophical content orally will be evaluated.
The final grade will take into account the evaluation of the paper, but it will not be the average of the two evaluations.
M-FIL/07 - HISTORY OF ANCIENT PHILOSOPHY - University credits: 9
Lessons: 60 hours
Professor:
Forcignano' Filippo
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