Medieval Philosophy
A.Y. 2026/2027
Learning objectives
Students will gain in-depth knowledge and expertise in an ongoing debate in the history of Medieval Philosophy.
Expected learning outcomes
Students will acquire the ability to:
- critically analyse arguments in the history of Medieval Philosophy;
- discuss and compare different philosophical positions in the history of Medieval Philosophy;
- reflect on complex and articulated philosophical arguments, highlighting their strengths and weaknesses;
- take their own position in a philosophical debate and to put forward arguments in support of it;
- communicate the results of their research effectively, also using multimedia techniques to represent information with possible applications in teaching;
- use relational, communicative and organisational skills also in highly complex contexts and in the management of group work;
- transmit the skills obtained also in non-specialist contexts;
- reflect on their own skills and evaluations;
- autonomously research the philosophical sources of a debate or a school of thought;
- independently investigate a philosophical position or theoretical thesis.
- critically analyse arguments in the history of Medieval Philosophy;
- discuss and compare different philosophical positions in the history of Medieval Philosophy;
- reflect on complex and articulated philosophical arguments, highlighting their strengths and weaknesses;
- take their own position in a philosophical debate and to put forward arguments in support of it;
- communicate the results of their research effectively, also using multimedia techniques to represent information with possible applications in teaching;
- use relational, communicative and organisational skills also in highly complex contexts and in the management of group work;
- transmit the skills obtained also in non-specialist contexts;
- reflect on their own skills and evaluations;
- autonomously research the philosophical sources of a debate or a school of thought;
- independently investigate a philosophical position or theoretical thesis.
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
Course syllabus
The course is addressed to students of the Master's Degree in Philosophical Sciences and other students of the University whose plan includes the possibility of choosing the course of History of Medieval Philosophy for 6 or 9 CFU.
The course has two main objectives:
1) to examine certain aspects of the medieval debate on the immortality of the soul
2) to provide an analytical reading of Pietro Pomponazzi's treatise on the immortality of the soul.
The course has two main objectives:
1) to examine certain aspects of the medieval debate on the immortality of the soul
2) to provide an analytical reading of Pietro Pomponazzi's treatise on the immortality of the soul.
Prerequisites for admission
Basic knowledge of medieval philosophy
Teaching methods
Lectures and debates
Teaching Resources
Common program for both the 6 and 9 ECTS credit exams:
Texts:
1) Thomas Aquinas, Summa Theologiae, q. 75 a. 2, a. 6, and q. 89, a. 1; Quaestiones disputatae de anima, q. 14, (available on MyAriel)
2) Pietro Pomponazzi, Trattato sull'immortalità dell'anima, a cura di V. Perrone Compagni, Firenze 1999.
Secondary Literature:
1) M. Lenzi, Anima, forma e sostanza: filosofia e teologia nel dibattito antropologico del XIII secolo, CISAM, Spoleto 2011, pp. 197-258 (disponibile su MyAriel)
2) P.R. Blum, "The Immortality of the Soul", in n The Cambridge Companion to Renaissance Philosophy, edited by J. Hankins, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge 2007, pp. 211-233
Additions for the 9 ECTS credit program:
1) A text (two texts for non-attenders) to be chosen from this reading list:
L. Bianchi, Pour une histoire de la "double vérité", Vrin, Paris 2008, pp. 117-156
L. Bianchi, "Nulla lex est vera, licet possit esse utilis. Averroes' 'Errors' and the Emergence in the Latin West of Subversive Ideas about Religion", in Irrtum - Error - Erreur, herausgegeben von A. Speer und M. Mauriège, de Gruyter, Berlin - Boston 2018, pp. 325-347
J.-B. Brenet, "Corps-sujet, coprs-objet. Sur Averroes et Thomas d'Aquin dans le De immortalitate animae de Pomponazzi", in J. Biard, Th. Gontier (éd.), Pietro Pomponazzi entre traditions et innovations, Gruner, Amsterdam-Philadelphia 2009, pp. 11-28
A. Petagine, "Come una donna di rara saggezza. Il De immortalitate animae di Pietro Pomponazzi e la psicologia di Tommaso d'Aquino", in M. Sgarbi (a cura di), Pietro Pomponazzi. Tradizione e dissenso, Olsckhi, Firenze 2010, pp. 41-74
M. Sgarbi, Profumo d'immortalità. Controversie sull'anima nella filosofia volgare del Rinascimento, Carocci, Firenze 2016, pp. 81-115
International students who do not read Italian can agree with the lecturer on a complete bibliography in English.
Texts:
1) Thomas Aquinas, Summa Theologiae, q. 75 a. 2, a. 6, and q. 89, a. 1; Quaestiones disputatae de anima, q. 14, (available on MyAriel)
2) Pietro Pomponazzi, Trattato sull'immortalità dell'anima, a cura di V. Perrone Compagni, Firenze 1999.
Secondary Literature:
1) M. Lenzi, Anima, forma e sostanza: filosofia e teologia nel dibattito antropologico del XIII secolo, CISAM, Spoleto 2011, pp. 197-258 (disponibile su MyAriel)
2) P.R. Blum, "The Immortality of the Soul", in n The Cambridge Companion to Renaissance Philosophy, edited by J. Hankins, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge 2007, pp. 211-233
Additions for the 9 ECTS credit program:
1) A text (two texts for non-attenders) to be chosen from this reading list:
L. Bianchi, Pour une histoire de la "double vérité", Vrin, Paris 2008, pp. 117-156
L. Bianchi, "Nulla lex est vera, licet possit esse utilis. Averroes' 'Errors' and the Emergence in the Latin West of Subversive Ideas about Religion", in Irrtum - Error - Erreur, herausgegeben von A. Speer und M. Mauriège, de Gruyter, Berlin - Boston 2018, pp. 325-347
J.-B. Brenet, "Corps-sujet, coprs-objet. Sur Averroes et Thomas d'Aquin dans le De immortalitate animae de Pomponazzi", in J. Biard, Th. Gontier (éd.), Pietro Pomponazzi entre traditions et innovations, Gruner, Amsterdam-Philadelphia 2009, pp. 11-28
A. Petagine, "Come una donna di rara saggezza. Il De immortalitate animae di Pietro Pomponazzi e la psicologia di Tommaso d'Aquino", in M. Sgarbi (a cura di), Pietro Pomponazzi. Tradizione e dissenso, Olsckhi, Firenze 2010, pp. 41-74
M. Sgarbi, Profumo d'immortalità. Controversie sull'anima nella filosofia volgare del Rinascimento, Carocci, Firenze 2016, pp. 81-115
International students who do not read Italian can agree with the lecturer on a complete bibliography in English.
Assessment methods and Criteria
The final examination consists of a 30 minutes 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 the texts and of the essays examined during the course (knowledge);
- ability to understand concepts and arguments (understanding)
- ability to critically evaluate different interpretations of texts and historical problems (development);
- use of language (exposition).
- knowledge of the texts and of the essays examined during the course (knowledge);
- ability to understand concepts and arguments (understanding)
- ability to critically evaluate different interpretations of texts and historical problems (development);
- use of language (exposition).
Modules or teaching units
Parte A e B
PHIL-05/C - History of Medieval Philosophy - University credits: 6
Lessons: 40 hours
Parte C
PHIL-05/C - History of Medieval Philosophy - University credits: 3
Lessons: 20 hours
Professor(s)
Reception:
Monday 14.30-16.30
Studio Ghiacciaia (first floor)