20710342 - Workshop: Elements of Ancient and Medieval Philosophy

The workshop of Principles of the History of Ancient and Medieval Philosophy is part of the program in Philosophy (BA level) and it is included among the "other training activities". At the end of the workshop students are expected to know the basic issue in history of ancient and medieval philosophy. Furthermore they will have read through some ancient and medieval philosophical texts and they will have focused on the basic issues and debates connected to it. Students will be able to apply the knowledge acquired in the discussion and argument both from a theoretical and a historical-philosophical perspective, and will acquire:
-) Ability to analyze and interpret philosophical texts;
-) Properties of language and argumentation;
-) Ability to contextualize the acquired knowledge in the Philosophical debate.
teacher profile | teaching materials

Programme

Weeks 1-6: Greek philosophy from the origins to Aristotle. The following issues will be explored:

[i] The origins of Greek philosophy: myth and logos, the Milesian school, Heraclitus
[ii] Parmenides, his followers and his critics: Parmenides, Zeno, Melissus, Gorgias, Plato
[iii] The so-called 'pluralistic' cosmologies in the fifth century BC: Empedocles, Anaxagoras, Democritus
[iv] Being and causes in Plato and Aristotle


Core Documentation

B. Centrone, Prima lezione di filosofia antica, Laterza, Roma-Bari 2015.
R.Chiaradonna e P. Pecere, Vivere la Conoscenza, Mondadori Education, Milano, 2022, Volume 1A: Dalle origini ad Aristotele (per intero).
R. Chiaradonna, Platonismo, Il Mulino, Bologna, 2017.

Type of delivery of the course

Lectures, discussions and debates with students (in-person and online).

Attendance

Attendance is mandatory.

Type of evaluation

Attendance is mandatory. Students are required to prepare a written paper (2500 words) on one of the issues covered during the term.

teacher profile | teaching materials

Programme

Reading and commentary on some classical texts of History of Ancient and Medieval Philosophy.

Core Documentation

Bibliography provided by the teachers during the lessons.

Attendance

Mandatory.

Type of evaluation

The exam includes the compulsory attendance of lectures and the delivery of a written paper for the achievement of the Eligibility.